Pemba is a small port city located 240 kms from the Tanzania border with Mozambique. The city has interesting Portuguese colonial architecture and a busy local market which sells all manner of things from produce to local crafts including traditional silverware, but the prime reason for any tourist to visit Pemba would be the water sports with special emphasis on scuba diving.

Pemba coral reefs lie close to shore and most dive sites are no more than 15 minutes by boat. The dive sites are pristine with an abundance of hard and soft coral plus a dazzling array of tropical fish species. Of special interest to divers are the sea horses that occur in these tropical waters and the regular sightings of  whale sharks which migrate past Pemba between August and October.

There are regular flights into Pemba airport which makes Pemba an easy and fairly affordable destination to get to. Pemba is also the gateway to the Quirimba Islands. Light aircraft fly between Pemba airport and the islands of Matemo and Medjumbe.