Deserted beaches, lush forests, few lodges, and rural villages await in Pemba. If you prefer the beach part of your holiday to be far from the madding crowd with almost no-one else around then Pemba could well be for you. Pemba is only 20 minutes by light aircraft from Zanzibar but feels like it could be a completely different planet! It is more densely vegetated than Zanzibar and more undulating and was often referred to by early Arab sailors as El Hethera, ‘the green’.

The beaches are stunning, vast, and empty with powder white sand and crystal-clear waters, perfect for dhow boat trips, snorkelling, diving and of course for kicking off your shoes and relaxing. While there are not as many activities on offer as Zanzibar there are some interesting excursions including walks through the forest, cycle-rides, archaeological site visits and local village visits as well as dhow boats trips – a great way to enjoy a sundowner! Diving here is particularly good with the Pemba channel being widely recognised as offering the best dive sites in the archipelago characterised by exceptional clear waters, blue drop-offs and vibrantly healthy reefs.

If rest and relaxation is a significant part of your beach break, with the odd activity thrown in, then the deserted and stunning Pemba may well be perfect for you.