Pemba is the capital of Cabo Delgado province, the northernmost province of Mozambique. It is set on a peninsula overlooking the third largest bay in the world. Originally a small fishing village - now the neighborhood of Paquitequete - Pemba as a commercial centre was founded by the Portuguese at the beginning of the 20th century, when it was known as Porto Amélia. The oldest part of town, the baixa, centred around the port and adjacent to Paquitequete, houses Pemba's oldest and most attractive buildings, though it takes some imagination to see past their current state of disrepair. The busiest part of town now is set on the hill above the port, and most of the banks, services and shops are on the central Avenida Eduardo Mondlane.
Tourism, still in its early stages, is centred on Wimbe beach, some 5km east of town. Here several hotels and restaurants are set on or near the beach, a palm-fringed crescent of white sand. The tropical climate ensures that the water is always warm, and Pemba is best known for its excellent diving, snorkelling and fishing.
Beautiful beaches abound in the areas close to Pemba and further north along the coast, and the Quirimbas Archipelago offers a unique destination within a newly gazetted marine park.
Inland destinations are starting to open up with new roads allowing easier access to several areas currently being developed for tourism. Northern Mozambique is a truly wild area where game roams without limitations from fences or park boundaries. Although animal sightings are sporadic, away from Pemba you can spot elephant, lion, hyena, leopard, wild dog, kudu, sable, buffalo, duiker, jackals, foxes, honey badgers, other small animals - such as the world's second-largest chameleon - and bush babies (common even in Pemba town). It's certainly worth a visit to the bush for its pristine natural beauty, bird life and a real feeling of typically African wilderness.
Furthermore, Cabo Delgado remains largely undeveloped and untouched and is a great place for experiencing Mozambican culture at its most authentic. Catch it while you can!
