Month by Month
January
Hot and rainy with afternoon storms
Daily temperatures reach 30°C with afternoon thunderstorms arriving around 3pm. The sea stays rough on the west coasts, limiting boat trips to morning departures only. Hotel rates drop 40% from December peaks.
February
Peak wet season with heavy rainfall
Rainfall peaks at 300mm across Grande Comore, flooding dirt roads to Mitsamiouli and closing Mount Karthala's summit trail for days at a time. Diving visibility drops to 15 metres. Most guesthouses outside Moroni close until May.
March
Still wet but rainfall decreasing
Storms become less frequent but humidity stays above 80%, making hiking uncomfortable by mid-morning. Boat schedules to Mohéli stabilize after February's cancellations. Ylang-ylang distilleries run at full capacity.
April
Transitioning to dry with occasional showers
Rainfall halves from March levels and the trade winds begin, clearing the haze over Mohéli Marine Park. Water temperature sits at 28°C. Eid al-Fitr closures affect restaurants and tour operators for 3-4 days.
May
Pleasant dry season begins
The dry season establishes itself with zero rainfall in most years. Seas calm enough for snorkelling off Nioumachoua's shore without a boat. Night temperatures drop to 23°C, the coolest until September.
June
Cool and dry with calm seas
Southeast trade winds blow steadily at 20km/h, flattening the sea but kicking up dust on Grande Comore's lava fields. Whale sharks appear off Chindini. Flights from Nairobi fill with European tourists.
July
Peak tourist season with ideal conditions
Independence Day on the 6th fills Moroni's hotels and triples dhow rental prices for the week. Conditions match June but with 30% higher accommodation costs. Summit hikes on Karthala get crowded by local standards—15 people instead of five.
August
Best weather of the year
Skies stay clear for weeks, with visibility reaching 40 metres underwater at sites like La Selle. Air temperatures plateau at 26°C. Book dive operators two weeks ahead. This month and July command the year's highest prices.
September
Dry and warm with excellent visibility
Water clarity peaks for underwater photography at Mohéli's southern reefs. Maulid celebrations disrupt transport schedules for two days mid-month. Heat builds toward October but rainfall stays absent.
October
Hot and dry before the rains
Temperatures climb to 29°C with no rain yet, making this the hottest dry month. Turtles nest on Itsamia Beach through November. Fewer tourists mean immediate boat charter availability and negotiable rates.
November
Rainy season starts with humidity rising
First rains arrive unpredictably—some years stay dry until December, others see daily afternoon storms by mid-month. Humidity jumps from 70% to 85%. Humpback whales pass through waters west of Mohéli.
December
Wet and hot with frequent downpours
Rainfall reaches 200mm and the sea roughens, cancelling 30% of scheduled boat transfers between islands. Temperatures hit 30°C with oppressive humidity. Tour operators raise prices for year-end holidays despite the weather.
Beaches and Swimming
Bouni Beach on Mohéli and Chomoni Beach near Mitsamiouli give you white sand and calm lagoons from May through October when the southeast trades flatten the water inside the reefs. Outside these months, western beaches turn rough and swimming means timing the sets—locals stick to the eastern coasts from December to March. Avoid N'Gouja Beach on weekends when Moroni families arrive in numbers. Public beaches have no facilities, so bring water and don't expect shade beyond the occasional palm.
Diving and Snorkeling
Mohéli Marine Park protects 404 square kilometres of reef with dive sites reaching 40-metre visibility in August and September, though May and June offer similar conditions at 30% lower operator prices. The park's southern edge near Nioumachoua puts you over coral walls at 5 metres, accessible by swimming from shore—no boat needed. Don't dive December through March when visibility drops below 20 metres and swells cancel half the scheduled departures. The handful of operators on Grande Comore charge €60 per dive, Mohéli's two operators ask €45.
Hiking and Volcanoes
Mount Karthala's crater sits two hours uphill from the village of Mvouni, and you can hike it unguided despite its status as one of the world's most active volcanoes—it last erupted in 2007. Start at dawn during the dry months when the summit stays cloud-free until 11am; afternoon mist erases the crater views you climbed for. Lava flows make the terrain sharp enough to shred cheap shoes within an hour. Skip any attempt from December to March when rain turns the ash slopes into slides and the trail disappears under mud.
Budget Travel
Guesthouses outside Moroni charge 15,000 KMF (€30) per night from April through November, dropping to 10,000 KMF when rains keep tourists away—though you'll face cancelled boats and flooded roads for that discount. Shared taxis between towns cost 500 KMF but only run when full, which means waits of two hours on minor routes. Don't rely on ATMs outside Moroni; bring euros to exchange at the airport or hotels, as smaller islands often run out of cash for foreign cards for days at a time. Street food in Mutsamudu offers brochettes and coconut rice for 1,000 KMF, while sit-down restaurant meals start at 5,000 KMF.
Festivals & Events
Eid al-Fitr
AprilThe end of Ramadan brings three days of celebration across the islands with family feasts, traditional dances, and community gatherings. Dates shift annually based on the Islamic calendar, so check before planning your visit.
Independence Day
JulyCelebrated on July 6th with parades, traditional music performances, and cultural events in Moroni and across all three islands. Hotels book up quickly during this period, so reserve accommodation well in advance.
Maulid (Prophet's Birthday)
SeptemberReligious observances and festivities mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad with processions, prayers, and communal meals. The exact date varies each year according to the lunar calendar.
