Pemba Bay, Natural bay in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique.
Pemba Bay is a natural harbor in Cabo Delgado Province that pushes deep into the Indian Ocean through a narrow entrance channel. It ranks among Africa's largest natural ports, offering protected waters for anchoring and maritime activity.
The bay evolved from a fishing ground worked by Malagasy and Swahili fishermen into a Portuguese colonial settlement at the end of the 1800s. This shift shaped the region's development for centuries to come.
Local fishing communities shape daily life around the bay, with traditional boats heading out each morning to work the waters using nets and time-honored techniques.
Visitors can book boat excursions with local operators departing from the shore to explore different parts of the bay. The best time to visit is during the dry season when water conditions are calmer and visibility improves.
The bay serves as a migration route for whales and sea turtles that regularly appear in its waters and can be spotted from boat trips. The coral reefs here also shelter sunfish, a rare species usually found in much deeper ocean zones.
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