←Mozambique travel guide
Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique
Pemba
A deep natural harbour opening to the coral-rich far north
BeachesNature & Outdoors
Pemba occupies a peninsula on Pemba Bay, one of the largest natural harbours in the world, and serves as the main entry point for the Quirimbas Archipelago to the north. Its Wimbi Beach curves along sheltered turquoise water, and the old town quarter retains the compact, layered feel of a long-standing Swahili trading settlement.
Check Mozambique visa requirements →
Best time to visit
May to November
Region
Cabo Delgado Province
Main airport
Pemba (POL)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Pemba
UNESCO World HeritageHistory
Island of Mozambique
This small coral island in the northern Indian Ocean was the colonial capital of Portuguese East Africa for nearly four centuries and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its architecture weaves together Arab, Swahili, Indian, and Portuguese influences across a remarkably compact area, taking in the sixteenth-century Fort of San Sebastian, whitewashed chapels, and a palace complex that once administered maritime trade routes stretching from Lisbon to Goa. Walking its narrow lanes feels like moving through a living archive of the Indian Ocean world.
Nature
Quirimbas National Park
Stretching 110 kilometres along the northeast coast in Cabo Delgado Province, this park encompasses eleven coral islands, vast expanses of reef, mangrove forests, and a significant mainland area of savannah and woodland. The marine environment supports dugongs, dolphins, humpback whales, and sea turtles, while the mainland corridor provides habitat for elephants, lions, and the rare African wild dog. At approximately 7,500 square kilometres, it ranks among the largest marine protected areas in Africa.
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Airalo eSIM
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Pemba
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Mozambique
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Mozambique page at Yoogo.
The official currency is the Mozambican Metical (MZN). Card payments are accepted in larger hotels, upmarket restaurants, and some supermarkets in Maputo and major tourist centres, but cash is essential for markets, local transport, and rural areas.
Most tourist areas, including Maputo, Inhambane, and the southern coast, are visited without incident by large numbers of travellers each year. Petty theft is the most common concern in urban areas, and the Cabo Delgado region in the far north has experienced significant insecurity in recent years, so checking current government travel advisories before your trip is important.
Domestic flights connect Maputo to Vilanculos, Inhambane, Pemba, and other regional hubs, and are the most practical option for covering long distances. Within cities, minibus taxis known as chapas are the cheapest form of shared transport, while ride-hailing apps including Bolt operate in Maputo; for coastal and island destinations, boat transfers by dhow or speedboat are common.
The dry season from June to October brings clear skies, lower humidity, and the best conditions for wildlife viewing and beach holidays, making it the most popular period. September and October are particularly good for combining coastal activities with game drives, and humpback whales are present offshore from June through to November.
Portuguese is the official language, and more than 40 Bantu languages are spoken across the country, with Emakhuwa the most widely used indigenous tongue. English is spoken in tourist lodges, upmarket hotels, and many tour operations, but outside the main resorts a few words of Portuguese will be genuinely useful.
Malaria is present throughout the country year-round, and antimalarial medication is strongly recommended for all travellers. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, and hepatitis A, typhoid, and routine vaccinations are also commonly advised; consult a travel health clinic well before departure.
Tipping is not compulsory but is appreciated and forms a meaningful part of income for those in the service industry. A tip of around 10 per cent is customary in restaurants when service is not already included, and US$5 to US$15 per day is a typical range for safari guides, with US$1 to US$2 per day for hotel housekeeping staff.