Region
Pemba Island
Stay 3–4 nights; base in Chake Chake, dive west coast or explore north‑side beaches and spice farms.
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Key facts · Tanzania
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling
- Language
- Swahili (national)
- Plugs
- D · G · 230 V
- Time zone
- East Africa Time
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Tanzania ↗Apply for the Tanzania e-visa only on the official immigration portal; Zanzibar and, from 1 October 2026, mainland Tanzania each require their own US$44 inbound insurance bought from the state insurer's site.
- Tanzania ↗Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or connect through a risk country such as Kenya or Ethiopia; see a travel clinic about malaria several weeks ahead.
- Tanzania ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you arrive.
- Tanzania ↗Light aircraft between parks and to Zanzibar have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.
- Pembwe and the Southeast ↗Avoid all but necessary travel in Mtwara Region within 20 km of the Mozambique (Cabo Delgado) border.
- Pembwe and the Southeast ↗Most nationalities need a Tanzania e-visa before arrival; from 1 October 2026 inbound travellers must also hold the mandatory US$44 insurance.
Pemba offers quiet beaches, world‑class diving on the west coast, spice farms and a well‑preserved Swahili culture, making it a low‑key alternative to Zanzibar.
Where to sleep
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Chake Chake base, dive west coast, visit north beaches
- 4 nights
- Chake Chake base, add spice farm tour and cultural village visit
- Ferry services run only a few times a week; verify schedules in advance.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North-side beaches | Chake Chake | min | unknown | Quiet sand and the island's foreigner lodges; travel by daladala or rented bicycle. |
| Spice farms | Chake Chake | min | unknown | Clove farms, the island's main export crop; arrange tours through your lodge. |
| Misali Island marine reserve | Chake Chake | min | unknown | Dive and snorkel trips run by the west-coast operators (Swahili Divers, Manta Reef). |
Bags between cities
check
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chake Chake | go | go | go | × | × | × | × | × | × | go | go | go |
| Pembwe and the Southeast (country-wide) | – | – | – | – | – | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | – |
Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pemba IslandZanzibar Archipelago | dry | dry | dry | wet | wet | wet | wet | wet | wet | dry | dry | dry |
wet: daily rain
- Pemba Island
- Calm seas and the best diving Oct–Mar; humpback whales pass the east coast in July and August.
The long rains fall roughly April–May and the short rains in November; the island is humid year-round.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pemba Airport (PMA) | Chake Chake (≈7 km (4.3 mi))Chake Chake (≈4.3 mi (7 km)) | Small Cessna-type flights from Zanzibar (≈30 min) or Dar es Salaam | ~30 min from Zanzibar | Daily flights; luggage limits are tight on small aircraft. |
| Dar es Salaam (via Stone Town) | Mkoani port | Azam Marine ferry | 7 h, US$75 | Few departures per week; check the timetable. |
| Stone Town (Zanzibar) | Mkoani port | Azam Marine ferry | 5 h, US$35 | Runs a few times weekly. |
| Tanga (mainland) | Mkoani port | Azam Marine ferry | 2 h, US$35 | Limited service; verify the schedule. |
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partFood
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Rice, curries, chapati, seafood | Lodge restaurants | Cooked to order; typical Swahili fare. |
| Street chips and grilled meat | Roadside stalls | Popular snack; fresh mango and passion‑fruit juices also common. |
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Nights suggested
- 3–4 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- No month rated best
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
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Sources
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