Pemba Island lies north of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, a lush, hilly island covered in clove and spice plantations rather than the flatter coral terrain of its better-known neighbour. Its coastline is fringed by some of the most pristine and least-dived reefs in East Africa, dropping into deep channels that attract a rich variety of marine life.

The island’s steep topography and dense vegetation set it apart from Zanzibar, and traditional village life continues much as it has for generations, with fishing and spice farming forming the backbone of the local economy. Diving and snorkelling here tend to be quieter and less crowded than around Zanzibar’s more developed coast.

Pemba is reached by short domestic flight from Zanzibar or the Tanzanian mainland, and its combination of untouched reefs and traditional island culture appeals to travellers seeking a less-visited alternative to Zanzibar’s main island.