Things to Do in Comoros in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Comoros
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodation costs drop 25-35% compared to July-August peak, and you'll actually find availability at smaller guesthouses without booking months ahead
- Sea conditions are typically excellent for diving and snorkeling with visibility reaching 20-30 m (65-100 ft) around Mohéli Marine Park, and humpback whales are still occasionally spotted in early April before they migrate south
- The tail end of the hot season means mangoes, lychees, and jackfruit are at peak ripeness in local markets, and you'll catch the last of the ylang-ylang harvest which is what the islands are actually famous for
- Crowds are genuinely thin - you might have entire beaches to yourself on Mohéli, and booking boat transfers between islands is straightforward with same-week availability on most routes
Considerations
- April sits in the transitional period between seasons, so weather can be genuinely unpredictable - you might get three days of perfect sun followed by two days of intermittent showers, making it tricky to plan boat trips more than 48 hours ahead
- Some dive operators on Anjouan reduce their schedule or close for maintenance between seasons, and inter-island flights occasionally get cancelled due to wind conditions with minimal notice
- Humidity hovers around 70% which feels heavier than the numbers suggest, especially in the afternoons when it combines with temperatures pushing 30°C (86°F) - that sticky, shirt-clinging kind of heat that takes adjustment
Best Activities in April
Mohéli Marine Park Snorkeling and Diving
April offers some of the clearest water you'll find all year, with visibility often reaching 25 m (82 ft) or better around the southern reefs. The transitional season means fewer boats on the water, so you're genuinely likely to have dive sites to yourself. Green turtles are nesting on the beaches, and if you're lucky in early April, you might still spot humpback whales passing through. Water temperature sits comfortably at 27-28°C (81-82°F), so a 3mm wetsuit is plenty. The marine park covers about 404 square km (156 square miles) of protected waters with healthy coral systems that haven't seen the bleaching issues affecting other Indian Ocean destinations.
Mount Karthala Volcano Hiking
The 2,361 m (7,746 ft) active volcano on Grande Comore is more accessible in April than during the hotter months ahead. You'll start the climb around 3am to reach the crater rim by sunrise, and April temperatures make the ascent genuinely more comfortable - though it's still a demanding 6-7 hour round trip. The crater is one of the world's largest at roughly 3 km (1.9 miles) across, and on clear April mornings you can see across to Mohéli. Worth noting that clouds tend to roll in by mid-morning, so that early start is actually necessary for views. The black lava fields and sulfur vents are otherworldly, and you're walking on rock from eruptions as recent as 2007.
Mutsamudu Medina Walking Tours
The old Arab quarter of Anjouan's capital is best explored in April's slightly cooler mornings before 10am, when the narrow stone alleyways are still shaded and shopkeepers are setting up. The medina dates back to the 15th century with Swahili-Arabic architecture you won't find elsewhere in the Indian Ocean - carved wooden doors, coral stone buildings, and the old Sultan's palace overlooking the harbor. April means fewer cruise ship visitors, so you can actually photograph the streets without crowds. The spice market is particularly vibrant as vanilla pods from the recent harvest are being sorted and graded. Plan for 2-3 hours of walking on uneven cobblestones.
Ylang-Ylang Distillery Visits
Comoros produces about 60% of the world's ylang-ylang essential oil, and April catches the tail end of the main harvest season. The yellow flowers are picked at dawn when their fragrance is strongest, and you can watch the traditional steam distillation process at family-run distilleries around Grande Comore and Anjouan. The scent is incredibly intense - that heavy, sweet floral smell that's the base of most classic perfumes. Tours typically include walking through the plantations where flowers are hand-picked from trees reaching 20 m (65 ft) tall, though most are kept pruned to 2-3 m (6-10 ft) for easier harvesting. It's genuinely fascinating to see a process that hasn't changed much in 150 years.
Traditional Dhow Sailing Between Islands
April's transitional winds make for interesting sailing conditions on the traditional wooden dhows that still run cargo and passengers between islands. It's not the fastest way to travel - the 50 km (31 mile) crossing from Grande Comore to Anjouan takes 4-6 hours depending on wind - but it's how locals have moved between islands for centuries. You'll be sailing on boats built using techniques passed down through generations, with captains who navigate by landmarks and experience rather than GPS. The sea in April is typically calm enough that the crossing is comfortable, though you might get spray if winds pick up. Pack your bags in waterproof protection regardless.
Coelacanth Research Center Visits
The living fossil fish that was thought extinct for 65 million years until discovered off Comoros in 1938 is still found in the deep waters around Grande Comore. The research center in Moroni explains the ongoing conservation efforts and displays preserved specimens - these prehistoric-looking fish can reach 2 m (6.6 ft) long and live at depths of 150-200 m (490-660 ft). April is actually a good time to visit as researchers are often around preparing for the May-September observation season. While you won't see live coelacanths unless you're a technical deep diver, the center provides context for why these waters are scientifically significant. It's a quick 45-minute visit but adds genuine depth to understanding what makes Comoros unique.
April Events & Festivals
Maulid Festival Preparations
While the main Maulid celebrations marking the Prophet Muhammad's birthday shift dates based on the Islamic calendar, April often sees communities beginning preparations with evening gatherings featuring traditional twarab music and poetry recitations. The atmosphere in villages becomes more festive, and you might encounter impromptu performances in town squares, particularly on Anjouan which has the strongest twarab tradition. It's not a formal tourist event but rather community gatherings that visitors are generally welcome to observe respectfully from the edges.