Grand Comore

Grand Comore (Ngazidja) is the largest and most populated island in the Comoros archipelago. Despite harsh first impressions of crowded roads and garbage, the island rewards visitors with handfuls of world-class beaches equal to anything in the Seychelles, but far less touristed. The volcanic black rock landscape is dramatic, and the authentic island atmosphere sees very few foreign visitors.

Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport (HAH) near Moroni connects the island to several African cities and the French islands of Réunion and Mayotte. Freighters accepting passengers also arrive to Moroni from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Mahajanga in Madagascar, and the other Comorian islands. The main carrier is Air Austral serving Réunion.

Local taxis serve the island but can stop running early on the east coast. Taxis connect major areas including Moroni, Iconi, Itsandra, and the beach areas. Hiring a car is possible but roads can be challenging. The island's interior is dominated by Mount Karthala, making some routes circuitous.

The cool dry season from May to October is most comfortable for hiking and beach activities. The hot wet season from November to April brings humidity and rainfall. Grand Comore can be visited year-round, though beach activities are best during the drier months.

Tourist infrastructure is limited on Grand Comore. Options range from basic guesthouses in Moroni to the Golden Tulip, the island's only resort. Rooms can be dated and amenities vary widely. Budget travelers should expect simple but functional accommodations. Itsandra, north of Moroni, offers beach access with basic bungalows.

Local food is cheapest at small restaurants around Volo Volo market or near the Friday mosque in Gobadjou district. After sunset, small bungalows along the coast sell msahkiki (meat kebabs) for CF50 each, ordered in batches of ten along with grilled bananas, cassava, or breadfruit. For quality dining, try Chez Babou in Oasis district (Indian food and ice cream) or Cafe de la Paix in Ambassadeur district south of the hospital in Moroni. Nassib Bakery near Volo Volo offers pain au chocolat, sandwiches, pizza, and decent coffee.

Mount Karthala is one of the largest and most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to the possibility of water inside exploding and causing rock to rain down; eruptions last occurred in 2007. When calm, it offers a difficult two-day climb to the top. Lac Salé (Lake Niamawi) is a saltwater crater lake on the northern coast. The east coast near Mt Karthala offers beautiful but difficult-to-access coastline, with Chomoni featuring white sand beach and huts for picnics. Buuni Beach and Ivoini Beach offer additional coastal options.

Volo Volo market is the largest market on the island where you can buy food, clothing, electronics, and other goods near the hospital. The Medina section near the port and Friday Mosque features winding alleys between ancient buildings, providing shade from the hot sun. Badjanani Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the Comoros, religiously important for its age and size, sitting on the harbor adjacent to a shipyard. Itsandra offers white sand beach and a medina neighborhood with a restaurant on the beach, a short taxi ride north of Moroni.

Beach visits are essential but visitors should be mindful of Comoros social decorum (see Respect under main Comoros page). The island lacks quantity of beaches but makes up for in quality equal to the Seychelles. Coelacanth Marine Park on the southern coast is the second marine park in the Comoros, adjacent to coelacanth habitat with steep underwater cliffs. Iconi offers nightlife at Club des Amis, a relaxed nightclub larger than Le Rose Noir.

In 2025, a Colombian traveler died of malaria six months after contracting it during his stay on Grand Comore. Take anti-malarial precautions seriously. Malaria testing is available at the hospital in Moroni for CF1000. Avoid swimming near dangerous currents and be cautious on volcanic terrain.

Speedboats to Moheli leave from Chindini on the southern coast. Anjouan and Mayotte are accessible by boat or plane from Moroni. The other islands of the Comoros offer different experiences including the drier island of Moheli and the more developed French influence of Mayotte.