Pemba Island

Tailor-made Pemba Island Holidays

Come to Pemba for authentic Swahili life, minus the crowds. On this lesser-visited island in the Zanzibar archipelago, the secret sister of its iconic neighbour, tourists are so rare you’ll be bombarded with smiles and waves. Devoutly Muslim, local women pass in veils and the ghostly ruins of tombs date back to the 17^th century, when the Sultan of Muscat seized power. Then there’s the witchdoctors who mix herbal medicines and fishermen who sell their catch at the market in Chake Chake town. You’ll spot their wooden boats from Pemba’s pristine beaches, where you can spend all day soaking up the African sun and bathing in the Indian Ocean undisturbed.

Named the Green Island by ancient Arabian, Chinese and Indian traders, Pemba’s hillsides are laden with fruit and spices. The fertile soil sprouts crops of mango, coconut, banana and the island’s famous cloves – Pemba produces the world’s largest supply of this aromatic spice, left to dry on mats during harvest time. In this verdant wonderland, ox-drawn carts are the norm and the forests are filled with spikey-haired Kirk’s red colobus monkeys and the Pemba flying fox. Stay in one of the handful of quiet beach resorts for sun-drenched relaxation and to explore Pemba’s marine life, where bottlenose dolphins rule the waves and steep drop-offs lead to vibrant coral gardens.

Let our Tanzania team arrange your trip to Pemba, before the crowds discover it, and enjoy a peaceful beach break to end your safari holiday.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Gemma, who's travelled extensively in Tanzania. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it on their own. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - the rangers who'll ensure you'll spot the best wildlife, the village chiefs who'll give you a genuine insight into local life and the camp managers who can recommend the very best spot to enjoy your sundowner.

Gemma Wilson-Dines

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Gemma has been a regular visitor to South Africa favouring the spectacular mountains and cinematic Winelands that draw her back time and time again. Her most recent trip to Tanzania offered a whole new perspective of the Great Migration from the romantic heights of a hot air balloon. On the other side of the world, in extraordinary India, Gemma holds vivid memories close to her heart; of cooking chapatis in Amritsar’s shimmering Golden Temple and the soft summer breeze in Shimla's alpine forest.
Joseph Awe

Cultural guide

Joseph Awe has been a cultural guide in the Lake Eyasi region for over 12 years. He grew up on his family's dairy and onion farm in the region and has close connections with the nearby Hadzabe and Datoga communities. Able to speak their native languages, Joseph has worked as a translator and interpreter for guests visiting the tribes around Lake Eyasi since he was a teenager.
Mary Milanzi

Lemala Tour Guide

Mary Milanzi is proud to be one of Tanzania’s first female guides. Born in Mto wa Mbu, she grew up with a deep love of wildlife and dreamed of getting a job that allowed her to stay close to nature. After completing her tour guide training with Lemala, Mary now leads tuk tuk tours of her home town. She often goes into colleges to give talks that inspire female students to seek out jobs in the tourism industry.
Charles Kisaka

Assistant Manager at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

Charles Kisaka is from the north-east of Tanzania and studied tourism at college. After graduating, he joined the Serena hotels group and has worked with them for over 15 years. Charles loves his current role as the manager of Lake Manyara Serena Lodge because it allows him to meet guests from different countries and introduce them to the wilds of Tanzania.
Hazel Gumpo

General Manager, Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge

Hazel Gumpo is a German-trained General Manager with over 25 years of experience in hospitality. She has worked all over Africa and in 2017, was named one of the top 100 most influential tourism personalities in West Africa by the Accra Weizo West African Travel Fair. Hazel is passionate about people development, interior design, creative cooking and hosting.
Philip Mbeke

Camp Manager, Roving Bushtops

Originally from Kenya, Philip Mbeke started his career with Bushtops over 10 years ago as a ranger in the Maasai Mara. Since then, he's worked his way up to become camp manager at Roving Bushtops. Philip loves working in the Serengeti and enjoys the thrill of moving camp around the savannah. He especially likes to see the sparkle in guests' eyes when they first arrive at the roving camp and enjoys spending evenings with them around the campfire.