Comoros: arrival and transport
How do you get to the Comoros?
Airplane
Yemenia Airways offers flights from London via San’a (Yemen), Egyptair flies via Cairo and South African Airways via Johannesburg. Other airlines that fly to the Comoros are Kenya Airways (direct from Nairobi) and Air Austral, which fly from Paris and Marseille.
The international airport of the Union of Comoros is located in Moroni.
Ship
Ship traffic exists between the islands of Moroni and Mutsamudu in the Comoros and Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Zanzibar and Mombasa in Kenya. There are still freighters that sail from Zanzibar and Madagascar to the Comoros. This type of travel is cheaper than flying, albeit significantly more time-consuming. If you want to ride on such a freighter, you first have to find the boat captain in the port and negotiate the price for a crossing with him. Those who act very well can take a trip to the Comoros for as little as € 100.
Travel in the country
Air connections There is regular air traffic between the Comoros, which is guaranteed by the airlines Comores Aviation and Air Services Comores. A return flight within the Comoros costs around € 75 for Air Services Comores and € 85 for Comores Aviation. If you want to fly to/ from Grande Comore, you have to do so via Hahaya Airport, which is about 40 minutes by car from Moroni.
Buses and trains
There are no buses on the Comoros, if at all, only minibuses drive. In general it can be said that there are no public means of transport at all in the Comoros and that even school children have to walk. Accordingly, hitchhiking (see below) is the most common form of travel on the islands.
Boat and ferry connections Ferry
ships connect the individual islands with one another. Motor boats, sailing boats and canoes can also be rented on the coast.
There are boats that start from Chindini (on the south coast of Grand Comore) and go to Hoani (north coast of Moheli). These are boats and fiberglass boats that should only be taken on days when the sea is calm, because only then are they safe. The price for a trip is around € 17 (KMF 8,500), but for foreigners it can go up to € 30 (KMF 15,000). In addition, there is a 500 KMF tax that you don’t necessarily have to understand.
Those who like it more comfortable can turn to the large ferries that run from Moroni to Foumboni (on Moheli) one to three times a week. The cost point should be negotiable 8,000 KMF. Another ferry runs from the east coast of Grand Comore to Anjouan. This boat is a lot bigger and safer.
Taxis
Bush taxis (Taxis-brousse) operate in the Comoros. The standard fare for a trip to Moroni Airport is around € 15 (KMF 7,500). These shared taxis are the only public transport that the capital Moroni has to offer. A normal trip there costs around KMF 300.
Rental car
On Grand Comore you can rent a car. All you need is an international driver’s license. The prices are around € 30 (KMF 15,000) per day. Since the local population has no access to a public transport system, it is safe to consider offering them a ride, especially since the petrol costs less than € 10 per bottle.
Hitchhiking
Due to the lack of public transport, most Komori hitchhike. Foreigners can also take advantage of this opportunity to travel, but the Komori are required or expected to pay a small fee. Foreign drivers with a rental car should offer carpooling.
Roads
The Comoros has a total of around 670 km of paved roads. Inland and on the more remote islands, four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, especially in the rainy season. Special care is also required, as the streets are narrow and the cattle often roam freely.
International license plate
The Comoros international license plate is:
| COM |
Comoros: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
Infectious Diseases
The following infectious diseases can be expected in the Comoros:
- Malaria: The risk of infection is rather low, especially between June and October. Both the more dangerous malaria tropica and malaria tertiana occur.
- AIDS, HIV
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Schistosomiasis
- Cholera is only at risk of infection for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
- Dengue fever disease
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
- rabies
- Typhoid fever is an infection risk only for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
- Tick bite fever
Vaccination recommendations
- Cholera, but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
There are no vaccination regulations when entering or staying in the Comoros.
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country, it is advisable to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the vaccinations listed below since June 2007. There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory co-payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge. Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis. As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Warning notices
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Phone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Comoros: currency, shopping and exchange rate
The national currency of the Comoros is the Comorian Franc (1 Comorian Franc = 100 Centimes). The Comorian Franc is pegged to the Euro, 1 EUR = 482.696 FC. The CFA franc is also considered a legitimate means of payment.
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 25th
- 50
- 100
- 500
- 1,000
- 2,500
- 5,000
- 10,000 FC
Exchange rate
You can find a currency converter here: www.3forium.de
Bank opening hours
Banks in the Union of Comoros are open Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Shop
Shop opening times
The shops are usually open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs
In the Union of Comoros , tourists like to buy gold, pearl and shell jewelry, hand-woven fabrics and clothing, embroidered caps (koffia) and slippers, carved chests, wooden sculptures, ceramics and wickerwork.
Comoros: Diplomatic missions
German representations in the Union of Comoros
The Federal Republic of Germany does not have any diplomatic missions in the Union of Comoros. The embassy is responsible for:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Madagascar
101, Rue du Pasteur Rabeony Hans (Ambodirotra)
Antananarivo 101
Postal address:
Ambassade de la République fédérale d’Allemagne
BP 516
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Tel: 00261 – (0) 20 – 222 3802
00261 – (0) 20 – 222 3803
00261 – (0) 20 – 222 1691
Fax: 00261 – (0) 20 – 222 6627
Email: info@antananarivo.diplo.de
www.antananarivo.diplo.de
The German embassy in Madagascar is still responsible for:
- Comoros
- Mauritius
Representation of the Union of Comoros in Germany
The embassy in Paris is responsible.
Embassy of the Union of the Comoros in Paris
20, Rue Marbeau
75116 Paris
France
Tel: 0033 – (0) 1 – 4501 6237
Fax: 0033 – (0) 1 – 4500 4793
Austrian representation in the Union of Comoros
The Federal Republic of Austria has no diplomatic representation in the Comoros Union. The embassy is responsible for:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Kenya
2nd floor, City House, Corner Wabera Street/Standard Street
Nairobi:
POBox 30560
00100 Nairobi
Tel: 00254 – (0) 20 – 319 076
00254 – (0) 20 – 319 077
00254 – (0) 20 – 319 078
Fax: 00254 – (0) 20 – 342 290
Email: nairobi-ob@bmeia.gv. at
www.aussenministerium.at/nairobi
The Austrian embassy in Kenya is still responsible for:
- Burundi
- Comoros
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Tanzania
- Uganda
Representation of the Union of Comoros in Austria
Embassy
The embassy in Paris () is responsible.
Swiss representation in the Union of Comoros
Switzerland does not have any diplomatic missions in the Union of Comoros. The embassy is responsible for:
Embassy of Switzerland in Madagascar
Immeuble “ARO”
Solombavambahoaka
Frantsay 77
101 Antananarivo:
Ambassade de Suisse
Boîte postale 118
101 Antananarivo
Madagascar
Tel: 00261 – (0) 20 – 226 2997
00261 – (0) 20 – 226 2998
Fax: 00261 – (0) 20 – 222 8940
Email: ant.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
www.eda.admin.ch/ antananarivo
The Swiss embassy in Madagascar is still responsible for:
- Comoros
Representation of the Union of Comoros in Switzerland
Embassy
The embassy in Paris () is responsible.
Comoros: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
A passport that is valid for the duration of the stay is required for entry, as well as a visa (can be issued with a validity of up to 45 days upon entry on presentation of the return or onward travel ticket) and proof of sufficient financial resources.
Embassy of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros
Visa Department of the Embassy
Avenue Paul Hymans/Paul Hyansstraat 128
B-1200 Bruxelles
Belgium
Tel./Fax: 0032 – (0) 2 – 779 58 38
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currencyThere is no limit to the import and export of local currency.
- Foreign currencies The import and export of foreign currencies is permitted without restriction.
Import and export of goods
The following articles can be imported into the Union of Comoros duty-free (for people over the age of 18):
– 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco and
– a bottle of perfume.
– Daily necessities can also be imported duty-free.
The import of alcohol, weapons and drugs of all kinds as well as pornographic material in the broadest sense is strictly prohibited. There is also a ban on imports of plants and potting soil.
