Comores and Mayotte

Studding the Indian Ocean between the African mainland and Madagascar, the islands of Comores and Mayotte offer an amazing diversity of people and cultures.  Despite a succession of political coups and civilian riots, the islands boast cobble-stoned medinas, ports bustling with dhows, tropical moonrises over white-sand beaches and blazing ocean sunsets that set the sky on fire.  All this is wrapped in the fragrant aroma of ylang’ylang oil, African warmth, French chic and Arabic aesthetics and a colourful history of sultans, eloping princesses and plantation owners.

Best time to visit

May to October (dry season)

 

Experiences

  • Discovering the coral reefs and white sandy beaches at Chiroroni
  • Breathing in the scents of the ylang-ylang distillery at Bamboa
  • Walking through the crumbling, decaying palaces at Hari ya Moudji
  • Wandering the maze-like lanes of the medina at Moroni
  • Fishing, diving and boating in the waters of Mayotte
  • Finding the perfect hand-crafted souvenir at Mitsoudjé
  • Green sea turtle – watching at Chissioua Ouénéfou
  • Hiking past majestic waterfalls and beautiful deserted beaches
  • Swimming in the pristine waters on Anjouan

 

Eat

Langouste á la vanilla (lobster cooked in vanilla sauce) or rice and meat infused with cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, or fish with coconut.

 

Surprises

Swahili-inspired architecture with arcades, balustrades and carved wooden latticework; Comoran women with faces applied with a yellowish paste of sandalwood and coral (m’sidzanou).