| PEMBA ISLAND
Pemba - the northernmost
Island of the archipelago Pemba is still the world's major clove
producer, but has now slipped into
its more traditional role of being an Island Paradise with small
inter-island trade. Chake wharf is now mainly used for swimming
and fishing.
Pemba was seized by the Sultan of Muscat (now Oman)
in the 17th century. He was so enchanted by the Spice Islands
that he installed himself in Zanzibar and ruled Muscat from there.
When the
Western Colonial
powers came to East Africa the British forced the Sultanates
of Muscat and Zanzibar to separate and then administered the
Spice Islands in the
name of the Sultan.
Getting there:
Coastal Aviation fly's to Pemba from Dar in 1 hour or from Zanzibar in 35 minutes. Most of Coastal's routes are interlinked, so finding the right transfer for you from anywhere in Tanzania can be organized.
Please see Coastal Aviations flight
schedule for more information.
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All the while, the Arab dhows would ply the trade winds
down from the Arabian Peninsula to East Africa. With the winds they would
take cloves to India, textiles back to the Arab lands and silver and wood
to the Spice Islands.
The Dhows have remained a constant throughout the history
of Pemba. To this day they ply the run from Wete to Shimoni in Kenya
and, when the winds are favourable they plough through to Northern Mozambique.
Pemba
is a magical island. Unlike Unguja, Pemba is hilly.
Gentle, undulating hills and deep verdant valleys are all covered with
a dense cover of clove, coconut and mango plantations. A more fertile land
it is difficult to imagine.But it is not just the landscape that gives
Pemba
its magical reputation.For centuries Pemba has held a reputation as a
centre for the juju traditions of medicine and magic.
There certainly is a
strange atmosphere on Pemba. How
can so beautiful a place be so devoid of visitors ? On an island with
a population of 300,000 there can rarely be more than a couple of dozen foreigners.
It
is as if the people of Pemba have a secret that they refuse to let go.
That
is not to say that the people here are not friendly.
Traveling in Pemba is like traveling in unknown territory. In the countryside,
villagers are eager to talk to passers-by and small children cry at the
sight of a muzungu.(white man) In town, market stallholders call you over
and sit
you down to try their different fruits, laughing hysterically at your
reaction. The down side about traveling in Pemba is the lack of infrastructure
and
facilities. The visitor simply has to be prepared to 'rough it', unless
staying at one of only a few decent accommodations. The only guesthouses
on Pemba
are at Mkoani, Chake Chake and Wete. All are very small, modest and with
basic facilities.
Food must be bought at the local markets and shops.
Generally the only place to eat out is at the local stalls or at one
of the few guesthouses.
Transport is limited to a few taxis, private cars
and
the public bus service. Beyond this, walking is the only option, unless
you have arranged prebooked transfers.
Karibu Tanzania !
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