Pemba Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago offers family charter guests one of East Africa last genuinely untouched island experiences. Unlike Zanzibar, which has seen rapid tourist development, Pemba retains the character of a working Tanzanian island with clove plantations, mangrove forests and fishing villages whose inhabitants rarely encounter private yacht guests. For families, this combination of cultural authenticity, outstanding snorkelling and a complete absence of crowds makes Pemba an attractive alternative to more developed Indian Ocean destinations. Five family yachts cover this circuit.
Family charter rates for an East African itinerary including Pemba run from approximately 75,000 to 200,000 euros per week before the advance provisioning allowance, which covers fuel, Tanzanian port clearance costs and provisions. The recommended family season runs from June through October, when the south-east trade wind season brings dry and settled conditions to the region. Families with older children who dive will find the Pemba Channel reef walls a significant attraction, with visibility routinely exceeding 30 metres at sites near Mesali Island.
A family week from Zanzibar to Pemba and back covers more cultural and natural variety than most Indian Ocean itineraries of comparable length. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes a strong cultural opening with its spice market and historical waterfront. Moving north to Pemba, the mangrove-fringed west coast provides safe kayaking and tender exploration through channels navigable only by small craft. The clove plantations of Pemba interior are reached by motorbike from Wete, an excursion most older children find genuinely memorable.
