This plantation's private airfield is available to Quilálea guests and is just across the bay.

To the north of Quirimba lies historic Ibo Island, where Vasco da Gama rested in 1502. In later years, Ibo became a major trading centre for ivory and slaves. Three forts, a cathedral, and numerous palatial homes once graced the town.

The main fort overlooks the entrance to the harbour and was built to protect Portuguese Mozambique from the French Comores to the east.

It is constructed in the form of a pentagon. Only three other pentagonal forts remain, one each in Mombasa, in Cape Town, and in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. Ancient cannon still grace the ramparts, though the fort is now inhabited by silversmiths who make jewelry using ancient Arab techniques and tools — blowpipes, charcoal, lemon juice, and tiny metal files.

Pemba, formerly known as Porto Amelia, is the vibrant capital of Cabo Delgado Province. The city lies on the south shore of Pemba Bay, the third largest bay in the world.

The modern port, the international airport, two new quality hotels, a number of recently-opened restaurants, and a network of newly-repaired roads combine with the historic charm of the old city to welcome you to the Mozambican coast, which is longer than the west coast of the USA.

Pemba is linked to the rest of the world by automatic digital telephone exchange

The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from December through to April. Rainfall is usually in the form of brief, intense showers. Almost every day is sunny; the

evapotranspiration rate has been calculated to be almost twice the annual rainfall.

Daytime temperatures vary from the mid-30's in the warmer months to the mid-20's in the cooler season from May to September.

Water temperatures vary between 24 and 27 degrees celcius, ensuring comfortable diving all year. Cabo Delgado Province and the Quirimbas Archipelago lie outside and to the north of the Indian Ocean's cyclone belt.