{"id":98890,"date":"2016-05-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/northern-mozambiques-pemba-medjumbe-island\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:53:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:53:24","slug":"northern-mozambiques-pemba-medjumbe-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/northern-mozambiques-pemba-medjumbe-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Mozambique, The Remote Town Of Pemba & Idyllic Medjumbe Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’d never been to Mozambique.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Somehow my travels had me skirt around the narrow\u00a0strip of land that hugs the South East coast of Africa with its popular\u00a0Indian Ocean beaches,\u00a0offshore parks protecting rare marine\u00a0life such as the\u00a0dugongs and where the game reserves are just a little\u00a0wilder than others. In the north\u00a0the Quirimbas Archipelago stretches across 250km of coral islands and the mangrove-covered Ibo Island holds the history of\u00a0colonial-era ruins. An\u00a0invitation to\u00a0visit\u00a0Northern Mozambique, the remote town of Pemba and idyllic Medjumbe Island, was therefore one I couldn’t resist.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Once a Portuguese colony, Mozambique\u00a0gained independence in 1975,\u00a0but it was not to be plain sailing and their\u00a0devastating\u00a0Civil War broke out\u00a0in 1977,\u00a0only\u00a0ending in 1992 with\u00a0the country’s first multi-party elections in 1994. This\u00a0history has meant a slow revival for the more remote parts of the country, although island destinations and coastal hotspots have always drawn the more intrepid traveller seeking\u00a0a rustic and simple breakaway.<\/p>\n

My trip had me\u00a0arriving in Pemba where there is an exotic mix of Portuguese colonialism and a slow rebirth\u00a0of a\u00a0new era. Here\u00a0it tastes and smells of coastal Africa and offers a seductive glimpse into an unknown culture. Staying at\u00a0Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa from which we could\u00a0explore Pemba\u00a0from the ground before taking a light aircraft transfer to Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort with it’s unspoilt nature.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0AVANI Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa<\/a>\u00a0brings\u00a0together a mix of\u00a0African and Arabian architectural design, oceanfront lawns, a collection of large swimming pools with a spacious Spa\u00a0and jacuzzi overlooking the sea. Best known as a business hotel, their apartment and luxury suites, tall palm trees and ambience rich Clube Naval restaurant appeal much to tourist, as do the charming staff.<\/p>\n

Pemba itself is an ancient port town and wonderful\u00a0to explore by car or on foot. The one\u00a0day we took to the streets just after 7am for a 14km walk\u00a0through the open air market, music blaring from trader’s stalls and the chatter of an unfamiliar language on the air.\u00a0Kids were playing football, fishermen bringing in their catch, bikes zoomed past\u00a0and billy goats owned their turf. There was\u00a0a\u00a0mad humid heat about, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a local Manica<\/em> beer and well worth it!\u00a0On another day, a drive into the centre\u00a0to look to the primary sites, monuments, lighthouse, food and clothing markets and ending with a long leisurely lunch of a traditional lobster braai and local beer on the beach. Two glorious resident dogs for company.<\/p>\n

\"A
A look towards the AVANI Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The pergola leading up to the rooms.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"One
One of the pools at the AVANI Pemba Hotel & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Avani
AVANI Pemba, the view from the jacuzzi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Blue
Blue drinks at AVANI Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Room
Room with a view, at AVANI Pemba Hotel & Spa, looking towards the Indian Ocean.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A once colonial building of pride, holds it’s charm intact.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A street scene while walking Pemba.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A little girl trading in fresh produce on the streets of Pemba.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Goat
Goat reclining against a blue wall in the shade, Pemba.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From\u00a0Pemba we transferred by light aircraft transfer to Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort<\/a>, which is found\u00a0on a\u00a0strip of land that emerges from the deep shades of ocean blue.<\/p>\n

Idyllically located on a tiny private island in the jewel-like Quirimbas Archipelago off the northern coast of Mozambique, Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort offers an exclusive paradise escape. Powdery white sands, a pristine beach, large reception area, dining room and loft lounge surrounded by wooden decks.\u00a0Tastes of island life with\u00a0local cuisine and freshly caught seafood enjoyed next to waters or just sip on a cocktail and watch the birds at play.<\/p>\n

It’s speaks in the language of beach luxury\u00a0cliches.<\/p>\n

The 12 villas along the shoreline each have a private\u00a0deck with plunge pool and outdoor shower. Newly refurbished in an easy style with natural wood, high beams and surrounding ocean views with\u00a0the perfect touch of contemporary African design. In each room a\u00a0yoga mat, kettle bells, weights and skipping rope as well as a beach bag with sarong and flip flops, all adding to the\u00a0ease of your stay. As does the much valued air-con, TV, wifi and mod-cons, which bring\u00a0a balance between your\u00a0escape to nature and the world we live in.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Quirimbas Archipelago is the perfect place for\u00a0water sports, from snorkelling the underwater world to\u00a0water skiing\u00a0and\u00a0wake-boarding. Walk the island, take to the communal pool or your private decks, swim in the warm waters. You can also\u00a0take out a\u00a0kayak or stand up paddle board or book scuba diving at the sports centre. Highly recommend is a\u00a015 minute boat journey to the 400x600m Quissanga Island where you can spend the day on this tiny island, enjoying lunch and time in the water in complete privacy. Do not surpass the opportunity\u00a0to take to the Anantara Spa\u00a0for a\u00a0beautifying touch for some\u00a0Me Time.<\/p>\n

The resort is\u00a0staffed entirely by men, except for the Manager\u00a0Anne-Christine Procope and the most gracious and talented Spa therapists. Do take a treatment.\u00a0Azure blues, white sand, dhow sails catching the wind. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place of such untouched beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dawn
Approaching Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort by light aircraft.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The beautiful Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort, from the water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"My
My room at Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort with private deck and plunge pool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Private
Private Plunge Pool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The contemporary island look and feel of the Anantara Medjumbe rooms.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dhow
Set sail on a handcrafted dhow,\u00a0with just the stirring of the sails for company. The water is so clear you can see all the way the way to the bottom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lighthouse
Visit the decommissioned Medjumbe lighthouse which is sadly going to be demolished later this year. Derelict and somewhat forgotten, it has held pride of place over the water for decades.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Walk
Walk around the island, at low tide when the island is at it’s sandbank biggest, the distance is 5,3km.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Shell
Shell seeking. The size of them. But don’t remove\u00a0a thing, the fine for that is US$300!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ghost
Just love the ghost crab dodging that becomes essential as you walk the shoreline and even between the rooms by night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Snorkelling.\"
My guide Tiberio lead\u00a0the snorkel and helped\u00a0point out ghost pipe fish, parrot fish, lion fish, racoon butterfly fish, dory snappers and Indian sand wrasses, among much else. The water was clear and warm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Boat
On the boat heading back to Medjumbe from lunch on the Quissanga Island. Salty, suntanned and very happy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lounging
Lounging at the tip of Medjumbe\u00a0island where your\u00a0view\u00a0is towards the\u00a0snaking white strip of land and the blue beyond it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From there, despite every wish to slow down time, the return was upon us with a flight to Pemba and an easy transfer back to Johannesburg and home.<\/p>\n

A very hard place to leave\u00a0as much of me felt I’d had a glimpse of the world, still exactly as the gods intended\u00a0…<\/p>\n

Useful Information when planning your trip to Northern Mozambique.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Airlink offer direct flight from Johannesburg to\u00a0Pemba.<\/li>\n
  • South Africans do\u00a0not\u00a0require a visa to visit.<\/li>\n
  • Airport transfers are easily arranged with the hotel of your stay. If in Pemba its an easy road transfer and if you’re lucky enough to be making your way to Medjumbe Island, they will arrange your air transfers. These are pricey, but then a ticket to heaven, would be.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Don’t be worried about walking the streets of Pemba, they are\u00a0safe, friendly and welcoming. Not to mention vibrant and bursting with everyday life. I encourage it.<\/li>\n
  • Ask before you take photographs, a rule that should apply wherever you find yourself. Although here many of the people I met\u00a0wanted\u00a0to pose for me.<\/li>\n
  • The Mozambican Metical<\/em> is the currency of Mozambique. South African Rand is also\u00a0accepted but the exchange rate may be tricky and you would do well\u00a0to download the www.xe.com app to help you as you go. Visa and Mastercard is\u00a0accepted at the hotel, but hardly anywhere else. Cash works best and I’d recommend you draw some at the airport.<\/li>\n
  • About 70% of the population in the northern part of Mozambique are Muslim, the rest are mostly Catholics, influenced by the early day Portuguese. While in the south the stats are reversed. But right here a strong Arabic influence is felt.<\/li>\n
  • Don’t miss the opportunity to spend a night in Pemba.<\/li>\n
  • You’ll want to shop at the Pemba market for brightly printed capulanas<\/em>, hand-crafted Makonde wood carvings and hand-made silver jewellery for which the area is known. Be prepared to bargain, it is expected.<\/li>\n
  • Regarding keeping in touch, I\u00a0picked up a local simcard from a group of enthusiastic kids who bombarded me on my arrival at the airport. I took a chance and bought a card and 1 Gig of data for R200 and the hotel helped me load it as all instructions are in Portuguese. If you do this, ask your driver to help and make sure you get the right size Simcard. That said, the accommodations offer free WiFi and you will\u00a0most likely be able to get by with just that.<\/li>\n
  • It’s hot and humid and sultry and there is salt on the air. Pack accordingly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    To add a negative, be prepared for the litter on some of the beaches in and around Pemba. I was saddened to see it but on conversing with the management at the hotel, learnt of their struggle. Each day they pick up the litter that washes up along the shoreline, yet sadly there is nowhere in the area to properly process it. If anybody has an altruist idea and wants to head to Northern Mozambique to help, you would certainly be contributing greatly to this local environment.<\/p>\n

    I\u00a0travelled by invitation of Theresa Gibbon PR\u00a0and was generously hosted by the resorts throughout. I’m most\u00a0grateful.<\/p>\n

    The Beauty of Northern Mozambique<\/strong>.<\/p>\n