The archipelago of Comoros is made up of four islands however only 3 of them make up the Union of Comoros whereas the fourth island named Mayotte is an overseas department of France. Comoros is rather unpopular with tourists however the islands offer its natural beauty, incredible beaches and friendly locals.

Travelling info

All visitors travelling to Comoros are required to have a valid passport. All visitors have also required a visa in order to visit Comoros however all of them can obtain such a document on arrival. All visitors who wish to drive on the Comoros islands are required have both their national driving permit and an international driving permit. IDP holders must know that it cannot be used alone and must always be complemented by the original driving permit.

Travelling hazards

Roads are ill-maintained, congested, very narrow, and poorly lit at night. Travellers should exercise extreme caution when driving after dark or walking along trafficked roads. Some urban roads are paved, but many rural roads are not. Most roads are full of potholes and dangerous curves. Roads have no posted speed limits, but road conditions limit speeds to well below 30 miles an hour. Drivers and front seat passengers are required to wear seat belts. There are no laws regarding child safety seats. There are no organizations in Comoros that provide emergency or roadside assistance. Individuals involved in accidents rely on passersby for assistance. Taxis or a rental car with the driver are preferable to public transportation.

Environmental hazards

There are no dangerous creatures to be found on land. There are also no reports of shark attacks in the region surrounding Comoros.
There are various natural hazards occurring in the Union of Comoros however storms are most common and responsible for deaths. Cyclones and floods, however, are responsible for most economic damage.

Health hazards

There are no required vaccines. There are however several recommended vaccinations. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Mosquitoes in Comoros are malaria carriers. There is no approved vaccine against malaria however there are alternative ways to protect against the disease. Medicine on prescription against malaria should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. Visitors may also use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets to protect against their bites. Despite the fact that Comoros is rather a poor country and most of its inhabitants focus heavily on agriculture, foreign aid makes up for the shortages to provide healthcare for the locals. There are no shortages in drinking water which is unusual for a poor country however small size of it and input of aid workers are a big contributor. Healthcare facilities will generally provide basic medical services however advanced services are only available in Moroni.
In case of an emergency dial 773-26-04.

Crime

Within the islands of Grand Comore, Moheli, and Anjouan, criminal activity is relatively low. Criminal acts against foreigners are extremely rare. Despite that visitors should not let their guard down. The most common type of crime is pickpocketing, bag snatching, theft of unattended goods etc. Most of such crimes are non-confrontational. Criminals rarely use weapons and prefer to work stealthily. Violent crime is almost unheard of. Political stability has improved in the past decade however the islands experienced over 20 coup d’etat attempts since 1975. There is no risk of terrorism in the country and there are no indigenous terrorist groups. Visitors should be aware that the Comoros island has a state religion, Sunni Islam. Shia Islam is illegal on the islands. Homosexuality is also illegal and any homosexual acts are a criminal offence.

Summary

Comoros is a place for those who want a holiday without encountering hordes of tourists. Most people travelling to the region choose the island of Reunion or Mauritius however Comoros offers similar leisure opportunities for much less than their neighbours. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/comoros/passport-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/comoros