“Pemba Island is the“Paradise”in the Zanzibar archipelago that waits to be explored”
Unlike Zanzibar, its famous sister about which we do not need to elaborate, Pemba Island is hilly, densly vegetated and much less populated. The early Arab sailors called it 'Al Huthera', meaning 'The Green Island'. Today more cloves are grown on Pemba than on Zanzibar, in fact almost all of Zanzibar's clove production comes from Pemba, and during the rule of the Sultans, it was Pemba, with its extensive clove plantations, that provided the foundation for the archipelago's wealth.In addition to its rich history, the island’s cultural heritage is very interesting. Voodoo and traditio-nal healers play an important role here. Even today, people come from all over the world seeking to find out the secrets of the past and learning about the ingredients of the local medicines. Ngezi forest offers a safe walk through a real impressive “Jungle” with giant trees, ferns and flowers. Have you ever seen Kautschuk trees and the production of real natural rubber? Or, have you ever seen how dhows, the traditional arab sailing ships are made ? Well, Pemba is the place to see it all - just the way it was done hundred years ago. Talking of hundred years, we also have a historic lighthouse which was built by the British in 1900 and which is still in use up to today. Against a small fee you can climb in the inside up to the very top where you will enjoy a breathtaking view over the blue sky in beautiful contrast with the green vegetation of the island – taking photos here is a must
The marine life offers some of the best diving in the world. Magnificent beaches, beautiful smaller islands with clear blue water and interesting bird-life, are second to none. The Indian Ocean separates the Pemba from Shimoni and Wasini in Kenya by aprox. 20 miles.The best diving spots are on the west side of the island and is characterised by blue water drop-offs along with pristine shallow reefs hard and soft coral gardens with schools of fish, pelagic marine life, dolphins ,mantas, whales and turtles
Tourism in Pemba is almost non existent as yet, which is why Pemba is one of the last “Jewels of the Indian Ocean” which is patiently waiting to be carefully explored. |
