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Pemba

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For other places with the same name, see Pemba (disambiguation).

Wimbe Beach
Wimbe Beach

Pemba is the capital of the Cabo Delgado Province in the north of Mozambique.

[edit] Understand

Pemba is a port town located on the south side of the world's third-largest natural bay, with a population of around 100,000. It is the most important center in Northern Mozambique, with banks, patisseries, supermarkets and restaurants, though it retains a rundown feel with its potholed streets. The town was built over rolling hills, and most people live in wooden huts set amongst the numerous thick baobab trees.

The history of the people of the Cabo Delgado province weaves throughout many centuries of African, Arab and Portuguese sailing, trading and settling.

The town was founded by the Niassa Company in 1904 as Porto Amelia, after a queen of Portugal. It was renamed Pemba at the end of Portuguese rule, in 1975.

Pemba is renowned for its Portuguese colonial architecture, and is a prime destination for water sports and diving enthusiasts as a coral reef lies close to the shore. Pemba has increasingly become a tourist destination, particularly for upper-middle class Mozambicans and South Africans, and international flights and new facilities are emerging steadily.

[edit] Climate

The climate is tropical humid. Average annual temperature ranges from a minimum of 22°C to a maximum of 32°C.

The hot rainy season usually runs from December to April. The rain is irregular, can be very heavy and accompanied by strong monsoon winds.

The dry season is from May to November, with average temperature of 28°C in the day.

The temperature of the seawater ranges from 25°C to 30°C .

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

The airport has international flights to and from Johannesburg (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Dzaoudzi (Mayotte). Domestic flights from Maputo, Beira and Nampula are operated by the national carrier Linhas Aereas de Mocambique.

Customs facilities are available at the airport, and visas are available on arrival for some nationalities (check with an embassy ahead of time).

Pack a change of cloths and swimsuit in hand luggage as checked luggage has been known to arrive late.

[edit] By road

Good tarred roads connect Pemba to Nampula (438 km) and Ilha de Mozambique (427 km).

National roads run to the east and south to Central Mozambique.

Northwards, the national road from Pemba to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is partly tarred, and uses a ferry across the Rovuma River at the Quionga border post.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

  • Ibo Island

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Snorkeling Have to get out to Pemba Dive Reef 100m in front of the dive shop on Wimbe Beach to get to the corals for a good snorkel. Marine life is absolutely amazing and with a bit of luck you will get the chance to swim with the dolphins.

[edit] Scuba diving

The bay offers protection to an extensive variety of soft and hard coral that attract a legion of species, even the rare 1,000kg oceanic sunfish, large potato bass, Napoleon wrasses, dolphins, whales and turtles. Ideal for professional and novice marine photographers, in very calm waters.

2009 proved to have the biggest display of humpback whales with up to 5 whales at a time often seen on the shore breaching. It is incredible to dive with the orchestra of the male whales singing their mating rituals right throughout the dive between July-October.

The bay is the perfect hunting grounds for kingfish, dogtooth tuna, great barracuda, couta, dolphin fish and wahoo.

This region has year round diving conditions. Shortie wetsuits are usually worn with temperatures from 26C to 29C. July and August is winter, it can drop to 24C.

  • Pemba Dive, ☎ +258-82-661-1530 (), [1]. The only registered PADI Resort and DAN Business Membership based on Wimbi Beach, with Pemba Dive Reef 100m in front of dive shop. Now offering dive courses up to divemaster level.  edit
  • CI Divers, ☎ +258 82 682 2700 (), [2]. PADI certified instructors at the dive shop, running courses up to divemaster.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Authentic local market (Souk Souk) in the center of Pemba, where arts and crafts as well as traditional silverware can be bought. It is very large, stretching 2 km along one of the main thoroughfares through a city suburb. Avoid ivory, coral, shells and turtle shell said to be sold at the market, since this is sold contrary to Mozambican and International Law.

Coral serves its purpose either dead or live. It is home, breading and feeding grounds to juvenile marine life.

You can not buy plastic shells and most imitation turtle shell, are not plastic. Test it by tapping it against your teeth, bone against bone is the animal. All shells are alive when harvested; dead shells no longer get washed up anymore. Live shells have a shine when it is killed and the animal removed. Shells that die from natural causes will build up saline sediment and with in a week loose its shine. A bigger crime are juvenile shells been sold, there no way reproduction can occur.

Rather, purchase natural materials such as coconut fibre, bamboo or wooden arts and crafts. Careful with blackwood: it is scarce and grows very slowly, taking a life time to grow as thick as your arm. Just buying arts and crafts from/next to stall/vendor, that sell shells or coral will still encourage the illegal sales. Vendors, who claim their ignorance, ask for patience and sympathy are often dishonest. Tough love is the best solution.

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Mar e Sol, Wimbe Beach. Delicious fish and chips in spicy citrus sauce.  edit
  • Pemba Dolphin, Wimbe beach, ☎ +258-27-22-0937, +258-82-315-4830. Good seafood dishes. from M100 000.  edit
  • Restaurante Discoteca Wimbe, Wimbe beach, ☎ +258-272-21440, +258-82-302-6100. Come here for a hot Mozambican atmosphere.  edit
  • Restaurante 556, Old Town, ☎ +258-272-21487. 11AM to late. Great view of the bay and good ribs, beef, eisbein and chicken. fair.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Camping & Budget

  • Pemba Magic Lodge ('Russel's Place'), (former Cashew Camp), ☎ +258 82 686 2730 (), [3]. Known in Pemba as "the campsite", Pemba Magic Lodge and Blackfoot Bar is the main meeting spot in Pemba. Rent a Bungalow with the bathroom ensuite, bring your own tent or rent one.  edit

  • Residencial Lys, rua 1 de mayo. Good value and close to the bus stop.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Nautilus Beach Resort, ☎ +258-272-21520 (). offers thatched seaside bungalows (two bedrooms, airconditioned), a restaurant, casino and a diving and water sports operation.  edit
  • Ondazul, (linked to Pemba Dolphin), ☎ +258-27-22-0937, +258-82-315-4830.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Londo Lodge, ☎ +258-82-699-5070. An exclusive and private hideaway beach resort north of Pemba town bordering the Quirimbas National Park. Renowned for its superb food, privacy, service and exclusivity, this boutique hotel opened her doors 2 years ago and has a reputation for hiding the rich and famous. Diving, Game Fishing, Spa facilities, bush walks, dolphin watching. US$450.- person/night FB  edit
  • Pemba Beach Hotel, outside Pemba, 1 km from Nautilus, ☎ +258-27-22-1770 (), [4]. A large Arabian style open plan hotel with 60 sea-facing rooms including 2 suites and some interconnected rooms suited for families. All rooms have balconies or terraces, en suite bathrooms, air conditioning, mini-bar, satellite TV, direct dial telephone, coffee/tea making facilities, electronic safe, international plug sockets and hair dryer. Also has 8 two-story villas with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms each, and all the above amenities plus fully equipped kitchens and washing machines and dryers and electronic safes. The villas are serviced and accommodate a maximum of 6 guests.  edit

[edit] Cope

If booking through an SA agent, don't book accommodation for entire trip, you will be able to negotiate a better rate directly with the accommodation (we got about 40% off)

A taxi ride from the airport to the furthest part of town should not cost more than 4 dollars. Beware of charges for transfers with Hotel shuttle, as these are usually free but SA agents could charge you as much as $30 a head. (cost us $3 for 4 people in a taxi)

Small US$ notes are reluctantly exchanged, and in some cases not, as banks give locals a tough time when they try and exchange these. Try keep small notes to a minimum, but they are useful for taxi rides and curio purchases.

The beach curio sellers usually mark up substantially. Start negotiations at a quarter of their price and never settle for more than 60%. They negotiate hard, but walk away and they will follow you.

[edit] Get out

  • Ilha de Mozambique - a day's drive to the south, a beautiful and haunting island, once the capital of the country under Portuguese rule.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
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