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Back to Itsamia

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Voykit pocket guide · Comoros

Itsamia

Spend 1–2 days in Itsamia for night turtle watching (FC2.500 per person) and a guided lake hike; skip if you prefer beaches with facilities.

Itsamia is a remote village on Mohéli’s east tip, famous for nightly green‑turtle nesting (best May‑July) and the Dziani Boundouni lake hike. With only community bungalows and limited transport, a short stay of 1–2 days covers the main nature activities.

MoroniHamavounaHoaniNioumachouaItsamia20 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Comoros
Best months
May–July (turtle peak), also May–Oct overall
Stay
1–2 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
KMF
Money
Currency is the Comorian franc (KMF), pegged to the euro. Cards and ATMs for foreign cards are very limited; bring euros in cash.
Daily spend
Budget FC15,000–20,000 excl. bed · Mid FC20,000–30,000 excl. bed · High FC30,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Comores Telecom (Huri) and Telma Comores sell SIMs in Moroni with passport registration.
Emergency
Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18
Plugs
Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · Power cuts are common; bring a power bank.
Tipping
Guide or driver: €5–10 a day.; Restaurant: Round up.
Water
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water.
Toilets
Western in hotels; basic elsewhere.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Turtle night tour (guide)FC2.500 per person
Guided hike to Dziani Boundouni lakeFC6.500 per person
Boat rental (per day, any passengers)FC30.000
Bungalow night (breakfast included)FC12.500

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

NWA · Mohéli Bandar Es Eslam Airport
Small regional airport; flights to Moroni (NGM) and Fomboni; taxi to Itsamia about 1 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Two early‑morning buses (5 AM) link Itsamia to Fomboni (≈30 min). Private taxis can be negotiated from any point. The association arranges boat trips (e.g., FC40.000 to Nioumachoua). Booking the bus seat in advance is required.

See and do

Known for

  • Green‑turtle nesting
  • Dziani Boundouni lake
  • Islot snorkeling

Day trips

WhereHowTime
NioumachouaBoat arranged by the village association≈1 h including boarding

Sleep

Community bungalows
FC12.500 per night, breakfast included; meals FC2.500. Simple but clean, run by local volunteers.

Language

Comorian (Shikomori), a Bantu language close to Swahili with distinct dialects on each island, is spoken at home; French is the working language of government and hotels; Arabic is used in religion. English is very rare.

  • 'Bariza' (hello, Grande Comore), 'Marahaba' (thank you).
  • Greetings are long; take time before business.

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Long greetings and a handshake (right hand); avoid: Skipping greetings
  • Dress: Cover arms and legs in towns; avoid: Swimwear outside hotel beaches
  • Photos: Ask first, especially women; avoid: Photographing mosques at prayer time
  • Hands: Use the right hand to eat and give; avoid: Left-hand giving

Scams and watch-outs

  • Buses run only at 5 AM; missing one means a long walk or hitchhike.
  • Turtle night tours require a guide; ask for instructions before starting.
  • No shops or restaurants – bring food and water.

Itsamia is low‑risk; main concerns are limited medical facilities and night‑time travel on unlit roads – travel with a guide.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Itsamia yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Green‑turtle nesting
  • Dziani Boundouni lake
  • Islot snorkeling

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Itsamia

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police17
  • Fire and ambulance18

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/itsamia). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.