Pemba Island sits 80 kilometres north of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, a steep and forested island renowned for some of the best diving in the western Indian Ocean. Unlike Zanzibar, which has developed rapidly as a mass tourism destination, Pemba remains largely undiscovered, with small fishing villages along its deeply indented west coast and virtually no charter infrastructure. Five motor yachts operate in these waters, reaching Pemba as part of an East African circuit that typically includes Zanzibar, Pemba and the Mozambique Channel beyond.
Charter rates for East African motor yacht charters including Pemba typically run from 75,000 to 200,000 euros per week before the advance provisioning allowance, which covers fuel, provisions and the Tanzanian port clearance fees required at each island. The prime season runs from June through October during the East African dry season, when south-east trades produce consistent wind and calm conditions in the sheltered western bays of Pemba. The long rains between March and May effectively close the charter season.
The west coast of Pemba is the focus of most charter itineraries, with Wete the main anchorage and departure point for diving excursions to the outer wall at Njao Gap and the reef at Mesali Island. The Pemba Channel, between the island and the Tanzanian mainland, is one of the deepest channels in the Indian Ocean and a reliable feeding ground for big pelagic fish. From Pemba, a northward passage reaches the Kenyan coast at Lamu, one of East Africa most atmospheric sailing harbours.
