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

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

• Moti Taxi & Car Rental, tel: +258 2722-1688, 82-666-6800.

• Mr Saleh, tel: +258 82-388-8929, 82-706-1330. Taxi and car rental services, and offers English-speaking guided tours.

• Imperial Car Rental, [1].

• Safi Rent a Car, tel: +258 823808630, 826847770. Budget 4x4 car rentals, trips and transfers. Email: safirentals@gmail.com Web: www.pembarentacar.com

[edit][add listing] See

• Ibo Island

[edit][add listing] Do

• Snorkeling Have to get out 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

• CI Divers, ☎ +258 82 682 2700 (info@cidivers.com), [2]. PADI certified instructors at the dive shop, running courses up to divemaster.  edit

• Pemba Dive, tel Brenda +258-82-661-1530; Rudi +258-82-669-7050; email pembadive@teledata.mz.plus a new web "http:/www.pembadivecamp.com" Is the only registered PADI Resort based on Wimbi Beach, with Pemba Dive Reef 150m in front of dive shop. Now offer PADI certified dive courses. Brenda & Calvin adds real hospitality to the experience and plays a guide role in ensuring you get orientated.

[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, said to be sold at the market, since this is sold contrary to Mozambican and international law.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Mar e Sol, Wimbe Beach. Delicious fish and chips in spicy citrus sauce.  edit

• Nautilus restaurant.  edit

• Quirimbas Restaurant, Pemba Beach Hotel. Lunch A la carte menus and breakfast / dinner buffets. Food is tuned for South African's: evening buffets will have four to six protein options, and two or three starch options.  edit

• Club Naval, Pemba Beach Hotel. Overpriced seaside bar food. Acceptable pizza, sandwiches, etc.  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

• Pemba Magic Lodge, (former Cashew Camp), ☎ +258 826862730. Known in Pemba as "the campsite", Pemba Magic Lodge and the Blackfoot bar is the main meeting spot in Pemba. Rent a Bungalow with the bathroom ensuite, bring or own tent or rent one from Russel. You'll find a great place to hang out, relax, and have some delicious food.  edit

[edit] Camping

• PEMBA DIVE & BUSH CAMP, 'Place of the Ape' (10 mins from town with transport do~~~~), ☎ +258-8-2661-1530, +258-8-2669-7050 (pembadive@teledata.mz). Camping among 40 boabab trees.New Backpackers (a classic) ideal for stressed out travellers to chill out and recharge, security has a clean record, secluded beach and mud bath to release stress, FREE in package is kayak, archery,snorkel on reef, bird watching, nature walk, 9m2 hollow (walk inside)ancient boabab tree and lots more to discover. Transport available. * Russell’s Place - Pemba Magic Lodge, ☎ +258 82 68 62 730 (pembamagic@gmail.com), [3]. . A nice camping ground outside of town along a beach with beautiful Makonde art. Tent's for rent are available and chalets with bathrooms ensuite. Here you can get breakfast, lunch and good pizza and buffet for dinner. ===Budget=== *Residencial Lys, rua 1 de mayo. Good value and close to the bus stop. ===Mid-range=== * Nautilus Beach Resort, ☎ +258-272-21520 (nautiluscas@teledata.mz). offers thatched seaside bungalows (two bedrooms, airconditioned), a restaurant, casino and a diving and water sports operation.  edit  edit  edit

• Ondazul, (linked to Pemba Dolphin), ☎ +258-27-22-0937, +258-82-315-4830.  edit
• Pemba Dive & Bush Camp phone +258 82 661 1530 or +258 82 669 7050 Beach front chalets is nestled between isolated white sandy beaches, secluded in a rustic nature hideout, surrounded by a beautiful mountainous range with a stunning panoramic view overlooking the Largest Natural Bay in Africa. Lots of activities including diving & birdwatching. Transport is available. email: pembadive@teledata.mz

[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 (pembabeach@raniresorts.com), [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

• Quirimbas Islands - Around 30 islands that stretch from Pemba in the south to the town of Palma in the north. They are one of the world’s best fishing and diving destinations, with phenomenal vertical drop-offs, some up to 400 meters. The southern islands include an expanse of forests in the Quirimbas National Park. Islands include Ibo, Matemo, Medjumbe, Quilalea, Vamizi, Rongui and Macoloe.

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