Essentials
- City
- Chake-Chake, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania
- Population
- Approx. 406,000 (entire island)
- Internet Speed
- Avg. 15-25 Mbps (4G/LTE is more reliable than hotel WiFi)
- Currency & Banking
- Tanzanian Shilling (TZS); 1 USD ≈ 2,580 TZS. Cash is king.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; bottled water costs approx. 1,000 TZS per 1.5L
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style) sockets; frequent load shedding
- SIM Card
- Zantel (best coverage on islands), Airtel; approx. 20,000 TZS for 10GB
- Banking for Expats
- PBZ (People's Bank of Zanzibar), NMB Bank in Chake-Chake; most ATMs only in the main town
- Accommodation
- Eco-lodges and guesthouses; prices range $30 - $400/night
- Cashless Friendly
- No; carry TZS for all local transactions. Higher-end resorts take USD/Cards with 5% fee
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options in Chake-Chake and Wesha; approx. $600 - $1,200/month
- Budget Accommodation
- Lala Lodge (Chake-Chake) - approx. $35/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kigomasha Peninsula (North) for luxury and diving; Misali Island for day trips
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Chake-Chake for proximity to banks and slightly better signal
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None available; Digital Nomads typically work from The Manta Resort (North) or Fundu Lagoon
- Best Cafe for Work
- Sea View Hotel Restaurant (Chake-Chake); consistent power and ocean breeze
- Networking Events
- Primarily informal meetups at dive centers like Swahili Divers
- Social Events for Expats
- Zanzibar Digital Nomads Facebook Group; weekend gatherings at Misali Island Sunset Beach
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps; local private taxis arranged via phone/hotels (Chake-Chake to Wete: ~40,000 TZS)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Available through local guesthouses; approx. 25,000 TZS per day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Vumawimbi Beach (unspoiled white sand in the North)
- Top Regional Airline
- Coastal Aviation, Auric Air (daily flights from Stone Town/Dar es Salaam)
- Top International Airline
- Qatar Airways or Emirates to Dar es Salaam, then regional transfer
- Highway Access
- Main paved road connects Chake-Chake (Center), Wete (North), and Mkoani (South)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Main Port is Mkoani for ferries from Zanzibar/Dar
- Public Transport Passes
- Dalla-Dallas (minibuses) cost ~1,000-3,000 TZS per trip; pay in cash
- Regional Travel
- Fast Ferry (Azam Marine) from Mkoani to Stone Town: $35 - $50
Culture and Attractions
- Annual Events
- Bullfighting (a traditional Portuguese-influenced spectator sport, non-lethal)
- Cultural Districts
- Wete Town for colonial-era architecture
- Theater Venues
- None; local community halls used for Taarab music performances
- Local Markets
- Wete Fish Market (early morning)
- Music Scene
- Traditional Taarab music often played at weddings and festivals
- Street Art
- Limited; focused on traditional wood carving and Henna art
- Cooking Classes
- Available through 'Pemba Living' local experiences
- Art Galleries
- None; local artisans sell Tingatinga paintings in markets
- Historic Buildings
- The Old Fort at Chake-Chake
- Local Heritage
- The Clove Industry (Pemba produces 70% of Zanzibar's cloves)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ngezi Forest Reserve (Prehistoric rainforest)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Pemba Museum (housed in an 18th-century Omani fort in Chake-Chake)
- Historical Sites
- Mkame Ndume Ruins (15th-century palace in Pujini)
- Religious Sites
- Wete Great Mosque
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Misali Island Marine Conservation Area (World-class snorkeling)
- National Parks Nearby
- Saadani National Park (accessible via flight to mainland)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Dirt tracks through the clove plantations (Self-guided or with local escort)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Ras Kigomasha Lighthouse
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ngezi Forest (Home to the Pemba Scops Owl)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Most beach resorts in the North
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- EMS Tanzania (located in Chake-Chake post office)
- Tech Repair Services
- Basic mobile repair shops in Chake-Chake Market
- Table Tennis Spots
- Local youth centers in Wete
- Language Classes
- Private Swahili tutors available via hotels ($10-15/hour)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Public Library in Chake-Chake (Limited resources)
- Community Centers
- Kwanini Foundation centers
- Gaming Lounges
- Small 'Playstation' huts for locals in Chake-Chake
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None; gambling is discouraged
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $800 per m² (Local ownership preferred; foreigners use long-term leases via ZIPA)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $500 per m² (Agricultural land restrictions apply)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $45,000 for a 60m² unit (rarely available in modern format)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $30,000 (often traditional builds)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $70,000 (80m² renovation project)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $55,000 (near coast)
- Corporate Tax
- 30% (Tanzania standard)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (for residents/non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30%
- VAT
- 15% (Zanzibar specific rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, managed under Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
- Property Tax
- Yes, flat rates based on building type/location
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty approx. 1% + Legal fees
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Zanzibar 'Digital Nomad Visa' under discussion; current business visas allow short stays
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Chake-Chake Hospital (Basic care; medical evacuation recommended for serious issues)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Manta Resort Spa (Kigomasha) offers private yoga sessions
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Local basic gyms in Chake-Chake; The Kwanini Foundation center
- Laundry Services
- Most hotels/guesthouses provide per-piece laundry ($1-$2 per item)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None; Tiffin-style delivery can be arranged with local cooks
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pemba Clove Chicken & Octopus Curry (Mchuzi wa Pweza)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sharook Guest House Restaurant (Wete) offers vegetable pilau and beans
- Best Dessert Spots
- Local markets for 'Kashata' (coconut/peanut brittle)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Chake-Chake Central Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- None; rely on specialized shipping from Dar es Salaam
- Grocery Delivery
- Not available; local market shopping is standard
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Very limited (mostly Muslim population); Beer available at tourist hotels like Misali Sunset
- Local Brewery
- No local brewery; Safari and Kilimanjaro lager are widely distributed
- Wine Bars
- High-end resorts (Fundu Lagoon) have extensive wine cellars
- Street Food Stalls
- Chake-Chake Night Market (similar to Forodhani but smaller)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Italian/Fusion at Emerald Bay Resort (Chake-Chake)