The nation of Comoros lies in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the coast of East Africa. It has a population of about 700,000 people with Moroni acting as the capital
city. Arabic, French, and Comorian are the official languages. The nation consists of three main islands and some of the popular towns are Domoni, Itsandra, Lac Sale, Iconi,
Mitsamiouli, Miringoni, Fomboni, and Mutsamudu. The Comoros gained independence from France back in 1975.
The islands are an Islamic Republic and feature excellent beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters and coral reefs. The largest of the islands is Ngazidja, which is the home of
Moroni. The capital is a charming little town that has winding, narrow streets that lead to an old Arab Quarter and some ancient mosques. It has a market place, public squares, and
modern buildings. The little fishing village of Itsandra features a wonderful beach and you’ll be able to witness local men performing traditional dances. There’s also an interesting
fortress there along with royal tombs. Lac Sale features hot sulphur springs and the town of Mitsamiouli is well known for its diving and dancers.
The smallest and least-developed island is Mwali,
which features
secluded beaches and tropical forests. There’s a nice waterfall in Miringoni and if you head to Niumashuwa Bay you may
see some giant turtles.
The most populated island is Nzwani, known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. The ancient seaport of Domoni used to be a popular trading center back in the 15th for traders traveling
from Africa to Asia on the Indian Ocean. The island has some fantastic waterfalls and the town of Mutsamudu has some 17th-century homes with carved doors, mosques, a citadel, and
twisting alleyways. There are also some fine beaches in the Bimbini region.
There’s a fourth island called Mahore, but this is still a French colony. It’s ideal for scuba diving and has one of the largest lagoons in the world. It also has some historic and
interesting towns, waterfalls, an old mosque, and sugar refineries from the 19th century.
All of the islands offer wonderful scenery and nature with diving being one of the most popular activities. Some of the wildlife is also unique to Comoros and there are many
undisturbed beaches that are begging to be explored by water and land.
Because the Comoros is situated just below the equator, the weather is generally hot and humid with a rainy season between November and April. It’s drier and cooler from May to
October.
The main airport is in Moroni and you can taxi into town. You can travel internally by air as there is service to each island. You can also reach them all by ferry. When in the towns,
you can rent sailboats, motorboats, and canoes. Bush taxis and hired cars can take you around the islands from town to town.
The local restaurants offer some fine local dishes that are typically rice-based and may come with delicious spiced sauces. There is also a plentiful supply of fresh seafood. Some of
the popular dishes are plantains, cassava, couscous, and barbecued goat.
The islands are mainly Muslim, so it’s respectful to adhere to local traditions, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. Alcohol may be limited in certain areas.
Comoros is a superb place to get close to nature and appreciate the natural beauty of the land. The villages, towns, and beaches are all picturesque and well worth exploring. The
islands have a rich history and you can feel this when taking in the sights and sounds.
About Comoros