May 30th to June 13th 2008
A visit to these Islands alone.
The journey is split up as follows.
For the original Flikr page please link to Comoros Islands 2008.
I arrived in the main island of Moroni from Dar Es Salaam with no one from the travel agency to meet me. Luckily I spotted someone from my hotel and managed a transfer. A nice hotel and settled in to my room with a view of the gardens and sea. Later I had a tour of the main town including the market and museum.
For a history of The Comoros Islands please refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Comore
The next day I was taken on a tour of the north island. A very typical Indian Ocean Island.
The following morning I was collected from the hotel early and driven to the start of the climb up Mt Karthala. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Karthala ). That was after the electrics in the car caught alight! The climb was hard and repetitive carrying overnight gear. We started at about 500m. The rim is at 2315m. With about 800m still to go I had to give up and agreed to return. This was only the start of my troubles as my nose and right eye started streaming. With only vision in left eye I had no perspective and the ground looked flat but wasn't!!
Then a lazy day in the hotel before flying to Moheli. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moh%C3%A9li )
Arriving after a delayed 45 min flight I was driven to Laka Lodge on the other side of the Island. The lodge was a little 'sad' but functional and the staff very welcoming.
Snorkeling from the beach was not great mainly due to the choppy sea.
Evening visit to Turtle beach to see Green Turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. About 40 come on shore each night.
Walks in the hills and sea shore.
Fishing from a Pirogue.
Boat trip around main island where we caught tuna and had some good snorkelling.
Kayaking for six kilometers, snorkeling from two beaches. Excellent.
Forest walk in the hills to see the Livingstone bats.
A great little island where nothing happens on time, if it happens. Visit Laka Lodge for peace, solitude and wild life.
Returned to Moroni for two nights due to flight schedules. What schedules?!
Getting back to Dar Es Salaam was not straight forward. Left hotel at 1030 for 1100 check in and 1235 flight. Saw aircraft arriving at Moroni at 1500 but due to the weather it could not land so it returned to Dar Es Salaam. We were taken back to the hotel for a meal and world cup. Left hotel at 2130 for flight at 0030 arriving at Dar Es Salaam hotel at 0300!
