Pemba is an island about 50 km. to the north of the island Zanzibar. Both islands are part of Tanzania and lie off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It lies 50 km. east of the mainland Tanzania. Together with Mafia Island (south of Zanzibar), they form the Spice Islands.
Most part of the island, which is regarded to be hillier and more fertile than Zanzibar, is dominated by small scale farming. There is large scale farming of cash crops such as cloves. It is dominated by over 3 million clove trees and the sweet smell will follow you everywhere.
It is seldom visited, although it is a center for traditional medicine and witchcraft. People come from as far away as Zaire to seek spriritual and physical healers.
The most important towns in Pemba are Chake Chake and Wete.
1988 est. pop. 265,000, 980 sq km.