Pemba Island Travel Essentials
Planning a trip to Pemba Island requires a of preparation and planning. Pemba is not a mass tourism destination and remains off the beaten track. We have gathered information to help you plan your trip. If you are looking for the weather and rainfalls, go to the when to visit page
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry.
VISA
Most international visitors require a tourist visa for the entry to Tanzania (which includes Zanzibar and Pemba). This costs $50 for most nationalities and $100 for US citizens. We strongly recommend applying for an e-Visa online at least 3 weeks before arrival to avoid long queues at the airport. Unfortunattely the online service is not always working and the only optionis Visa on arrival. If getting Visa on arrival you can pay for your visa with a card and cash is not necessary.
Read about Visa here
Mandatory Travel Insurance
Since 2025 Zanzibar and Pemba and since 2026 Tanzania mainland requires a mandatory government travel insurance for all international visitors. This is regardless of your own private travel insurance. This insurance will give you free basic care in case of illness but will by no means offer you full coverage including medical evacuation in an emergency. Get your own travel insurance on top of the mandatory goverment one. In case you are travel to the mainland and Pemba one government insurance from Zanzibar or the mainland is enough, no need for a double. Its a bit confusing, but in short the mainland one is called NIC and the Zanzibar one is called ZIC. Regardless of which one you get it will give you coverage for mainland, Zanzibar and Pemba.
Read more and get insurance here
Vaccinations
A Yellow Fever certificate is mandatory if you have have spent more than 12 hours in transit in or are arriving from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever.
Malaria
Pemba is a malarial zone, but the level of malaria is very low. Consult your doctor about prophylactic medication before you travel.
Vaccinations
There are Hositals in Konde, Chake Chake, Wete, and Mkoani for basic treatments. For serious emergencies, medical evacuation to Nairobi, Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam is required. It is advised to have travel insurance which covers emergency evacuation by air.
Money and ATMS
Card payments are generally not possible outside international hotels. Cash in Tanzania shilling ffor payments are necessary. There are ATMS which take international cards in Chake Chake, Wete and Mkoani.
Internet
Pemba Island has good coverage of 4g internet and 5g internet in some places. Hotels, including Makangale Bay has free internet which is good enough for normal use.