Things to Do in Pemba

Pemba has one of East Africa's finest natural harbors. This laid-back coastal city sits at Mozambique's northern tip, refreshingly untouched by mass tourism and serving as your gateway to the Quirimbas Archipelago. You'll find dhows bobbing alongside modern fishing boats while Portuguese colonial buildings slowly crumble in that romantic tropical way. The charm is real here. Tree-lined avenues wind past genuinely friendly locals and surprisingly good seafood restaurants scattered around town. This is the kind of place where you plan two days and end up lingering for a week.

Seafood dominates the dining scene here. You'll find excellent prawns, crab, and fresh fish at Complexo Nautilus and Restaurante Wimbe, both right on the water. Portuguese influence shows up in decent grilled chicken and drinkable espresso. Street vendors focus on basics. Grilled corn, fresh fruit, and simple rice dishes fill you up for under $5. The Indian community left its mark too—you'll find good curry and spiced dishes around town. Restaurant meals run $10-20 per person.

May through October delivers the goods. The dry season brings lower humidity, virtually no rain, and the most consistently pleasant weather you'll find here. June through August can get surprisingly cool in the evenings—pack a light jacket. November through April means rain and heat. But don't write off wet season entirely—the landscape turns lush, tourist crowds thin out, and accommodation prices drop. Avoid January through March when cyclones can wreck your travel plans and rough seas make island trips impossible.