The islands of Mafia and Pemba, together with Zanzibar, are among the three largest islands in the Zanzibar archipelago. The archipelago lies around 30 kilometers from the east coast of Africa and is bathed by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. After the main island of Zanzibar, the island of Pemba to the north is the second largest in the group, covering almost 1,000 square kilometers. Its “little sister” Mafia, to the south of Zanzibar, is around half the size of Pemba.
Pemba is the hillier of the two islands and is lush with mangroves. No wonder its name means “the green island” in Arabic. Because of its countless clove trees, some of which are over a hundred years old, it is also considered the center of clove cultivation. In contrast, coconut and cashew nut plantations dominate the landscape on Mafia. And of course there are picture-book white sandy beaches here and there, just like on Zanzibar. On Mafia and Pemba, however, they seem even wilder and more untouched.
You won’t find the hustle and bustle of Zanzibar on the two smaller islands either: there are no busy street vendors or noisy nightclubs. There are also hardly any restaurants away from the few accommodations. Both islands are therefore perfect places for travelers who are looking for peace and nature and like to travel “off the beaten track”.
Like Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia are characterized by the Swahili culture. The two islands also share much of Zanzibar’s history. All three were repeatedly under foreign rule – including that of Oman, Portugal and the British. Ruins can therefore also be visited on Mafia and Pemba, which are fascinating signs of their turbulent past.
Last but not least, Mafia and Pemba are excellent snorkeling and diving spots. Thanks to beautiful coral reefs and a veritable wealth of different fish species, they are among the best diving spots in the whole of Africa. Mafia is also one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks. Both islands are also popular destinations for deep-sea fishing enthusiasts.
This is how it goes on
