Moroni Grande Comore

As cruise ships are not able to dock here you will be tendered ashore.

Moroni is the largest city of the Comoros, and since 1962 it's capital. It is located on the western coast of Grande Comore island.

The town is largely Arabic in atmosphere and contains a number of beautiful mosques. Moroni prospered before the 16th century as a Cruise Port for Arab merchants. It came under the French in the 19th century and served as the capital of a French overseas territory from 1947 to 1975, when Comoros achieved independence.

Shared taxis are nearly always available (except late at night and during a taxi strike) around Moroni for 300 KmF to anywhere in town and to nearby towns like Iconi and Itsandra. Taxis between Hahaya (the airport) and Moroni cost no more than 500 KmF (1 euro). Tourists have been asked for 20 euros.

Karthala volcano. One of the largest and most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the possibility that water inside the volcano could be heated and explode resulting in the volcano exploding and rock raining down. Most recent activity occurred in January (magma moved 7 km underground, towards a fissure in the southern side of the island, causing small earthquakes). When the volcano is calm it is a hiking destination, though supposedly a difficult two day climb to the top.

Iconi. One of the oldest settlements on Grand Comore. A short taxi ride south of Moroni. Medina-style town center. Sea cliffs from which women leapt to their deaths in protest to the French government's murder of their husbands during French colonial rule. Parasitic volcanic crater.

Visitors are advised not to eat any of the local food unless it has been cooked through. One specialty available on the island is the "Djak", a large, green fruit (about 1.5 - 2 feet in length) with a taste resembling lychee.

Malaria, including cerebral malaria, is prevalent in the Comoros.

Although the Comoros are a rather liberal Muslim country, it is disrespectful for women to expose their shoulders, much of their chest, knees, and especially stomach and lower back. Wear shirts or shawls that cover these areas. Locals will not expect foreign, non-Muslim women to cover their heads. When swimming, local women are fully dressed. Foreigners are not expected to do this, but shorts and a swimming shirt is more respectful than a bikini or topless swimming. Men should wear shorts below the knee, though this is less offensive than a woman doing so. Public affection between men and women is not acceptable, though one may rarely see a…

Monetary unit: 1 Comoran franc = 100 centimes

Major languages: Arabic, French, Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

Everything slows down on Sundays and holidays, so taxis are less frequent.