The difference between Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba
If the thought of those early safari mornings has you booking another holiday faster than you can say ‘Where’s the coffee?’, how about hopping over to the coast for some beach-side R&R – and a few more hours of shut eye! Tanzania’s islands, Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba, are all strong contenders for the perfect beach getaway, but each has its own quirks and smirks, charms and challenges. Here’s our guide to what’s what on the islands, and which one might be your perfect safari add-on…
Which Tanzanian island is right for you at a glance
- Choose Zanzibar if: you want the easiest access (one short flight from Dar), the broadest range of accommodation, a side of culture and history, and you don’t mind sharing the beaches.
- Choose Mafia Island if: diving is the main event. Mafia was Tanzania’s first marine park and you can snorkel with whale sharks from October to March and dive some of the best sites in East Africa.
- Choose Pemba if: you want true seclusion, the most dramatic underwater scenery of the three, and you’re happy to trade a bit of infrastructure for solitude.
| Zanzibar | Mafia Island | Pemba | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Culture, easy beach holidays, variety | Diving, whale sharks, marine park | Seclusion, advanced diving, no crowds |
| Accessibility | Easiest — short flight from Dar | One flight from Dar, less frequent | Longest journey, fewer flights |
| Crowds | Busiest of the three | Quiet | Quietest |
| Diving | Good (Mnemba Atoll) | Excellent (marine park, whale sharks) | Outstanding — best walls of the three |
| Beaches | Long, well-known, sometimes busy | Mixed; outlying islands have the best | Smaller, hidden, talcum-soft |
| Accommodation | Widest range — budget to ultra-luxury | Excellent boutique lodges | Smaller, more rustic, fewer choices |
| Honeymoon-friendly | Yes — full spectrum | Yes — perfect for diving honeymoons | Yes — for those wanting privacy |
Zanzibar: best for culture, easy access and variety
The most famous of the Tanzania islands (and the largest), Zanzibar has been tempting travellers long before beach holidays were even a thing. An old trading port on the East Africa spice route, the island is a melting pot of cultures and enchanting traditions, but with all the ingredients for a beach holiday that you won’t forget in a hurry. That’s endless, shimmering beaches, clear waters that are a pleasant temperature year-round, and flaming sunsets, best viewed from the roof-terrace of your rather lovely hotel.
Is it for me?
Yes, Zanzibar is ideal if you’re looking for a quick, seamless and postcard-perfect beach break. It’s by far the most easily accessible of the Tanzania islands and only one short flight from Dar es Salaam. If the thought of sunbathing sends a chill down your spine, it’s also a good option as there is plenty to do – spend a morning getting lost in the cobbled alleyways of Stone Town, sail across the horizon in a dhow, take a spice tour, learn to kitesurf… If that wasn’t enough, there’s accommodation to suit just about every style, budget and desire, whether you’re honeymooning, exploring solo or have the kids in tow.
Take note
Zanzibar’s popularity may be its downfall, and it can feel busy and bustling at times. But a little research goes a long way, and there are still plenty of places that have avoided the long arm of tourism and retained their charm and quirkiness; choose carefully and this is still one of the most magical ‘bush and beach’ combinations out there.
Mafia Island: best for diving and whale sharks
Mafia Island and Archipelago is a serene and exclusive hideaway for travellers in the know. It’s widely acknowledged as one of the best dive spots in the Tanzania islands (possibly the Indian Ocean!), and the surrounding marine park is breath-taking in every sense. It’s a place of adventure, and as well as diving, days are spent exploring tiny, jungle-clad islands, swimming in hidden bays and breathing in the nature, seclusion and beauty of the surroundings.
Is it for me?
Yes if you are looking for pristine diving and beaches. Mafia truly is a diver’s dream, and the marine park offers everything from challenging dive walls to sheltered bays that novices can float around in. Get your timings right and there’s some serious bucket-list worthy marine experiences on offer too. From October to March, that’s snorkelling and scuba diving with whale sharks, and from June to September, you might spot turtle hatching on the beach. The lodges on the island are truly excellent, and will provide everything you could possibly need from diving equipment to spa treatments to barefoot dinners under the stars.
Take note
Whilst the diving in Mafia pips Zanzibar to the post as some of the best in the region, the beaches lag behind. But if you’ve got your heart set on proper, sparkling-white sand, don’t panic; the teeny-tiny neighbouring islands have got it in spades.
Pemba: best for seclusion and advanced diving
Smaller, wilder and, some may say, a good deal prettier, Pemba is the little sister of the Tanzania islands. So little, in fact, that she often gets forgotten – but consider that a plus! It’s a quiet, easy-going sort of place, so far removed from modern-day stresses and other people that you’ll forget either ever existed. There are historic fishing villages dotted around the banana and coconut plantations, miles of undeveloped and gob-smackingly beautiful coastline to explore and only a handful of lodges to share it with.
Is it for me?
Yes – Pemba is for travellers looking to get a little off grid (and have a love of diving!). Pemba, like Mafia, is also known for its diving, and there’s a good chance of bumping flippers with both bottlenose and spinner dolphins. On the west coast of the island, the sea mountains rise up creating incredible dive walls, drop-offs and rich coral gardens with Finding Nemo-esque schools of fish. If beach-lounging was more what you had in mind, you’ll find a good few sandy crescents along Pemba’s pristine coastline, and bath-tub warm waters to paddle in.
Take note
Zanzibar this is not, and the lodges are simple and rustic – and utterly fantastic. You won’t find many rose-petal filled Jacuzzis, but you will get top-notch service from some of the friendliest people on the planet, ocean-to-plate seafood, and simple, chilled-out pleasures. Tourism is still in its infancy, and the infrastructure is underdeveloped compared to the other Tanzania islands, but a couple of bumpy roads and a slightly longer flight time shouldn’t put you off.
How to choose between Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba
If you’re still on the fence, here’s how we nudge our clients:
If you’ve only got three or four nights after safari: Zanzibar
It’s by far the easiest to reach and you’ll waste no time getting to the beach.
If you’re a serious diver: Mafia or Pemba
Mafia for the variety (whale sharks, marine park, accessible dive walls); Pemba for the most dramatic underwater scenery of the three. Zanzibar is good but not the reason you’d come.
If it’s your first time in Tanzania and you want both culture and beach: Zanzibar
Stone Town, spice tours and a kitesurfing lesson all in one trip.
If you’ve been to Zanzibar before and want something different: Pemba!
It’s the antidote to Zanzibar with its wild interior, quiet beaches, and only a tiny handful of lodges.
For honeymoons: all three work, but with different flavours
Zanzibar gives you the widest choice of ultra-luxury hotels, Mafia is the diving honeymoon dream and Pemba is for couples who want to genuinely disappear.
For families: Zanzibar wins
It has the broadest range of family-friendly hotels and the easiest logistics. Mafia and Pemba are better suited to older children and teens who’ll appreciate the diving and the quieter pace.
Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba FAQs
Which is the most accessible of Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba?
Zanzibar, by some margin. It’s the only one with frequent direct flights from Dar es Salaam (and beyond) and it can be reached in under an hour from the mainland. Pemba is the most remote, requiring a longer flight and less frequent connections.
Which has the best diving — Zanzibar, Mafia or Pemba?
Pemba has the most dramatic dive walls and the clearest water and is definitely the connoisseur’s choice. Mafia has the most variety, including whale shark snorkelling from October to March, and it’s Tanzania’s only marine park. Zanzibar’s diving is good (particularly around Mnemba Atoll) but not the main reason you’d visit.
Can you see whale sharks in Tanzania?
Yes. Mafia Island is the best place in Tanzania for snorkelling and diving with whale sharks, from roughly October to March.
Is Pemba better than Zanzibar?
It depends what you want. Pemba is wilder, quieter and has more dramatic diving, but Zanzibar has better accessibility, a wider range of accommodation, and Stone Town’s culture. Repeat visitors to Tanzania often pick Pemba; first-timers usually pick Zanzibar.
Which Tanzanian island is best for honeymoons?
All three work for honeymoons, with different flavours. Zanzibar gives you the broadest range of ultra-luxury options. Mafia is ideal for honeymoons centred on diving. Pemba is for couples wanting total privacy and a barefoot, off-grid feel.
Is Mafia Island worth visiting?
Absolutely, particularly for divers, snorkellers and travellers looking for somewhere truly quiet. With fewer than a few thousand visitors a year, Mafia is one of the Indian Ocean’s least-visited islands, and its marine park is one of the best protected in East Africa.
What’s the difference between Zanzibar and Pemba?
Both are part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, but they feel completely different. Zanzibar is the largest and most developed, with culture, accessibility and variety. Pemba is smaller, hillier, much quieter, and has a tiny handful of lodges. Zanzibar is for ease and variety; Pemba is for solitude.
Latest blogs
As seen in
