Luxurious overnight catamaran cruise to Pemba Island from Nungwi, Kendwa, or Mkokotoni

Highlights

• Untouched paradise
• Perfect snorkeling spots
• Fishing adventure
• Romantic getaway

All about the trip

Pemba Island is widely recognized as one of the most spectacular, unspoiled diving regions in East Africa. Our Pemba Island catamaran yacht cruise is very well known for stunning marine life, spectacular lagoons, tropical islands, and lush rainforest in the north! Cruising this beautiful island from one of our catamaran yachts truly feels like you are on an adventure or expedition into an untouched paradise! If you have a love for the ocean and tropical island beauty, Pemba is a scuba divers dream, a sportfishing adventure, a romantic getaway, or all of the above!

Pemba Island, known as “The Green Island” in Arabic (الجزيرة الخضراء), is an island forming part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, lying within the Swahili Coast in the Indian Ocean. Pemba lies 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of mainland Tanzania, across the Pemba Channel. Together with Mafia Island (south of Zanzibar), these islands form The Spice Islands. Most of the island, which is hillier and more fertile than Zanzibar (Unguja), is dominated by small scale farming. Additionally, there is also large scale farming of cash crops such as cloves. Pemba Island is separated from Zanzibar by the famous Pemba Channel where sheer drop-offs reach in excess of 800 meters. Surrounded by numerous small islands Pemba offers some of the best diving in the world along with some spectacular sport fishing opportunities.

The most important towns in Pemba are Chake Chake (the capital), Mkoani, and Wete, which is the largest city. Furthermore, the centrally located Chake Chake is perched on a mound with a view to the west over a stunning bay and the tiny island of Mesali. Unlike Zanzibar, Pemba is relatively untouched by tourism and has barely changed in the last three hundred years. For the most part, the ox cart is still the fastest mode of transport around the island, famous for its clove plantations. Furthermore, an 18th century Muslim Fort guards the island’s main town of Chake Chake. However, it lacks the labyrinth of winding, cobbled streets associated with Old Stone Town, Zanzibar.

Typically our yachts depart from Nungwi, here on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island. Once we have slipped our mooring, we spend the day sailing up the Pemba Channel with some help from the Indian Ocean current pushing us along to the north. Enjoy great service, delicious food, and ice-cold beverages whilst fishing along the way or relaxing on the trampolines watching the dolphins surf our bow wave. From the north of Pemba Island, we will work our way back to Zanzibar fishing, diving or just cruising the spectacular islands and inland lagoons that make Pemba such a sought after destination.

The big game fishing in the Pemba channel is as good as it gets! There are no less than 6 varieties of billfish in the Pemba Channel, huge sharks (mako, tiger, thresher, and hammerhead to name a few), tuna, large wahoo, king mackerel, dorado, barracuda, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna plus many others. Furthermore, close to shore along the west coast, immediately off Pemba’s beaches, regular catches of lesser game fish species include rainbow runners, bonito, skipjack, king mackerel, barracuda, and wahoo. Additionally, in peak Marlin season, the billfish and tunas move right up to the coastline making Pemba very interesting for fishing enthusiasts.

The coastline of mainland Pemba drops steeply into the Indian Ocean, whilst the outlying islands tend to have the endless beaches dotted with palms trees. This provides the perfect getaway for anyone looking to experience a true tropical island adventure! Typically, most of the dives in Pemba are wall and drift dives. For this reason, some of the more spectacular and challenging sites require an advanced open water diving qualification. However, there are more than enough dive site options for open water divers to enjoy. Finally, the area’s pristine coral is home to some of the widest varieties of marine life, including giant and pickhandle barracuda, wahoo, karambezi, dorado, trevally, humphead wrasse, whale shark, manta rays, bottlenose and spinner dolphin, and numerous varieties of shark (including hammerheads) to mention but a few.

What is included in the price

• Accommodation onboard the catamaran yacht Walkabout in your own private cabin
• Trolling equipment (fishing rods and reels)
• Terminal tackle
• Skipper
• Experienced professional tour guide
• A selection of artificial lures
• All meals for the duration of the charter
• Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in a private car to and from the yacht
• Deckhand/chef
• Marine park fees
• Freshly prepared snacks
• Freshly prepared seafood lunch
• Fruits and soft drinks
• Yacht charter
• Mineral water
• Selected beers and wine
• Marine conservation fees
• Diving (certified divers only)
• The use of our two kayaks onboard (upon request)
• Snorkeling gears
• Transport waiting charge
• All taxes, fuel surcharges, and service fees

What is not included in the price

• Domestic and international flights
• Gratuities for safari guide and safari chef (please tip separately)
• Visa fee (50 USD /100 USD for American or Irish Passport holders – to be paid upon arrival)
• Airport taxes
• Personal expenses

Instructions

In the event of the yacht being unavailable on the charter start date, the organizer of the tour will endeavor to replace the yacht with one of a similar type and specification as possible, to a value up to the total amount of the charter fee paid for the original yacht. Any discrepancy in the charter fees to be met by the charterer. If a replacement yacht is not available, the organizer will refund the charter fee. The organizer accepts no liability for any expenses incurred by or inconvenience caused to the charterer as a result of such cancellation.

Should the skipper determine the weather to be unsuitable or dangerous for sailing, he may take the decision not to sail the yacht in these conditions. The charterer and crew must respect his decision, even if this may lead to postponement or, in extreme cases, cancellation of the charter.

This activity is organised by Safanta Tours and Travel comp., Chukwani street, P.O.BOX 3651, Urban/West Region, Zanzibar, Tanzania, +255 778 856 362, info@safantatours.co.tz.