Pemba Island is part of Tanzania’s Zanzibar Archipelago, off the coast of East Africa. It’s known for its lush, green hills and clove plantations.
The Pemba Channel, with its coral reefs and abundant marine life, separates the island from mainland Tanzania. Offshore, Misali Island is home to the Fischer’s turaco, a colorful rare bird.
Pemba Island is one of the top diving and snorkelling locations off the coast of Tanzania with the entire island surrounded by coral reef. Between the island and mainland Tanzania the Pemba Channel shelves off to depths of more than 2,000m, and Pemba is famous for seriously large sea fish, which include barracuda, tuna, shark, and even whales. This is a glorious playground for experienced divers. Visibility is generally very good and there are some spectacular pinnacles. Currents are strong at Pemba so it’s not ideal for first time divers
The Ngezi Forest Reserve is a forest reserve located in Pemba Island, Tanzania. It covers an area of 1,440 hectares (3,600 acres), mostly comprising primary forest. The reserve was established in 1959. It’s Ngezi Reserve is located in the north-western tip of Pemba, the second largest island in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It borders on the villages of Kiuyu Kwa Manda (south), Tondooni, Verani and Makangale (north), Msuka (east) and Kipangani (west); to the west, it also borders on the Pemba Channel.
The ruined palace of Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman, who ruled Pemba prior to the arrival of the Portuguese (late 15th to early 16th centuries), is an evocative spot. Rahman had a reputation for cruelty and was known as Mkame Ndume (Milker of Men). Today the ruins’ primary feature is a large stone staircase that led from the kilometre-long channel (now dry) connecting this site to the ocean.n The ruins are located 10km southeast of Chake Chake, near the village of Pujini. Dalla-dallas from Chake Chake to Pujini (Tsh1000, one hour) are infrequent and the ruins are poorly signposted. A taxi from Chake Chake costs about Tsh30,000 return. Or rent a bike; head south of Chake Chake, past the airport road then turn left (southeast) onto the dirt road by a sign that says ‘Skuli Ya Chan Jaani’
Stone Town, also known as Mji Mkongwe (Swahili for “old town”), is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. (The newer portion of the city is known as Ng’ambo, Swahili for ‘the other side’). Stone Town is located on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Being a former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and the flourishing centre of the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century, Stone Town retained its importance as the main city of Zanzibar during the period of the British protectorate.
When Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined each other to form the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status, with Stone Town as its local government seat. Stone Town is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, giving a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Due to its heritage, Stone Town is also a major visitor attraction in Tanzania. A large part of its economy depends on tourism-related activities
Prison Island might not sound like the most appealing place in the world but this tropical paradise is the perfect place to escape the crowds of main Zanzibar and relax in the sunshine. Taking its name from the fact that it was a former prison for slaves, this patch of natural beauty holds all kinds of delights, not least the numerous giant tortoises that wander freely around the island. The island can be reached from Zanzibar in about 30 minutes by boat and once there you won’t be able to resist jumping in the water. It is best to come with snorkelling equipment in tow as the water there is crystal clear and teeming with exotic marine life. Once you’ve made the most of the shoreline, head to the interior of Prison Island and look out for butterflies before exploring the ruins of what was once the prison building.
The House of Wonders or Palace of Wonders (in Arabic: Beit-al-Ajaib) is a landmark building in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It is the largest and tallest building of Stone Town and occupies a prominent place facing the Forodhani Gardens on the old town’s seafront, in Mizingani Road. It is located between the Old Fort and the Palace Museum (and former Sultan’s Palace). It is one of the six palaces built by Barghash bin Said, the second Sultan of Zanzibar, and it is said to be located on the site of the 17th-century palace of Zanzibari queen Fatuma. The House of Wonders currently houses the Museum of History and Culture of Zanzibar and the Swahili Coast.
