Archipelago Island Hoping

Archipelago island hoping, Zanzibar, Mafia & Pemba

15 days from £3700pp

If safari is not your thing and you want to see three of the most contrasting islands in Africa, then this itinerary could work very well for you. With these plans, you would take in the beautiful and barely visited Mafia, a haven for snorkeling and diving on account of the phenomenal marine life. Also included is a stay in Pemba, the jaw-droppingly beautiful island with some of the best beaches anywhere in the Indian Ocean. Finishing with Zanzibar, the largest of the three islands, there is a huge range of both sea and inland activities and sights to see.

All of the itineraries that you see on our website are samples of what is possible, every holiday that we operate is completely tailor-made to your requirements, likes, and dislikes. Just let us know your ideas when getting in touch and we will craft your plans around these, get your feedback, and keep working on it until everything is perfect.

Tour Highlights

Explore the marine rich waters and the beautiful island of Mafia.

Rest on the most perfect beaches in Pemba and enjoy snorkeling in one of the best sites in the world.

Enjoy activities, explore Zanzibar, and take some time to put your feet up.

Spend some time in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stone Town

Price Includes

International flights
Light aircraft flights
All transfers
Private transfers in Zanzibar
Accommodation
Breakfast and dinner throughout
In country and 24-hour UK support

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Day 1 - Overnight flight from the UK

Depart from the UK for your flight to Dar es Salaam. There is a huge range of airlines and routes available, please let us know your preferences when getting in touch.

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Day 2 - Light aircraft flight to Mafia. Private transfer on arrival. Overnight Mafia.

You will be met on arrival and assisted to your light aircraft flight to Mafia. This flight is only around 20 minutes...

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...so you will be at your first destination in no time. You will be met on arrival and taken to your hotel by private vehicle and driver which generally only takes around 20 minutes. Settle in and relax on arrival and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

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Day 3 - Day at leisure in Mafia. Overnight Mafia.

Day at leisure to do as much or as little as you please. The biggest draw of a visit to Mafia is the incredible marine life...

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...in the surrounding waters, especially within the marine reserve which is where most of the accommodation in Mafia is located. Your accommodation will be very happy to arrange snorkelling or diving excursions in the area and there is also the possibility to swim with whale sharks at certain times of year.

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Day 4 - Day at leisure in Mafia. Overnight Mafia.

Your last full day at leisure in Mafia. While the marine life surrounding Mafia is incredible there is also plenty to see and do on the mainland and excursions are easily arranged...

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...through your accommodation. You could take a trip to the capitol and wander through the market, or perhaps a tour of Chole island which is home to a protected nesting site of the world’s largest bats, the flying fox. Alternatively, you could head out to a nearby sandbank, that is only exposed at low tide, for a barbeque picnic and snorkel.

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Day 5 - Private transfer to the airport. Light aircraft flight to Pemba. Overnight Pemba.

You will have some more time at leisure this morning depending on your light aircraft departure time, before being picked up by private vehicle...

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...and driver and taken to the airport for your light aircraft flight to Pemba which has a short stop at Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar on the way. You will be met on arrival in Pemba and taken to your hotel by private vehicle and driver. Settle in and relax on arrival, perhaps take a dip in the gin clear waters of the Indian ocean.

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Day 6 - Day at leisure. Overnight Pemba.

The diving in Pemba, like Mafia, is some of the best in the world with the Pemba channel, the body of water between Pemba and mainland Tanzania...

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...offering some of the best snorkelling and diving in the Indian Ocean. All of the accommodation that we work with in Pemba have their own dive centres that offer snorkelling and diving excursions to a number of sites that never fail to amaze.

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Day 7 - Day at leisure. Overnight Pemba.

Day at leisure in Pemba. If you need to re-charge your batteries then there is no finer place than the perfect deserted beaches...

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...of Pemba where the only other people that you will see are the local fisherman in their boats and other hotel guests. Perhaps enjoy a massage in the spa of your hotel, or you could head out snorkelling and marvel at the marine life. This really is tropical island bliss!

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Day 8 - Day at leisure. Overnight Pemba.

If you would like to explore the mainland then we would highly recommend a visit to Ngezi forest which is an lush and verdant indigenous forest reserve that is home to...

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...the flying fox bat, red colobus monkey and vervet monkeys as well as a large variety of birdlife. Additional inland attractions include the Mkame Ndume ruins, a former palace of a previous ruler of Pemba or the Ras Mkumbuu ruins, the remains of a major city along the East Africa Coast.

If ruins aren’t your thing, then perhaps visit the working lighthouse that was built by the British in 1900 and scale the 95 steps for some fantastic views out to sea and across the island.

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Day 9 - Private transfer to the airport. Light aircraft flight to Zanzibar. Private transfer on arrival. Overnight Zanzibar.

You will have some more time at leisure this morning, depending on the time of your light aircraft flight...

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...maybe relax on the powder soft sand of the beaches before being picked up and taken to the airport for your 20-minute flight to Zanzibar. You will bet met on arrival and assisted to your private vehicle and driver who will take you straight to your hotel where you can settle in on arrival before enjoying a delicious dinner.

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Day 10 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar.

Day at leisure to do as much or as little you please. There are a host of ‘inland’ activities that are well worth exploring while staying in Zanzibar...

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...Often referred to as one of the spice islands, with a trade history dating back to the 16th century, a spice farm tour is fascinating and well worth a visit. Renowned for trading in clove, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, chilli, and black pepper, you will learn how these spices are grown and harvested and can even buy some to bring home. You could also visit the nearby Jozani forest while in the area.

This guided tour takes you through a nature trail of verdant forest which is a habitat for many birds and animals but is famous for the rare Red Colobus Monkey.

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Day 11 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar.

If you enjoy diving and snorkelling then the extraordinary underwater landscapes, which are alive with wonderful and strange marine creatures, will be a dream destination for you...

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...The coral reefs in Zanzibar are some of the most abundant in the world with over 500 species of marine life. Here you will enjoy reef, wall, and wreck diving at over 30 dive sites and with ocean temperatures consistently around 27°C, with visibility that often exceeds 30m, this is a fantastic underwater safari, some of the absolute best in the Indian Ocean.

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Day 12 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar.

For anyone with an interest in history and culture a visit to Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must and we highly recommend it...

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...We can just arrange transfers and then you explore under your own steam, but we recommend using a local guide to help you understand and explore the highlights. While you wander around the labyrinth of narrow streets, most to narrow for cars, you will see mosques, churches, and temples side by side as well as some very impressive intricately carved wooden doors that Stone Town is famous for.

Some of the highlights of a visit includes the old slave market and museum, Darajani marketplace, the House of Wonders, the old fort, and the Sultans palace where your guide will explain their importance and history. This is an absolutely fascinating part of Zanzibar, we love it!

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Day 13 - Day at leisure. Overnight Zanzibar.

Your final full day in Zanzibar which you can spend doing as much or as little as you please...

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...Maybe catch up on a book while topping up your tan or perhaps take a visit to the dhow boat building centre and turtle conservation project in the north of Zanzibar, or a bit of both!

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Day 14 - Private transfer to the airport. Overnight flight to the UK

Depending on your flight time you may have some more time at leisure today. You will be picked up from your hotel, by private vehicle and driver, and taken to the airport for your flights back to the UK. There are several airlines and routes which we can discuss, please let us know your preference when getting in touch.

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Day 15 - Arrive UK

Arrive back in the UK and then start planning your next adventure!

Get in touch now.