Where to Go

MTAMBWE MKUU

Situated on a small island slightly south of Wete, Mtambwe is joined to Pemba only at low tide. Mtambwe is one of the few places that examples of pre-colonial silver minted coins have been found. Mtambwe is reached by dhow or canoe from Wete harbour.


PUJINI RUINS

About 10Km southeast of Chake Chake town lay the ruins of a fortified palace dating back to the 15th century. This was the seat of the infamous Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman who ruled Pemba around this time, before the arrival of the Portuguese. Locally, Rahman is known as 'Mkame Ndume', or 'Milker of Men'. For residents of Pemba his name is synonymous with cruelty due to the hard labour and harsh punishments he meted out. The palace ruins cover a large area and both the defensive ramparts and surrounding ditches can still be seen. Inside, a team of archaelogists have found remnants of 3 large buildings, and an underground shrine with plaster bas reliefs on the walls. Another legend about Pujini tells of a ruler with two wives who lived in separate parts of the palace and never knew each other. A wall was built across the well so that they could not meet, even if they came to get water at the same time.


NGEZI FOREST

The Ngezi Peninsula is the northernmost point on Pemba. Much of the area is taken up by the Ngezi Forest, which is the last remains of a huge tract of indigenous forest which used to cover most of Pemba. Ngezi is home to the Pemba Flying Fox, a bat endemic to the island. The forest itself is a protected area and there is an information centre, a nature trail and a small entrance fee. On the east side of the Ngezi peninsula is Vumawimbi Beach, an immaculate beach with miles of white sand flanked by a pristine forest. On the western side is Verani Beach with the 'Pango ya Watoro' or 'the cave of the fugitives' at the northern end.


RAS MKUMBUU RUINS

Ras Mkumbuu is the cape jutting out into the sea to the northwest of Chake Chake town. The ruins are at the tip of the peninsula and are the site of a Swahili settlement dating back to the 11th century, which at the time seemed to be one of the most powerful on the East African coast. Today, the remains of a large mosque can still be seen and a number of 'pillar tombs' can also be seen. The easiest and most enjoyable way to reach the ruins is by hired boat, or an organised tour.


RAS KIUYU FOREST RESERVE

Situated on the northern tip of the Kiuyu peninsula, this forest is smaller than Ngezi but is still rich in wildlife and vegetation and makes for an interesting day trip from Wete.