Beach holiday
8-Day Pemba Island Diving & Beach Holiday
Overview
Pemba is Zanzibar’s quieter northern neighbor, a separate island across a deep channel that sees only a small share of the visitors who fill the beaches of Unguja. It is greener and hillier, covered in clove trees, mangroves and patches of forest, and divers know it for the steep underwater walls and drop-offs along its shores.
This holiday takes you there for seven nights. A short domestic flight carries you over from Zanzibar, and your base is a luxury beach resort set on a lagoon, with a pool, a beachfront bar and attentive staff. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks are included, along with a professional guide, a private vehicle for transfers and the activities that come with your package.
Most guests come for the water. Snorkeling and diving trips explore coral gardens, steep reef walls and caves full of fish, and fishing excursions head out into the open ocean. On land, there are villages, clove farms and forest to discover, but plenty of people simply stay on the sand. Tanzania Tourism Safaris arranges every flight and transfer, so you can focus on the reef or the hammock.
Tour highlights
- Seven nights at a luxury lagoon resort on Pemba
- Domestic flights between Zanzibar and Pemba included
- Dive steep reef walls, drop-offs and caves
- Snorkeling, fishing and lagoon swimming
- Clove farms, mangroves and forest on land
- All meals and drinks, with a private guide
Day by day
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Day 1 Short Flight North to Pemba Island Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Dinner
Your guide meets you in Zanzibar and accompanies you to the airport for the short domestic flight north. From the plane you can see how different Pemba looks: a rumpled green island fringed with mangroves and reefs. On landing, a private vehicle takes you on to your lagoon resort. Settle in, swim in the pool or the lagoon, and enjoy a quiet first dinner with the sound of the sea close by.
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Day 2 Lagoon Swim and the House Reef Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ease into island time. After breakfast, take a mask and snorkel into the clear lagoon in front of the resort and get used to the warm water and the reef life around you. Divers can use the morning for a check dive with the dive team. Spend the afternoon on a lounger by the water, and take a drink at the beachfront bar as the sun sets.
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Day 3 Diving the Walls of the Pemba Channel Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is for the dives Pemba is famous for. Boats head out to sites where the reef drops away steeply into deep blue water, with coral-covered walls, overhangs and caves sheltering a wide range of fish. Some sites have strong currents and suit experienced divers, while gentler reefs work for those with less experience. Snorkelers can join the boat to explore the shallower tops of the reefs.
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Day 4 Coral Gardens Around Misali Island Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a boat trip, if you wish, to Misali Island, a small protected island off Pemba’s west coast with white sand and shallow coral gardens that are excellent for snorkeling. Spend the day swimming, walking the beach and picnicking in the shade, then head back to the resort in the afternoon. Your guide can confirm the conditions and timing the evening before.
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Day 5 A Morning on the Open Ocean Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Anglers can head out with a local crew on a fishing excursion into the deep water off the island. Others might spend the morning on another dive or a slow paddle through the mangrove-lined creeks near the coast, watching for birds and crabs among the roots. After lunch, the afternoon is free for the pool or a rest before dinner.
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Day 6 Clove Farms and Ngezi Forest Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Swap the reef for the island’s interior. With your guide and private vehicle, a day can be arranged to visit clove plantations, small villages and markets, and the Ngezi Forest in the far north, one of the last areas of the island’s original forest. It is a gentle way to see how everyday life works on an island where most visitors never leave the coast.
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Day 7 One More Dive or a Day of Rest Stay Luxury lagoon beach resort on PembaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your last full day is open. Divers can fit in one more trip to a favorite site, remembering to leave enough time before flying, as dive safety rules require. Everyone else can read, swim or sleep in the shade. In the evening, gather at the beachfront bar to watch the light fade over the lagoon and enjoy a final dinner on Pemba.
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Day 8 Fly Back to Zanzibar for Your Connection Meals Breakfast
After breakfast, your private vehicle takes you to Pemba’s airport for the short flight back to Zanzibar, where you connect with your international or onward flight. If you would like to see more of the islands, a few nights on Zanzibar’s beaches or in Stone Town can be added before you head home, or we can link this holiday to a safari on the mainland.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $4,152 | $2,768 | $2,566 | $2,358 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $4,371 | $2,914 | $2,701 | $2,482 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $4,857 | $3,238 | $3,002 | $2,758 |
Tour price includes
- Domestic flights between Zanzibar and Pemba
- Seven nights at a luxury lagoon beach resort on Pemba
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with drinks
- Activities included in your package (confirmed with your quote)
- Services of a professional guide
- Private vehicle for all transfers
- Applicable fees and taxes
- Support available 24 hours a day
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Souvenirs and personal spending
Questions about this holiday
How is Pemba different from Zanzibar?
Pemba is a separate island north of Zanzibar’s main island, Unguja. It is greener, hillier and much less developed, with fewer hotels and visitors. The beaches are quieter, and the diving is the main attraction rather than nightlife or large resorts.
Do I need to be a diver to enjoy Pemba?
No. Snorkeling, fishing, lagoon swimming and trips inland suit non-divers well. That said, Pemba’s walls and drop-offs are the island’s great draw, and some sites have strong currents, so experienced divers get the most from them. Bring your certification card if you dive.
Which activities are part of the package?
The package includes meals, drinks, a guide, private transfers and a set of activities. Because dive programs and excursions vary, we confirm exactly which dives and trips are included when we send your quote, so there are no surprises on the island.
Before you go
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