Chake Chake

Chake Chake is in Pemba Island. Chake Chake is the main town of Pemba Island. It is close to the airport which serves the island.

Chake Chake is located on the western side of Pemba Island and is one of the island's principal commercial, transport and administrative centres.

Chake Chake is situated on a hilly section of western Pemba, overlooking the island's coastal landscape. The town is surrounded by tropical vegetation and agricultural areas, while the nearby coastline contains mangroves, small bays and traditional fishing communities.

Pemba is often associated with its fertile soils and production of cloves, which have historically been one of the island's most important cash crops. Other agricultural products include coconuts, bananas, cassava and various fruits and vegetables.

Chake Chake has a predominantly Swahili cultural character. Swahili is the main language used in everyday life, while English is also used in tourism, education and official communication.

Chake Chake has a tropical, warm and humid climate influenced by its location in the Indian Ocean. Rainfall is seasonal, with heavier rains occurring during the main wet season and a shorter rainy period later in the year. Temperatures remain warm throughout the year, while the coastal environment keeps humidity relatively high.

Most people will arrive by air.

• -5.25722239.8113891 Pemba Airport (Tanzania) (PMA  ^IATA Karume Airport). It is served by several local airlines, with flights via Zanzibar.  (updated Nov 2019)

Chake Chake is compact enough for visitors to explore parts of the town on foot. Taxis and local minibuses are available for longer journeys. Hiring a vehicle or arranging local transport is useful for visiting beaches, villages, plantations and other parts of Pemba Island.

There are many small shops and a market. There are also now internationally linked ATM's at NMB and Barclays.

• -5.2431339.763651 Hotel Archipelago (Hotel Hifadhi), Tibirinzi Street, ☏ +255 777492183. Close to Chake Chake if you need to be near town. basic but clean rooms with air conditioning. Internet in reception only. No alcohol is served!  (updated Nov 2016)

Not all of the mobile phone networks offer 3G/4G services. If you need mobile access to the internet, check that you have a SIM card for the right network.

• Wete — A major town on the northern part of Pemba Island.
• Mkoani — A port town in southern Pemba with ferry connections to other islands and mainland Tanzania.
• Pemba Island — Explore the island's beaches, forests, spice plantations and marine environments.
• Zanzibar City — The main city of the Zanzibar archipelago, on nearby Unguja Island.
• Zanzibar — Explore the islands' historic towns, beaches and cultural attractions.