Known locally as the "Green Island" for its lush, hilly, clove-scented interior, Pemba is the least-visited of Zanzibar's sister islands and rewards travelers looking for genuine seclusion.
Steep coral cliffs plunge into some of the clearest water in the Indian Ocean, creating world-class wall diving that's earned Pemba a cult following among serious divers.
On land, expect quiet fishing villages, centuries-old ruins, and vast clove plantations that once made the island one of the world's largest producers of the spice.
June–October and December–February for the calmest seas and best underwater visibility.