Indian Ocean Yacht Charters
Boat Rental & Yacht Charters in the Indian Ocean Islands
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CRUISE ITINERARYS
Yacht Charter to Pemba & Zanzibar Island in East Africa
Zanzibar and Pemba Island Yacht Charter Cruise Itinerary’s. 3, 5 and 7 night yacht charter cruises around the islands of the Zanzibar and Pemba Archipelago
A yacht charter combining the busier well-known island of Zanzibar with its more developed tourism infrastructure, resorts, bars and restaurants intermingled with old Zanzibar culture and history, and the much lesser known Pemba Island which has no bars or restaurants and no developed tourism infrastructure – just uninhabited islands and beaches with few if any other tourists.
Pemba Island
Pemba Island, which is north of Zanzibar, is very different from the other islands in the region with gentle, undulating hills and deep verdant valleys covered with dense clove, coconut and mango plantations. A number of smaller islands, with exotic white sandy beaches and rich coral reefs, surrounds it.
Explore the inner region of Pemba Island, visit local communities, explore rain forest reserves and try to spot the giant fly Foxes of Pemba. Snorkel, swim, fish, kayak around the beautiful outlying islands off Pemba that remain completely untouched. Spending time on a yacht in these waters is superb, and you will probably have the whole place practically to yourself.
Discover exotic iconic Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an island dipped deep in culture and history – a destination, which over the ages has brought adventurers, explores and traders from across the old world to her shores.
Her name, Zanzibar, is exotic and iconic and now entices people from all over the globe to experience her unique east African charms.
Zanzibar is also known as the ‘Spice Island’ due to the delicious variety of spices grown on the islands many plantations.
Zanzibar is steeped in history. Stone Town, a World Heritage Site, boasts a labyrinth of twisting winding narrow alleyways, busy and interesting marketplaces, beautifully wooden architecture and grand old Arab residences. It really is a heady place to walk around and experience.
Another must-see attraction on Zanzibar includes the Jozani Forest Reserve – home to the rare Kirk’s red colobus monkey and Aders’ duiker. Off the north-eastern coast of Zanzibar is Mnemba Island – an idyllic island with breathtaking scenery and rich marine diversity. Infact Zanzibar is surrounded by other smaller islands and on a yacht charter, we get to see many of them, such as Prison, Bawe, Chapwani, Chumbe and Mnemba Island.
A Zanzibar and Pemba Island Yacht Charter Cruise should be a “bucket list” experience, and we are sure you are going to have an amazing experience
7 Nights/ 8 Days Luxury Yacht Charter
Pemba Island
Zanzibar Island
Private charter yacht
Snorkelling
Stand Up Paddle boarding
Fishing
World Heritage sites
Stone Town to Mangwapani
Mnemba Island - Marine Reserve
Misali Marine Park - Pemba Island
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Stone Town to Mangwapani
We start with the guests boarding the vessel in Stone Town, a world heritage site recognized as the oldest Arabian city still functioning today.
We will cruise west to some small islands and sandbanks just off shore from Stone Town for your first snorkel.
The we head north exploring the islands like Chapwani and Changu Island where there is a giant turtle sanctuary. Go ashore and see these beautiful creatures some over 100 years old, do some snorkelling.
We will find an overnight anchorage for the night.
Day 2: Mangwapani / Tambatu Island
Mangwapani was a favourite hideaway for old time slavers trying to avoid the British anti-slavery fleet.
Today the site boasts two hotels and a pristine beach.
A short walk away is the cave that once housed those poor souls who were unfortunate enough to have been captured as slaves.
Tambatu Island, one of the few islands in the world where Voodoo is still practiced. Just south of Tambatu is a wonderful sheltered bay that often has a pod of dolphins cavorting around it. It’s also a great place to explore on Kayaks.
Day 3: Kendwa and Ras Nungwi
Kendwa is one of the world’s top beaches and is Ras Nungwi, the northern most tip of Zanzibar is a delightful fishing village.
Here one can witness traditional dhows being built in a manner that has been unchanged for nearly a thousand years. There is also a turtle sanctuary.
There is a good vibe here with good beach front restaurants and beach bars with live music, so if you feel like heading a shore and enjoying the night life, you can.
Our yachts are anchored just 100 meters off the beach at Nungwi which is a popular place for people to enjoy the sunset.
Day 4: Mnemba Island Coral Atoll
From Nungwi the plan will be to head around the northern tip of Zanzibar to Mnemba Island Atoll. En-route, we will through some fishing lines out and hope to catch fresh fish for lunch or dinner.
This is a breathtaking place, and although the island itself is private and does not allow day visitors on the actual island, we are allowed to anchor there for the day or overnight and enjoy the reefs and atolls.
Enjoy snorkeling right off the yacht, kayak, try Stand up paddle boarding, play music, dance, enjoy cold drinks and relax.
It’s a piece of heaven and with the snorkelling reefs directly under the yacht, so you can literally just flop over the side of the yacht to see the fish.
Day 5 - 7: Pemba Archipelago & Misali Island.
We will set off after breakfast and head out across the channel to Pemba Island. It is about a 5 hour sail, so we will put the fishing lines out again and hope we catch fresh fish. Pemba is a place that time forgot.
There are only 3 lodges in the entire archipelago, which is almost the same size as Zanzibar so you are unlikely to see any other visitors. There are dozens of remote anchorages, no light pollution no noise. Its magical. If guests are in the mood we can go to Fundu Lagoon.
There is a luxury beach lodge there and they are very welcoming of our guests to come and spend some time there, have drinks or lunch, use the swimming pool and even do some scuba diving if you wish.
The Misali Island Conservation area and Misali is an uninhabited island, and offers some of the richest reefs and marine life in the world. We anchor about 50 metres from the beach on the reef drop off and the snorkeling and diving is amazing and is available right off the beach or yacht. The island is also home to the Pemba Flying Fox and to the globally endangered large Coconut Crabs. In the evenings we will light a fire on the beach and enjoy a beach BBQ and dinner under the stars.
We will set sail for Nungwi again to arrive in the evening of day 7. Guests can go ashore to enjoy the beach bars and restaurants on the last night or stay aboard the yacht.
Day 8: Nungwi - End of Charter
Disembark in the morning at Nungwi Beach.
Transfer to the airport or your next destination.
When is the best time to go sailing in Zanzibar?
Mid Dec to End Feb - Best charter areas N Zanzibar and Pemba Archipelago west coast and south.
March April calm with flat seas and hot. Cruising everywhere is fantastic
May calm seas but usually some rain about. Still not a bad time to be cruising as cool with calm seas.
June through to end Sept - Best charter areas Pemba North and West Coast.
Oct through to mid Dec. Fantastic time, calm seas, good fishing, hot and cruising all areas is fantastic
How to get to there?
There are International Flight direct to Stone Town (Zanzibar Island) or Via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
We meet you at Zanzibar airport
Road Transfer to your hotel or resort if you have pre-charter nights booked, or directly to Nungwi or to Stone Town beach front to meet crew and transfer by dingy to yacht.
Gallery
This is a guide itinerary only. There is no set cruise time frame or route we take, as it all depends on the conditions at the time and the wishes of the guests.
