Pemba and Mnemba Islands, Zanzibar & Islands, Tanzania

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To the north of Zanzibar lies the much less well-known island of Pemba, familiar to few other than keen scuba-divers, among whom its dive sites are renowned. But it deserves to be on the “must see” list for other savvy travellers too. The beaches are pristine and an 800m deep channel divides Pemba from the mainland making this one of Africa's greatest deep sea fishing destinations. The rich and alluring smell of cloves hangs in the air through much of the island and the locals remain friendly and interested in chatting with those few overseas visitors who make it to their shores.

Mnemba is a serenely private tropical island almost untouched and amazingly, only 20 minutes from Zanzibar by boat. Mnemba is described by some as a “therapy for the spirit”. Pristine beaches wrap around the island's small 1km circumference (less than one hour’s walk) while an outer protection zone surrounds the island, conserving magnificent coral reefs where giant turtles, ghost crabs and spectacular tropical fish drift through the lagoons.

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