Best hotels in Pemba Island

This gorgeous camp sits neatly in a prime location on the West coast of Pemba Island, just Southeast of Tanzania itself. The camp is set in a tropical wilderness, ensuring privacy and a wonderful Robinson Crusoe authenticity. Styled to be fashionable, but functional, Fundu generally attracts honeymooners and other younger folk to its azure beaches. Enjoy discovering underwater mysteries with the island's exceptional diving, meeting locals on cultural excursions, water sports and relaxing with a spa treatment or on the beach.

The Manta Resort has a remote hilltop position overlooking the azure waters of the Pemba Channel and one of the most gorgeous swimming beaches in the Zanzibar Archipelago. The lodge's staff create a family atmosphere with genuine warmth and friendliness. Guests are assigned a personal "Service Fundi" on arrival who will look after them for the duration of their stay. The Manta Resort’s recently-opened unique Underwater Room is a floating glass cube which allows guests to be completely immersed in the ocean where multitudes of fish swim by. Expect serenity, first-class service and close encounters with nature here.

Driving from Chake Chake you cross a varied landscape of deep green valleys and steep hillsides filled with villages separated by forests and spice plantations. A traditional muslim society, Pemba has retained a lot of it's unique and natural heritage because of the lack of mass tourism, with only a few accommodations options spread around the island. Be mindful and respectful of local customs as you make Gecko Nature Lodge a perfect budget base. It's for the young or the young at heart where you forgo the wifi connection (there is barely any) and surrender your self to the natural beauty.

Pemba Lodge, also called Pemba Island Eco Lodge, actually stands (alone) on the tiny island of Shamiani, just southeast of Pemba. Pemba is Zanzibar's lesser-known sister, 60 kilometres from mainland Tanzania's coast, and sees just 1% of the tourists Zanzibar does. For Shamiani, it's an even tinier portion, partly due to the cars, boats and flights required to reach the island. But once you're there, however, you'll be greeted by powdery white-sand beaches, shimmering turquoise water and a huge dose of tranquility. The small, rustic lodge isn't for those who like bells and whistles, but if you like your destinations untouched and completely unexplored, come here, pronto.

The Zanzibar Archipelago has been having a resurgence of late, thanks to its smouldering sand beaches, world-class diving spots, and barefoot-luxury hideaways. The Aiyana is one such resort, located on Pemba Island – an easy 30-minute light aircraft ride from Zanzibar. Think lush green hills, an abundance of coral reefs, powdery-white sand and the scent of cloves in the breeze – Pemba is where you go when you want to get away from it all. Set on a deserted beach in the north-west, The Aiyana, with its 30 beachfront villas, barefoot dining and all-natural spa, encourages a certain laissez-faire attitude.