Travel Advice

Some things to note when going to Pemba

Travel Insurance
It  is a Swahili Divers booking condition that all divers must be adequately insured for scuba diving. For all of our non diving guests it is always a good idea to consider travel insurance when traveling to distant destinations. Bags might be lost, flights might be delayed causing missed connections, etc. A good insurance policy will greatly relieve any stress involved and help you get your money's worth during the journey.

Entry formalities
Visas are required by most nationalities. They cost up to US $50 and are available in Tanzanian Missions around the globe. They are valid for three months. You must have a valid passport, an onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds. You should also carry a current Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate with you.

If there is no Tanzanian Mission in your country, you may purchase a visa on arrival at Dar es Salaam international airport.

Please do check these details as they are government regulations, and always subject to change.

Clothing
Travel light as it never gets cold in Pemba . Attire is very casual and formal wear is considered unnecessary and impractical.

For men slacks and Hawaiian type shirts for formal occasions. Shorts or light pants, loose shirts or T-shirts for normal wear. Sneakers, sandals or flip-flops for footwear.

For women light cotton dress, skirts or sarongs with blouses or t-shirts are the most comfortable way to dress.

In Pemba, ladies should dress conservatively in the street . It is considered very offensive for women to show their shoulders or thighs. These restrictions do not apply anywhere within the Resort or when diving and sunbathing on a private beach, but a wrap-around should be worn when leaving those areas. If you forget yours, one of our female members of staff can help you shop for one. (Another great experience).

Currency
The Tanzanian shilling is the official currency of Pemba and the rest of Tanzania.  We recommend that visitors bring U.S. dollars to pay for all tourist services in Zanzibar/Pemba/Mainland Tanzania. Swahili Divers is very happy to accept Euros and British Pounds as well as Dollars, although you will be invoiced in US$. There are no ATM’s in Pemba and currency exchange can be traumatic.

Language
KiSwahili is spoken by everyone, and English is also used in business and Tourism. On Zanzibar Gujurati and Hindi are sometimes spoken. Arabic can be heard in Dar and Zanzibar .

Communication.
Most western companies have international roaming agreements with Tanzania and your phone will invariably work in Pemba. It won't however work at the resort as we are outside of the coverage area!  While in other parts of Pemba, you might want to purchase a local sim card. Celtel offers the best service in Pemba and Zantel is the cheapest.

We also monitor Marine VHF Channel 68 from 0730 to 2200hrs East African Time. (timings approximate)

Our e-mail address is resort@kayakpemba.com. Should you wish to receive e-mails at this address, we can print them for you. You can also use the internet, when the power is on, for a charge of $10 per hour.

Custom allowances
Prohibited from import are certain plants, fruits, animals, and narcotics.
Two bottles of liquor or wine, 20 cigars or 200 cigarettes may be brought in duty free.

These are government regulations and we take no responsibility for their continued accuracy. Please seek advice from the nearest Tanzania Mission in your country.

Electricity
Pemba uses the same electrical standards as Britain. We have no mains power at the resort, but our generator provides a steady electrical supply in the mornings and evenings.

Water
We recommend that you only drink the local mineral water that is available in the hotel 24 hours a day and at shops island wide.