Where to Stay in Pemba Island: Best Lodges & Guesthouses by Budget

Pemba Island has a small, select accommodation scene. There are no international hotel chains, no large resorts, and no party-beach strips. What Pemba has is two genuinely excellent eco-lodges, a small number of mid-range options, and a network of local guesthouses in the two main towns. The choice you make shapes the entire experience — staying at a lodge means water sports, wildlife walks, and isolation; staying in Chake Chake means markets, fishing-village culture, and significantly lower costs.

Budget: Chake Chake and Wete Guesthouses

Budget accommodation on Pemba is functional rather than scenic. The best guesthouses are in Chake Chake (the administrative centre) and Wete (the northern hub). Rooms are clean, have fans, and usually have shared or en-suite bathrooms. Air conditioning is rare below TZS 70,000 per night.

Pemba Island Hotel (Chake Chake): The most consistently recommended mid-budget option in town. En-suite rooms with fan, reliable hot water, and a basic restaurant serving local meals (rice, fish, chapati). From approximately TZS 55,000–80,000 per room per night (approximately USD 20–30 as of 2026). It is the most reliable option in town for international visitors — the front desk speaks English and can arrange vehicle hire and day trips.

Sharook Guest House (Chake Chake): Smaller operation, friendly family management. Basic rooms from approximately TZS 35,000–50,000 per night. No restaurant but there are local food stalls within 5 minutes’ walk. Popular with Tanzanian business travellers and domestic tourists.

New Warere Town House (Wete): The main budget option in Wete. Simple rooms, central location close to Wete harbour and the ferry landing. From approximately TZS 40,000–60,000 per night. Useful if you’re arriving by ferry from the mainland or planning to explore the north coast.

What budget means on Pemba: There are no hostels and no dormitories. Budget accommodation is private rooms with shared or en-suite bathrooms, usually fan-cooled. Meals are local Swahili food — ugali, rice dishes, grilled fish — which is good. Costs for a budget traveller including room, meals, and local transport: approximately USD 35–60 per day.

Mid-Range: Limited Options

Mid-range accommodation is genuinely scarce on Pemba. There is a gap between the basic guesthouses (under USD 35) and the eco-lodges (USD 300+). A few options sit in this middle ground.

Mtambe Lodge (near Chake Chake, Mtambe village): A small property with chalets on a hill above the sea. Views over the channel. En-suite rooms with air conditioning. From approximately USD 80–120 per night including breakfast. Not beachfront — you need transport to reach any good swimming beach. The lodge can arrange vehicle hire and day trips. Best for travellers who want more comfort than a guesthouse but don’t need a lodge’s full facilities.

Clove Island Dive Resort (Chake Chake area): A small dive-focused property with basic en-suite bungalows from approximately USD 85–110 per night. Package deals combining accommodation and diving are available and represent the best value at this price point. Direct access to house snorkelling; dive centre runs day trips to Misali.

Luxury: Pemba’s Eco-Lodges

Pemba’s two flagship lodges are among the best small eco-lodges in East Africa. Both are remote, both require advance booking, and both include meals in their rates (the island has no restaurant scene outside of the town guesthouses).

Manta Resort (Chwaka Bay, northwest coast): Pemba’s signature property and one of the most photographed lodges in Africa, known for its underwater room — a floating structure with an underwater bedroom that allows guests to watch the reef from bed. Not all rooms are the underwater room (rates for that specific unit start at approximately USD 900 per night). Standard beachfront bandas start from approximately USD 350 per night for two people, full board.

The resort has its own PADI dive centre (Swahili Divers), a house reef, kayaks, and a boat for trips to Misali and other sites. The beach in front of the resort is one of the best on the island’s northwest coast — calm, clear, and almost always empty. The underwater room requires booking months in advance; standard accommodation is easier to book but still fills in peak season (June–October and December–January).

Fundu Lagoon (Wambaa Bay, northwest coast): The longer-established of Pemba’s two luxury lodges. 18 tented bandas on a steep hillside above the water, each with a private veranda and sea view. Fundu is known for its conservation programme — the marine reserve around the lodge is actively managed and the house reef is in exceptionally good condition.

From approximately USD 370–490 per night per person, full board. Rates include all meals, snorkelling equipment, kayaks, and sunset dhow cruises. Diving is extra — approximately USD 60–70 per dive with Fundu’s own dive centre. The lodge closes for the long rains (approximately mid-April to mid-June); confirm exact dates when booking.

What luxury means on Pemba: Both lodges are genuinely remote. You cannot walk to a restaurant or a shop. Full-board rates mean all meals are included and you plan your activities around the lodge’s schedule. This suits travellers who want immersion; it is not a good fit for those who want independence to explore the island independently.

Booking Practical Notes

• Both eco-lodges have limited rooms (10–18 each). Book 2–4 months ahead for June–October. December and January also fill early.
• Guesthouses can be booked on arrival, though calling ahead (via WhatsApp) is sensible during public holidays.
• Airport pick-up: Manta Resort and Fundu Lagoon both arrange transfers from Karume Airport (approximately 30–45 minutes). Confirm at booking. Guesthouses in Chake Chake can send a taxi but you may need to arrange this separately.
• Power supply: Both lodges have generator backup. Guesthouses in Chake Chake have mains power but outages are common — bring a power bank.

Browse Tanzania island tours and accommodation for current availability at Pemba’s eco-lodges.