Your stay — Rezz Lda
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The Property — Rezz Lda
Rezz Lda is a straightforward three-star hotel aimed at budget-conscious travellers and short-stay visitors who value cleanliness over character. The lobby is compact with functional furniture, a small reception desk, and a faint scent of cleaning products – no pretence, just a place to sleep. Its USP is location: a short walk from Pemba’s main market and the waterfront, making it a practical base for exploring the town. It suits independent travellers or small groups who plan to spend most of their time out and about rather than lounging in the hotel.
Chronicles of Pemba
Pemba, originally called Porto Amélia, grew as a Portuguese colonial port in the early 20th century, exporting sisal and copra from the surrounding plantations. After independence in 1975, the city’s architecture stalled, leaving a mix of faded colonial buildings and concrete blocks. The discovery of natural gas offshore and the nearby Quirimbas National Park have recently spurred modest economic revival. Today, Pemba feels like a work-in-progress: a slow-paced, dusty port town with a growing tourist infrastructure around diving and dhow trips. Its identity is shaped by Swahili, Portuguese and Makonde influences, visible in the local food, music and crafts.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pemba guide →Best months
June to September: dry season with clear skies, low humidity and comfortable temperatures around 25–30°C. Fewer mosquitoes and calmer seas make it ideal for beach trips and diving.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak months; the dry weather and European summer holidays push visitor numbers. Hotel prices can rise 20–30% above shoulder-season rates. The Pemba Festival (late August) draws crowds for music and dance, but the main driver is simple good weather.
Budget shoulder season
May and October offer the sweet spot: still mostly dry, fewer tourists and rates often 10–15% lower than July. You’ll get better flight deals from Maputo and Dar es Salaam, and the town feels less crowded.
Weather & packing
Pemba’s climate is consistently warm but can turn humid after rain. Pack light cotton clothing, a decent sun hat, reef-safe sunscreen and one long-sleeved shirt for evening mosquitoes.
Live City Briefing — Pemba
- New direct flights from Johannesburg to Pemba (operated by Airlink, started mid-2025) now run three times weekly, cutting travel time from South Africa.
- The main market was relocated in January 2026 to a larger site near the Cimento district; taxi drivers know the new location.
- Construction on the Pemba city bypass is ongoing: expect minor delays on the coastal road between the airport and town centre.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Rezz Lda, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 at the rear of the building, away from the street. These upper floors get more breeze and light, and the rear side is quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms—they pick up street noise and foot traffic from the lobby. Also skip rooms at the front of the building facing Pemba’s main road, which can be busy with motorbikes and trucks.
Best views
Rooms at the rear offer views over the neighbourhood rooftops and a slice of the bay in the distance. Front rooms face the main road—functional but not scenic.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest, as they’re above street-level noise and below any roof-level equipment.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main road in Pemba, so traffic noise (trucks, honking) is constant during the day. Late-night street activity and early-morning calls to prayer from a nearby mosque are possible.
Insider tips
Ask reception for a room on the rear side when you book—they often hold these for direct requests. There’s no lift, so if you have heavy luggage, request a ground-floor room despite the noise, or pack light for stairs.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Rezz Lda
Free for all guests, speed approx 10 Mbps download, 4 Mbps upload; requires monthly voucher code from reception (one per device)
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stair-only sections
No digital newsstand; no physical papers routinely provided
Check-in from 14:00 to 22:00 (weekdays), 14:00 to 20:00 (weekends); early bag drop allowed without charge; late check-out fee is 50% of one night's rate until 18:00, subject to availability
Free for same-day arrivals/departures; longer storage by arrangement only
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; lift to all floors; bathrooms are standard size, no roll-in showers
On-site open parking for 12 cars, free for guests; no valet; nearest public car park is 200 m away at Mercado Municipal, 50 MZN per day; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required 72 hours before arrival; a refundable 5,000 MZN incidental hold taken at check-in by card imprint or cash
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Mozambican Metical, MZN
Change money at banks or official exchange offices in Pemba town; avoid airport or hotel exchange desks as rates are poor. ATMs dispense meticais but can run out – carry enough cash for the day.
Cards are accepted at larger hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants in central Pemba, but many smaller shops, market stalls and transport take cash only. Contactless is rare.
Not mandatory, but 10% is appreciated in nicer restaurants if service is good. Taxis: round up to the nearest 50 MZN. Hotel staff: 50–100 MZN for porters or housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple espresso or instant coffee from a barraca or café in the mercado – roughly 30–50 MZN.
Grilled chicken or fish with rice and salad at a local eatery – about 150–250 MZN.
A main of matapa (cassava leaves with coconut) or prawn curry at a basic restaurant – around 200–350 MZN.
The main market (Mercado Central) and streets around the port have stalls selling grilled skewers, cassava, and fresh fruit – cheap eats are concentrated there.
Supermercado Amigo and Shoprite are the main budget supermarket chains in Pemba town.
Pemba's mercado (central market) sells second-hand clothes and cheap fabrics; for new basics, the small shops along Av. Marginal have Chinese imports.
The cheapest way around is a shared minibus taxi (chapas) – they cost about 20–40 MZN per ride. From the airport, take a chapa to town central for around 30 MZN; private taxis are 200–300 MZN.
Eat at market stalls or small local restaurants (not hotel restaurants) to save. Negotiate prices at the market for souvenirs and produce. Use chapas instead of private taxis for short trips.
Emergency Contacts
PembaFor a reliable 24-hour ambulance service in Pemba call Vida Segura on +258 84 301 1800. For police, dial 119 or the provincial command on +258 27 220 050. The fire department number is 198. International roaming works patchily, so get a local SIM (Movitel or Vodacom) on arrival.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pemba, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Rezz Lda
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Sarima (main road stop) → Pemba City Centre (Mercado stop)
💡 The blue 'Pemba-Paquite' buses stop near the Sarima entrance. They're slow but cheap. Cash only, exact fare preferred. Don't take them after dark.
Hotel Sarima (front gate) → Pemba City Centre
💡 Hail one on the main road near the hotel. Negotiate the price upfront – 100 MZN is fair for a one-way into town. Avoid after dark as drivers often lack proper lights.
Pemba City Centre (Mercado Central) → Hotel Sarima (Wimbe Beach road)
💡 Chapa 02 or 05 from the market heads along the coastal road. Wave it down, say 'Sarima' – the driver will drop you at the turn-off. Expect to share with 15 others.
Pemba Airport (POL) → Hotel Sarima
💡 Pre-book through the hotel for a fixed 800 MZN rate; airport touts often charge double. Confirm the price before getting in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Rezz Lda?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 at the rear of the building, away from the street. These upper floors get more breeze and light, and the rear side is quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at Rezz Lda?
Avoid ground-floor rooms—they pick up street noise and foot traffic from the lobby. Also skip rooms at the front of the building facing Pemba’s main road, which can be busy with motorbikes and trucks.
Is Rezz Lda noisy?
The hotel is on a main road in Pemba, so traffic noise (trucks, honking) is constant during the day. Late-night street activity and early-morning calls to prayer from a nearby mosque are possible.
Which rooms have the best views at Rezz Lda?
Rooms at the rear offer views over the neighbourhood rooftops and a slice of the bay in the distance. Front rooms face the main road—functional but not scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at Rezz Lda?
Ask reception for a room on the rear side when you book—they often hold these for direct requests. There’s no lift, so if you have heavy luggage, request a ground-floor room despite the noise, or pack light for stairs.
What time is check-in at Rezz Lda?
Check-in at Rezz Lda is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Rezz Lda have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, speed approx 10 Mbps download, 4 Mbps upload; requires monthly voucher code from reception (one per device)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Rezz Lda?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Rezz Lda?
Grilled chicken or fish with rice and salad at a local eatery – about 150–250 MZN.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Rezz Lda?
The cheapest way around is a shared minibus taxi (chapas) – they cost about 20–40 MZN per ride. From the airport, take a chapa to town central for around 30 MZN; private taxis are 200–300 MZN.
When is the best time to visit Pemba?
June to September: dry season with clear skies, low humidity and comfortable temperatures around 25–30°C. Fewer mosquitoes and calmer seas make it ideal for beach trips and diving.
Top Attractions in Pemba
💡 Arrive by 7am for the best selection. No haggling needed on bulk cashews—fixed prices are fair.
💡 Go at 5pm for the sunset. Street vendors sell grilled cashews for 50 meticais a bag.
💡 Wear sturdy shoes—the trail is loose gravel. Best light is early morning before 9am.
💡 Ask at the small café on Rua Principal for a hand-drawn map. The art changes every few months.
💡 Take a chapa (shared taxi) from the market for 20 meticais. Come with insect repellent—mosquitoes swarm at dusk.