Capital: Moroni
Time zone: GMT + 3
Telephone services: Country Code: 269
Outgoing Code: Calls must go through the operator.
Emergency telephone numbers: No information at present.
Tourist information: Direction General de Tourisme, BP 97, Moroni, Comoros. Tel: 744 242 Fax: 744 241., Société Comorienne de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie (COMOTEL) Itsandra Hotel, Njazidja, Comoros. Tel: 732 365
Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Consult embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all. Transit, and Tourist. Visas are issued by the Immigration officer on arrival. Exit permits are required by all.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Falciparum variety present – strongly urged to take precautions
Yellow Fever: If travelling from an infected area a vaccination certificate may be required.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Observe strict food hygiene.
Currency: CFA Franc (CFA Fr) = 100 centimes.
There is a very limited acceptance of credit cards, restricted to mainly hotels. French Franc traveller’s cheques are recommended. The Banque Internationale des Comoros is the only bank that will exchange travellers cheques.
ATM availability: Unavailable.
Cost of living: Tourists can expect to pay higher prices than on the mainland.
Languages: French and Arabic. The majority speak Comoran and there is a blend of Arabic and Swahili
Weather: Climate is tropical and very warm. Coastal areas are very hot and humid (Dec – March) with some rain and cyclones. Upland areas = cooler and have more rain.
Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz
Post: At least 1 week.
Transport: Private vehicles are the only form of transport on the Islands. 4 wheel drives are needed for the interior and outlying islands, especially in the raining season. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required.
Special information: HIGH RISK: in travel to Anjouan and Moheli islands. Due to the coup, it is inadvisable to travel to the Comoros Islands. If you intend to travel despite these warnings you should be aware that religious customs should be respected especially during Ramadan. French residents and tourists tend to be quite relaxed about what they wear; although dress should be conservative. The islands of Anjouan and Moheli should be especially avoided due to on-going civil unrest.