Surrounding Islands

MISALI ISLAND

This small island lies to the west of Chake Chake town and is surrounded by a coral reef. The notorious pirate Captain Kidd is supposed to have had one of his hideouts here in the 17th century. Some believe he actually buried treasure here too. These days, local fishermen use the island as a temporary base and set up simple camps. It has some pristine beaches and excellent swimming and snorkelling and diving as, unlike most places in Pemba, the tides make no difference to these activities.

Misali is mostly covered by forest, notably large baobabs and there are a number of bird species to spotted including mangrove kingfisher, paradise flycatcher and red-eyed dove. An increasing number of green turtles are also successfully nesting on beaches on the western side of the island.

Due to the rich variety of marine life around the island it has received official recognition and is now called Misali Island Marine Conservation Area. Among the locals, Misali has religious status as they believe the prophet Hadhara used the island as his prayer mat. The strong Islamic enviromental maintenace ethic is used to support management and enviroment education, and the island is a 'sacred gift' to the earth from the Islamic faith as part of an ecumenical Millennium celebration arranged by the World Wildlife Fund in Nepal in November 2000.

Misali Island can be reached by hired boat from either Chake Chake or Mkoani.


SHAMIANI ISLAND

Also known as Kiweni Island, Shamiani is a beautiful and isolated island east of Mkoani. It is the perfect place for relaxing and doing absolutely nothing at all. The island hosts a wide variety of bird species and aslo provides a nesting ground for some sea turtle colonies. Shamiani also offers good snorkelling and diving, with one side of the island protected by the reef, and drop-off diving on the other side.

Private transport needs to be arranged from Chake Chake to the village of Kengeja. From Kengeja there is a small beach from which you can sail across to Shamiani.


OTHER ISLANDS

There are many tiny islets dotted along the coast of Pemba, most of which have nothing at all on them. Some of these islands make for interesting excursions including the tiny fishing islands offshore from Tumbe village like Mtambwe Mkuu Island and Kojani Island.

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