The Union of the Comoros operates on the Comorian franc, divided into one hundred centimes but centime coins are not in circulation. The currency code is KMF. Three major islands use this currency: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. The franc pegs to the euro through an arrangement with France. ATMs exist in Moroni and Mutsamudu but frequently run out of cash, particularly on weekends. Most transactions outside these two cities occur in physical currency. Credit cards see acceptance only at a handful of hotels in Moroni and occasionally at the airport. Bring euros for exchange rather than US dollars, as exchange rates for dollars are significantly worse and many exchange points refuse them entirely.
Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport on Grande Comore serves as the primary entry point. The airport sits four kilometers north of Moroni. Smaller airports operate on Mohéli and Anjouan for inter-island flights. Kenya Airways connects Nairobi to Moroni multiple times weekly. Ethiopian Airlines routes through Addis Ababa. Air Tanzania began service from Dar es Salaam in recent years. Inter-island flights connect the three main islands through AB Aviation and other small carriers, with schedules that change frequently and delays measured in hours rather than minutes. Boats travel between islands but schedules depend on weather conditions in the Mozambique Channel and crossings can take six to twelve hours depending on the route and sea state.
Visa on arrival is available for most nationalities at Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport. The standard tourist visa costs approximately fifty euros or the equivalent in Comorian francs and grants stays up to forty-five days. Requirements include a passport valid for six months beyond arrival date, a return ticket, and proof of accommodation. The process involves filling forms at the airport immigration desk and paying in cash. Lines move slowly. Some nationalities require advance visa arrangements through Comorian embassies, though the country maintains few diplomatic missions globally. The official source for current requirements is the Comorian embassy in the applicant's country of residence or the nearest Comorian diplomatic post.
The electrical system runs on 220 volts at 50 hertz. Plug types C and E are standard, the same round two-pin configurations used in France and much of continental Europe. Power outages occur daily in Moroni and are more frequent on Mohéli and Anjouan. Outages last anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours. Hotels with generators exist but not all run them continuously due to diesel costs. Surge protectors are advisable for electronic devices. Mobile networks cover Moroni and the main towns on each island but coverage drops entirely in rural and mountainous areas. Internet connections are slow by global standards and expensive relative to local income levels. WhatsApp works for communication when connections are available.
French serves as an official language alongside Arabic and Comorian. Comorian, called Shikomori, breaks into three distinct dialects: Shingazidja on Grande Comore, Shindzwani on Anjouan, and Shimwali on Mohéli. These dialects differ enough that speakers from different islands sometimes struggle to understand each other. Arabic appears on official documents and in religious contexts. French dominates government, business, and education. In Moroni and larger towns, many people speak functional French. In rural areas, particularly on Mohéli, French speakers are fewer. Young people educated in the Comorian system learn French from early grades, but quality of instruction varies significantly by location and school funding.
Water from taps should not be consumed. Bottled water is available in Moroni, Mutsamudu, and Fomboni but costs more on Mohéli and Anjouan than on Grande Comore due to transportation. Outside these towns, bottled water becomes scarce. Water purification tablets or filters are necessary for travelers heading to rural areas or smaller villages. The dry season runs from May through October, with less rainfall and slightly cooler temperatures. The wet season from November through April brings heavy rains, high humidity, and occasional cyclones. Cyclone season peaks from January through March. Mount Karthala is an active volcano that last erupted in 2006 and has erupted more than twenty times since the nineteenth century. No formal evacuation system exists.
The healthcare system consists of a few hospitals in the capital cities of each island and small clinics elsewhere. El-Maarouf Hospital in Moroni is the largest facility. Medical equipment is limited and supplies run short regularly. Serious medical conditions require evacuation to Réunion, Mauritius, or Kenya. Medical evacuation insurance is not optional. Pharmacies in Moroni stock basic medications but selection decreases sharply outside the capital. Bring prescription medications in original packaging with documentation, as specific brands may be unavailable. Malaria is present year-round on all three islands.