Pemba

Set on a verdant peninsula and surrounded by the deep rich fishing grounds of Pemba Bay, Pemba, capital of the province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, is a launch site for many of the surrounding dive sites and the gateway to the Quirimbas Islands with their luxurious castaway lodges and palm-fringed coastline. A Pemba vacation promises a spectacular beach setting with incredible water sport options.

Regular flights connect Pemba International Airport (POL) with South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania, making a Pemba, Mozambique vacation an ideal add-on to a Big Five safari. A ten-minute drive from the airport through vervet-populated forests brings you into the center of Pemba City, where you can search for treasures amongst the plethora of art, crafts, and silverware at the central market, absorb the vibrant local culture or admire the historic Portuguese architecture. 

Here you can cast a line for sailfish and barracuda or swim, scuba, or snorkel at your leisure amongst moray eels, turtles, stingrays, and sparkling corals on the nearby reef. Pemba’s varied marine life yields regular sightings of humpbacked whales, dolphins, manta rays, and once in a while, even the elusive dugong.  

 Accommodation in Pemba ranges from high-end holiday resorts and hotels to rustic villas and self-catering lodges. A highlight amongst things to do in Mozambique is to sample the mouth-watering array of locally-sourced succulent seafood on offer at most eateries in the area. 

Best time to visit Pemba

Warm waters and a tropical climate make the Mozambican coast a year-round paradise for divers but the rainy season between December and April can affect diving visibility, so if you are a water-sports enthusiast, it is best to visit Pemba during the dry Winter season between May and September where the humidity abates, the temperatures drop slightly and clear waters and sunny skies are the order of the day. The warmest months are January and February and the coolest is July. 

Browse our Pemba vacation packages below…