Pemba

Pemba

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 neighbourhood 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.

Car hire & getting around

There are three official car rental companies in Pemba and several private operators: Moti Rent a Car and Imperial Car Hire at the airport, and Omar Rent a Car in town. Rates are generally high and make sure to check whether insurance is included. All the car rental companies have 4x4s and 4x2s for rent within or outside the town.
Kaskazini has access to a fleet of 4x4 Suzukis available at good prices!

Public transport mainly consists of chapas, which can be anything from a Honda Hiace minibus to a beaten-up pick-up. There are also three public buses which run from Pemba town to Maringanha and Pemba Muxara regularly. There are taxis with meters, with the main taxi rank located next to the mCel building.
Pemba town is small enough to explore on foot, but be aware that this can be very tiring in hot weather. Hitching a lift is a generally safe option and many drivers will help out foreigners in need.
The Mecula buses depart early in the morning from the Mecula Bus depot in town (behind Osman Yacob Supermarket, next to Trak Auto) for destinations such as Mueda, Mocimboa da Praia, Nampula and Nacala (Ilha de Moçambique). Make sure to be there at 04h30 or before to get a seat.

There are also several Tanzanian buses (around 30 seats) which operate the same routes as well as in and around town.