Public holidays
The dates for the Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift every year. During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes the festival day Eid al-Fitr, Muslims do not eat during the day, but only after sunset. Many restaurants are therefore closed during the day. The festivals Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha last 2-10 days depending on the region. The weekly rest day is Friday.
Date | Holiday |
Dec./Jan./Feb. | Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) |
Jan/Feb/March | Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
Jan/Feb/March | Ashoura |
March 18 | Anniversary of the death of President Said Mohamed Cheikh |
25. May | Anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) |
May 29 | Anniversary of the death of President Ali Soilih |
July 6 | Independence day |
Oct/Nov/Dec | Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) |
November 24 | Anniversary of the death of President Abdallah |
25 December | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Comoros Holidays
Comoros: climate
The Comoros have a very warm tropical climate with a rainy season from November to April, but rainfall occurs all year round. It is a little cooler in the higher elevations. Cyclones can occur between January and April.
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Cultural travelers are sure to see the climate differently than people who come to the country as business travelers or development workers, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role. For people who do not have problems with higher temperatures and often high humidity, the months May to October are well suited for a stay in the country:
However, people who prefer a moderate climate and lower temperatures or who need it for health reasons should visit rather give up a stay in the Comoros.
Climate table
The following table shows climate data for the Comoros. It should be noted that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ from each other and therefore also from the values shown. In addition, the monthly temperature averages have little informative value with regard to the minimum or maximum temperatures. It is therefore possible that current maximum values of 40 °C or more can occur at average temperatures of around 23 °C. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions on the Comoros.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 16 | 30 | 23 |
February | 14 | 30 | 24 |
March | 13 | 31 | 24 |
April | 13 | 30 | 23 |
May | 08 | 29 | 22 |
June | 09 | 29 | 22 |
July | 09 | 28 | 19 |
August | 07 | 27 | 19 |
September | 17 | 28 | 20 |
October | 08 | 29 | 22 |
November | 12 | 30 | 23 |
December | 14 | 31 | 24 |
National customs
For guests in an Islamic country like the Comoros, consideration for the local customs is required. Women in particular should pay attention to decent clothing. The Comoros are a fairly liberal Islamic country. however, women should keep their shoulders, cleavage, knees, stomach and back covered. Foreign visitors are only expected to cover their hair in exceptional cases. Beach clothing outside the bathing zone is taboo, and long pants are also recommended for men outside the hotel zones. The exchange of affection between woman and man is to be avoided in public.
Photographing or filming locals without their permission must be avoided at all costs, as the image of people is traditionally a taboo in Islamic countries. The consumption of alcoholic beverages in public is also prohibited, although this already happens in night clubs.
Missioning is illegal in the Comoros!
Children (on the street) should not be given sweets or anything else. The Komori are very friendly and accommodating towards foreigners and do not expect gifts. But if you start with such an (un) custom, the foreigners from the west are quickly seen as rich and wasteful, and gifts are expected from the next stranger. Such behavior disturbs the actually uncomplicated contact with the Komori in the long run.
Even if the Komori do not expect strangers to know or internalize their rules of politeness, older people can be addressed as “Kwesi”. When older people say “mbona, mkana baraka”, the correct answer is “salaama”.
Comoros: places of interest
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that KM stands for the nation of Comoros as a two-letter acronym.
Cities and villages
Chomoni
Chomini attracts visitors especially because of the white sandy beach and because of the picturesque huts on the beach, which offer a wonderful sea view.
Hamavouna
The poorest village of Moheli is framed by wonderful mountains. You can also see nests of endangered sea turtles there.
Hoani
This pretty village on Moheli offers tourists, among other things, the opportunity to purchase handcrafted artifacts.
Ikoni
This is one of the oldest settlements on Grande Comore. It is a short taxi ride from Moroni and has an interesting city center. In the 19th century, many women are said to have thrown themselves from the sea cliffs, who would rather have died than fall into the hands of the Malagasy pirates.
Moroni
Moroni has about 60,000 residents and is the largest city and the capital of the Comoros. The city is on the west coast of Grande Comore Island. The largest city in the Comoros has also been the capital of the island kingdom since 1962. Moroni, a very picturesque town with large squares and narrow streets, spreads out on the western coast of Grande Comore and is the traffic “junction” for travelers within the Comoros and Africa. In the city center there are two of the island’s large Friday mosques. They form the religious center of the Komori. Most notable is the Vendredi Mosque, from whose minaret you can enjoy a fabulous view. But the harbor is also interesting, where the wooden barges (boutry) are located, which are only used to unload the cargo ships.
Mutsamudu
Mutsamudu has about 25,000 residents, making it the second largest city in the country. The city is located in the north of the island of Anjouan.
Nioumachoua
The second largest city of Mohelis is so worth seeing because from July to October you can watch whales, go fishing with local fishermen and see gigantic bats and civets (small leopard-like cats).
Special structures
Former Sultan’s Palace near Bamboo
A little outside of Bamboo is the former palace of Sultan Mawana Abdallah III. He had lived there from 1863 to 1891, the year of his death, and ruled from there. The building, completed in 1866, has regrettably degenerated into a ruin.
Maison du Gouverneur near Mamoudzou
The governor’s house is located about six kilometers from Mamoudzou and is enthroned on a 400 meter high hill in a forest. It was built in 1880. After serving as a rest home for a long time, it was later rebuilt and used as a residence by the governor. In 1953 it was destroyed by a devastating cyclone, but it was restored in 1999. Today it is open to the public for viewing.
Abdallah’s Mausouleum in Moroni
In the upper town of Moroni there is the mausoleum for the former President A. Abdallah, who was murdered on November 20, 1989 by a French mercenary.
Parliament in Moroni
The Parliament of the Comoros is an imposing magnificent building in the capital Moroni. Interestingly, only one woman is a Member of the Islands Parliament. And even this could not result from a direct election, but was used as a replacement for a parliamentarian who had been appointed minister.
Mosques
Badjanani Mosque
This Islamic house of worship is one of the oldest and largest mosques in the Comoros. Therefore it is very important for the religious life of the Komori, because the rule is that the more people pray together in a room, the stronger the prayer.
Vendredi Mosque in Moroni
The Ancienne Mosquée du Vendredi, Moroni’s Old Friday Mosque, is one of the capital’s most popular tourist attractions. It is even allowed to climb the minaret of the Islamic house of God. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the entire city.
More Attractions
Old town of Domoni
The beautiful old town of Domoni is still relatively intact and inspires with narrow, winding streets, historical walls and imposing mosques.
Maison des Tortues in Itsiama
In the town of Itsiama, you can visit the Maison des Tortues, the turtle house created by an association dedicated to the protection of sea turtles. Interestingly, visitors to the maison can spend the night in huts and watch the turtles at night. The highlight of such an observation is when the turtles lay their eggs.
Volo Volo market in Moroni
The largest market on the island is in the upper town of Moronis. It offers everything from food to clothing to electrical appliances. This corresponds to his name, which in the German translation means “there is everything here”.
Natural beauties
Chomoni
Chomini attracts visitors especially because of the white sandy beach and because of the picturesque huts on the beach, which offer a wonderful sea view.
Coelocanth Marine Park
This marine park, which was created in 2007, is located on the southern coast.
Itsandra
A wonderful white sand beach is what makes the old sultan’s city Itsandra so worth seeing. In addition, today’s fishing village, which is about six kilometers from Moroni, attracts with an old fortress and interesting royal tombs.
Karthala
The active volcano Karthala is the highest point of the Comorian Islands at 2,361 meters. The Karthala, one of the most dangerous volcanoes, is located near the capital Moroni and last erupted on May 29, 2006. It is almost a miracle that the island has so far been spared the eruptions of the volcano, especially since it has erupted more than 20 times since the 19th century. If you want to visit the volcano, you can climb it and take a look into the gigantic crater. Overnight stays are offered in the nearby mountain huts.
Lingoni waterfall
The best view of the more than 15 meter high waterfall behind the village of Lingoni is from a small valley that extends behind a less picturesque power station with a water turbine. The drive to the waterfall alone is worthwhile, as the path leads past several venerable distilleries.