Comoros Travel Guide

This is a Comoros Travel Guide from taste2travel.com

Date Visited: February 2024

Introduction

Tucked away in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of east Africa, the Comoros Islands beckon travellers with their untouched beauty and captivating allure.

Largely undeveloped and totally off the tourist radar, this unknown and hidden archipelago is a tapestry of volcanic landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality, waiting to be discovered.

The Comoros Islands, consisting of Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan, and Mayotte, each offer a unique charm waiting to be explored.

The French administered Mayotte separately from the remainder of the Comoros beginning in 1975, when the three northernmost and predominantly Muslim islands of the Comoros declared independence, and the Muslim and Christian inhabitants of Mayotte chose to remain with France.

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Mayotte Travel Guide

Mayotte, which is the most easterly of the four islands of the Comoran archipelago, is an overseas department of France, which is still claimed by the government of Comoros.

Having an outpost of the European Union located in close proximity to one of the poorest countries on the planet ensures that Mayotte is beset by a plethora of social issues which are the result of numerous Comoran refugees who travel illegally to the island by boat.   

You can read more about this French outpost in my Mayotte Travel Guide.

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The main island. Grande Comore, is home to the capital, Moroni, and the only international airport in the country.

The island is dominated by the towering Mount Karthala (2,361 metre / 7,746 feet), an active volcano which occasionally erupts, covering the island in jet-black lava boulders.

In between the black lava flows lie stunning, white sand beaches, which are lapped by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

Comoros is a true paradise which still remains largely undeveloped. While the neighbouring island nations of Seychelles and Mauritius have fine-tuned their tourism offering, tourism remains undeveloped on Comoros. There are just five hotels listed on Booking.com on the main island of Grande Comore.

Beyond the natural beauty of the islands lies the heart of the Comoros – its people.

Comoros is a safe and welcoming destination.

The warm smiles of locals welcome you as you delve into the rich tapestry of Comorian culture, which has been influenced from centuries of trade with Africa, Arabia and Asia.

The Comoros Islands offer an authentic Indian Ocean travel experience that is as captivating as it is unforgettable.

It’s a destination which is ideal for intrepid travellers who seek to get off the well-worn tourist circuit, and of course for the country-counters who are determined to visit all 193 UN countries.

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Location

Moroni, Comoros

The Comoros Islands are located about 320 km (200 mi) off the eastern coast of Africa, in close proximity to Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar.

An archipelago nation, the Comoros consist of four main islands.

• Grande Comore
• Mohéli
• Anjouan
• Mayotte (an overseas department of France, geographically part of the Comoros but politically distinct)

The islands are of volcanic origin, with Mount Karthala on Grande Comore being an active volcano and one of the tallest peaks in the Indian Ocean.

People

The people of the Comoros, known as Comorians (population: 820,000) are a diverse and culturally rich population with a unique ethnic blend of African, Arab, and Malagasy, which reflects the islands’ history of trade and settlement.

The official languages of the Comoros are Comorian, French, and Arabic. Comorian is widely spoken among the population, with different dialects spoken on each of the main islands.

Islam is the dominant religion in the Comoros, with the majority of Comorians adhering to Sunni Islam. The practice of Islam plays a central role in daily life, culture, and traditions.

Flag

The flag of Comoros was officially adopted on January 7, 2002, following a national referendum. The current design was chosen to better reflect the unity, history, and aspirations of the Comorian nation.

The flag design consists of a white crescent with four white five-pointed stars inside of a green triangle.

The flag has four stripes, representing the four main islands of the nation: yellow for Mohéli, white for Mayotte (a French department claimed by the Comoros), red for Anjouan and blue for Grande Comore.

The four stars on the flag also symbolise the four islands. The star and crescent, as well as the colour green on the flag, symbolise the main religion of the country – Islam.

Currency

The official currency of Comoros is the Comorian franc (FC), which has the currency code of KMF. 

The Comorian franc is issued and regulated by the Central Bank of the Comoros, which is the country’s central monetary authority.

It is used for all financial transactions within the country, including daily purchases, business transactions, and banking operations.

Credit cards are rarely accepted on the Comoros.  

Banknotes, which are printed by the Bank of France, are issued in denominations of  500 FC, 1,000 FC, 2,000 FC, 5,000 FC, 10,000 FC.

Coins are issued in denominations of 25 FC, 50 FC, 100 FC, 250 FC.

Credit Cards

Like so many countries in Africa, credit cards are rarely accepted on the Comoros. Cash is king!

This lack of credit card acceptance is due to the fact that 95% of Africans do not have a bank account and hence, do not own any plastic bank cards. All transactions are conducted in cash!

The only businesses which accept credit cards are a couple of the better hotels which deal with foreign tourists.

Throughout Comoros, whenever credit cards are accepted, only Visa card is accepted.

If you are using Mastercard, American Express or any other card, you will find your card is not accepted.

A very frustrating experience!

The one lifeline, for non-Visa card holders, is the single ATM which is installed at the Moroni branch of Banque Fédérale des Commerce (BFC), which is the main commercial bank on the Comoros Islands.

Because they are the main business bank for the country, they feel it is appropriate that they accept all major credit cards.

The only ATMs on Grand Comore are located in downtown Moroni.

There are no ATMs at the airport. It is essential to arrive on the Comoros with either EUR or USD cash!

Costs

Travel costs on Comoros are the highest of any country in eastern Africa! 

Sample costs: 

• Cappuccino? – I found nowhere on Comoros which offered barista-made coffee.
• Can of Coke/ Sprite: €1.50
• Small bottled water: €0.50
• Imported Beer: €7.50
• Meal at a mid-range restaurant: €10
• Meal at the Golden Tulip Hotel: €15
• Hotel room at the Golden Tulip Hotel: €130
• Daytrip tour with Adore Comore tour company: €80 per person (minimum of 2 people)

Tour Companies

While on Grand Comore, I toured the island with an excellent guide from the Adore Comore tour company.

The company offers a range of daytrips which are priced from €80 per person (minimum 2 pax).

As a single pax, I had to pay €160 for a day trip which makes for an expensive outing.

Sightseeing

Grand Comore, also known as Ngazidja, is the largest and most populous island in the Comoros archipelago. It offers a diverse range of sights and attractions for visitors to explore.

The island is dominated by Mount Karthala, an active shield volcano and the highest point in the Comoros. It stands at approximately 2,361 metres (7,746 feet) above sea level.

Moroni

Moroni, the capital of the Comoros, lies in the shadow of Mount Karthala, on the west coast of Grand Comore.

The iconic view of Moroni is of the (heavily polluted) harbour and the Friday Mosque (Mosquée de Vendredi), which was constructed in 1427, without a minaret. It wasn’t until 1921 that a minaret was finally added.

As the main commercial centre on the Comoros, chaotic Moroni is home to a bustling market.

Lac Salé (Salt Lake)

A highlight of Grand Comore is Lac Salé, or Salt Lake, a unique geological formation located on the north coast of Grand Comore.

The lake’s high salinity creates striking contrasts of colors, with the water colour fluctuating (throughout the day) between blue, brown and green.

The colour of the lake water contrasts strongly with the turquoise waters of the adjacent Indian Ocean.

Dos du Dragon

Located a short drive beyond the Salt Lake, Dos du Dragon, or the “dragon’s back” is a rocky protrusion jutting out into the Indian Ocean.

Mitsamiouli Beach

Located on the northwest coast of Grande Comore, beautiful Mitsamiouli Beach is home to a pretty stretch of white-sand, surrounded by black volcanic lava and backed by a line of palm trees.

The government of Qatar, through the Qatar National Hotels Company, is currently building a new beachside resort in Mitsamiouli.

For this reason, the road between the airport and Mitsamiouli has been completely resurfaced and is currently the best road anywhere in the Comoros.

Sada Beach

Sada Beach is home to a small community of expat holiday houses.

Most of the large homes that line the coast are boarded up since most of the residents are only in-country for a few weeks at a time.

Giant Baobab Tree

Located near the airport, a huge, hollow, Baobab tree makes for an interesting stop while driving along the west coast.

A large opening at the base of the tree allows access into a lofty, hollow, chamber which provides an interesting perspective on the world.

Accommodation

There is a very limited number of accommodation options on the Comoros, with bookimg.com listing just 5 properties on Grande Comore.

Golden Tulip Hotel

The only international chain hotel on the Comoros is the Golden Tulip Hotel which offers the best accommodation in the country.

The hotel is located on the west coast of Grande Comore, 10 km south of the airport and 10 km north of the capital, Moroni.

A public taxi from the airport to the hotel costs 5,000 KMF (€10) while the hotel charges 15,000 KMF (€30) for an airport shuttle.

Apart from its comfortable rooms, the hotel offers a very good restaurant which attracts both guests and visiting locals who come for all sorts of functions and events.

The hotel offers the best restaurant on the island and the only conference/ meeting room facilities, which ensures a steady stream of corporate guests.

A standard room on booking.com costs around US$130 with payment options at the hotel limited to cash or Visa credit card.

The hotel does not accept Mastercard or American Express.

One way to stay at the hotel, and pay with any credit card, is to book a room through expedia.com and select the option to ‘Pay in Advance‘. This will allow you to pay with any credit card via Expedia.

The hotel offers spacious and comfortable, albeit slightly dated, rooms which overlook the palm-tree studded garden and unbeatable views of the Indian Ocean.

The hotel also features its own private beach and a family of giant tortoises which act as lawn mowers, gradually grazing their way around the hotel lawn.

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Reverse Money Exchange:

Comoran francs cannot be exchanged outside of the country and it can be difficult to change excess francs back into hard currency at the end of your trip. 

I was able to exchange excess francs, for both EUR and USD, at the reception desk at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

A great service for departing guests.    

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Hôtel La Grillade

Also located on the west coast, 1 km north of Moroni, the mid-range Hôtel La Grillade offers very average rooms for about €80 per night.

I would rate the hotel as 1-2 stars and not worth the money that is being charged.

Payment is either cash or Visa card only! 

The hotel has a decent restaurant which offers reasonable food.

A public taxi from the airport to the hotel costs 5,000 KMF (€10) while the hotel charges 10,000 KMF (€20) for an airport shuttle.

Eating Out

The cuisine of Comoros reflects influences from Africa, Arabia, Madagascar and beyond. As can be expected on an island nation, seafood dominates the diet with fish, octopus and lobster especially popular.

Golden Tulip Hotel

The outdoor, ocean-front, restaurant at the Golden Tulip Hotel is one of the most popular restaurants on Grande Comore.

The best breakfast, anywhere on Grande Comore, is served on the balcony of the restaurant, with a front-row seat overlooking the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

Specialties include lobster and a very tasty seared-tuna salad which is made from freshly caught tuna.

Hotel La Grillade

While the rooms at Hotel La Grillade are very average, the food served in the restaurant by the friendly staff is anything but average!

Their lobster meal, which costs just €12, is an absolute bargain.

I also recommend their fillet steak, which is served with a creamy pepper sauce! Delicious!

Highly recommended!

Sada Beach Restaurant

During a trip to the north coast of Grande Comore with Adore Comoros, I had lunch at a rustic beachfront restaurant at Sada Beach.

Owned by a Comoran couple, the husband used to work as a chef in a nearby resort, until the resort closed.

I was treated to a beautiful tuna curry with salad, rice, plantains and more. Very nice!

Visa Requirements

The Visa Policy of Comoros is wonderfully simple.

All nationalities require a visa which can be purchased on arrival at Moroni International Airport.

Visas cost €30, or US$50, for stays of up to 45 days.

Free of charge visas are issued to transit visitors with a stay for a maximum of 24 hours

All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months and return or onward tickets.

My visa was issued, without fuss, by friendly immigration officers in about 10-minutes.

Getting There

Air

All visitors arrive at Moroni International Airport, aka Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport (IATA: HAH), the only international gateway to the Comoros.

The airport is located on the west coast of Grande Comore, 20 km (12 mi) north of Moroni.

The following airlines provide service to/ from Moroni:

• Air Austral – flies to/from Saint-Denis de la Réunion
• Air Madagascar – flies to/from Antananarivo, Majunga
• Air Tanzania – flies to/from Dar es Salaam
• Egyptair – flies to/from Cairo, Dar es Salaam
• Ethiopian Airlines – flies to/from Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam
• Ewa Air – flies to/from Dzaoudzi
• Kenya Airways – flies to/from Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta
• Precision Air – flies to/from Anjouan, Dar es Salaam

Airport Transport

Most hotels provide airport shuttle services, although they charge from €20-30.

Taxis meet all flights with a ride into Moroni costing €10 (5,000 KMF).

Getting Around

Public transport on Comoros consists of shared taxis which charge around 500 – 1,000 KMF for trips along the west coast.

Taxis, which are old, dirty and in poor condition can be hailed on the side of the road.

Roads on the island are in terrible condition with no investment being made in infrastructure at any stage since independence was gained in in 1975.

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That’s the end of my Comoros Travel Guide.

If you wish to comment on this guide or contact me, you can do so using the comment form below or via the ‘Contact’ page.

Safe Travels!
Darren

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Further Reading

Following is a list of my travel content from the region:

 

• Maldives Travel Guide
• Mauritius Travel Guide
• Mayotte Travel Guide
• Reunion Travel Guide
• Seychelles Travel Guide