Sleepy Fundu Lagoon By Ian Williamson At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Fundu Lagoon has beautiful beaches and is on the south western side of Pemba Island. This sleepy island is an ideal place for a honeymoon or just to relax and unwind. For the more energetic Pemba is listed as one of the top diving locations in the world there is a fully-equipped PADI Resort Diving Center and a wide range of water sports including snorkeling and kayaking.

Pemba Mesali Marine Sanctuary is worth a visit, especially for the beach lovers. Spend time relaxing on the white beach or snorkeling on the numerous reefs around the sanctuary. The protected reefs provide home to an exceptional range of sea life. Pristine corals attract vast numbers of reef fish and animals coming in from deeper waters. It is quite probable here to bump into manta, eagle rays, barracuda and other game fish. For sun-lovers and dry land-lovers, the Mesali beaches are superb and it is possible to go for nature trails with trained wardens through this island marine sanctuary including a walk on turtle nesting beaches.

The warm Indian Ocean waters surrounding Pemba Island are home to thousands of species of tropical fish and exotic marine life. Not only is Pemba renowned for its pristine and un-spoilt coral reefs but also for its vertical coral cliffs which plummet to depths of more than 800 meters. Underwater visibility often reaches 40 meters or more. Looking over the precipice of some of the outer walls can be a mind blowing experience. Watch out for the Vertigo! There is stunning wreck dive available in the South of Pemba Island at Panza which is home to large groupers and Napoleon wrasse.

On a low tide, walking along the sand flats outside Fundu Lagoon will reveal an astonishing array of inter-tidal wildlife. This is particularly interesting for bird watchers, as the waders, such as herons, ibis and egret, flock to the area to hunt for small invertebrates and fish left behind on the sands and in the shallow sea pools. You can sometimes see the beautiful fish eagle circling overhead and hear the shrieking of the brown headed parrot in the trees. Other things to discover include many different shells, crabs, starfish and the peculiar mudskipper, a fish that can skip across the sands on its pectoral fins.

Other Activities include traditional Dhow Sailing Trips are popular at sunset. Sail around the Fundu Lagoon bay, on the wooden sailing dhow, listen to the wind in the sails and the water lapping around the dhow as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, turning the skies into a myriad of colors.

Fundu Lagoon lies on a peninsular with a large expanses of mangrove. The mangrove ecosystem is a precious world abundant in wildlife – the mangroves sustain a wide variety of birdlife living alongside the large numbers of crabs, insect life and fish life which coexist in this environment. You can visit this unexplored wilderness by taking a boat trip down the coast or hire a canoe and explore the mangroves with a guide.

Ngezi forest in the North of Pemba is a beautiful area of natural rain forest. it is full of spectacular tress and is populated by large numbers of birdlife and the vervet monkey. The best way to reach this forest from the south west is by speedboat to Weshe from where it is possible to drive northwards through the Pemba countryside, giving the chance to see some local village life on the way. Once at the forest a local guide will help you follow a nature trail which concludes with a picnic on one of Pemba’s most stunning stretches of beach.

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