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    Islands & Beyond

Comoros natural beauty:

The Comoros archipelago is blessed with warm tropical weather, extraordinary flora and fauna, incredible white sandy beaches, a rich culture, and a genuinely hospitable population. Comorian beaches are considered to be among the most beautiful in the world. The name of the islands comes from the Arabic word "qamar" emaning "moon".

Known as the Perfumed Islands as well, Comoros Islands are the world's number one producer of  the Ylang-Ylang essence, an essential ingredient in perfumes. In addition, it is the world's second largest producer of Vanilla.

New visitors to Comoros will be amazed by the wondrous experience the Islands offer. For nature lovers who are bored with the stresful artificial city life and looking for some refreshing inspirational time off, the Perfumed Islands will be the right place for an escape to a relaxing atmosphere of untouched wonderful nature with lush foliage, majestic waterfalls, picturesque towns, and incredible coral reefs. And travelers seeking a unique adventure will enjoy discovering the wonders of the Comoros that shelters some endangered species in its seas and forests, such as the Hawksbill and green sea turtles, the Coelacanth (or Gombessa), an endangered "living fossil" fish once thought to be extinct for millions of years. Another wonder found nowhere else in the world is the Livingstone's flying fox, a fruit bat with a 3-meter wing span.

The "Islands of the Moon" also offer a variety of outdoor activities & water sports: hiking, camping, diving, sailing, and for those who need some relaxation would definitely take delight in sunbathing on the white-sand seashore!!!

Comorian rich culture:

The culture of the Comoros is no less rich and interesting than its nature. Being located in the Mozambique Channel at the Indien Ocean , the Islands have played a central role in the commerce among the Arab World, Europe and Africa. The Comorian people's customs, traditional clothes, cuisine and celebrations demonstrate a blend of diverse cultures imported centuries ago by Arabs, Portuguese and French traders.

Despite the French influence on the Comoros, the local people of the Islands still wear their traditional clothes (especially the elderly). The women's clothes consist of Shiromeni, lively colored long dressed and skirts. Another traditional tradionatl way of dressing up for Comorian women is the use of sandalwood and coral paste as a beauty mask on their faces. The men's traditional clothes are a colorful long skirt, a long white shirt and Koffia, a considerably expensive skull cap that has a high value among the people of the Comoros.

The rich cultural heritage of the Islands of the Moon has generated a variety of beautifully made crafts which icludes: pearl and shell jewelry, wood carving, pottery and basketry, women cloth, embroidered skull caps and slippers, carved chests, panels and  portes-croix (lecterns). 

The Comorian cuisine is as delicious as it is healthy. It is based on fresh seafood (lobster, crab, shrimp...), locally grown rice and vegetables, and tropical fruits (mango, pineapple, coconuts...)

People in Comoros greatly enjoy music and dancing. The Comorian music is historically linked to both East Africa and France, and now has a strong Malagasy influence. Zanzibar's taarab music, however, remains the most influential genre on the islands, and a Comorian version called twarab is popular. Leading twarab bands include Sambeco and Belle Lumière, as well as star singer Mohammed Hassan. Comorian instruments include the 'ud and violin, the most frequent accompaniment for twarab, as well as gabusi (a type of lute) and ndzendze. Sega music from nearby Mauritius and Réunion islands is also popular.
Modern musicians like Abou Chihabi, who composed the Comorian national anthem and is known for his reggae-tinged pan-African variet music, and reggae/zouk/soukous fusionists like Maalesh and Salim Ali Amir, as well as Nawal, a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist.

 

 

THE  ISLANDS

 

GRANDE COMORE / NGAZIDJA


Grande Comore (officially called Ngazidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is the largest island in the Union of Comoros. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population was about 320,000 in 2006.

The island's capital Moroni, which is also the national capital since 1962, is the largest city of the Comoros. Its population in 2003 was 60,200 residents. The city is located on the western coast of Grande Comore island. Moroni is served by the Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport (IATA airport code: HAH). There is also a harbour with regular transport to the African mainland and the other islands in the Comoros archipelago, as well as Madagascar and other Indian ocean islands. Exports include vanilla, cocoa, and coffee. This place also has many great beaches. The name of the city has no relation to the personage of the same name found in the Book of Mormon.

 

MAYOTTE / MAORE


Officially known as the Departmental Collectivity of Mayotte (French: Collectivité départementale de Mayotte), Mayotte is an overseas collectivity of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre (or Mahoré), a smaller island, Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), and several islets around these two.

Mayotte is located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. The territory is geographically part of the Comoros islands, but has been politically separate since the 1970s. The territory is also known as Mahoré, the native name of its main island, and as referred to in the Union of Comoros.
Mayotte attracts people interested in flora, fauna, the natural environment, geology, geography, ethnography and history.

 


MOHELI / MWALI- “THE PEARL OF THE COMOROS”


Mohéli, with 290 km2 (20 km * 10) is the smallest of the four islands of the Comoros archipelago, which is also composed of Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mayotte. Mohéli is the wildest and least populated island of the Union, but also the most scenic and preserved: it is the true “Pearl of the Comoros”.

Its 35000 inhabitants mainly live off the land and sea, as there are no industries on Mohéli. Mohélians are very tolerant and social. Islamic Culture has led to the adoption of many aspects of Arab dress and custom. Women cover their heads when walking outside of home, and men spend many hours discussing in the shade and playing dominos. However, what will strike you most is the hospitability of the people.



ANJOUAN / NZWANI


Anjouan is the second autonomous island of the Union of Comoros. Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population as of 2006 was about 277,500. The total area of the island is 424 sq. kilometers (163 sq. mi.).

The first inhabitants of the island were explorers and immigrants from Indonesia and Polynesia. After that people from all around the Indian Ocean began to come to Anjouan and the Comoros Islands. In about the year 1500,  the Sultanate of Ndzuwani (Anjouan) was founded, and became the most powerful of the Comorian sultanates (for further information see: Sultans of the Comoros).