Things to Do in Comoros in July
July weather, activities, events & insider tips
July Weather in Comoros
Is July Right for You?
Advantages
- July sits in the cool dry season (June through September), which means you'll actually enjoy being outside during midday - temperatures hover around 26°C (79°F) instead of the sweltering 30°C+ (86°F+) you'd face in the hot season. The southeast trade winds pick up nicely, making beach time genuinely pleasant.
- Humpback whale migration peaks in July and August. Between Mohéli and Grande Comore, you'll spot mothers with calves in relatively shallow water 200-500 m (650-1,640 ft) offshore. The water clarity this month is exceptional - typically 20-25 m (65-82 ft) visibility - making this the absolute best window for whale watching and diving the year offers.
- Ylang-ylang harvest season runs through July, and the distilleries across Grande Comore and Anjouan are operating at full capacity. You can actually watch the flower-to-oil process, and the entire archipelago smells incredible. This is also when vanilla pods are being prepared for export, so the spice markets are particularly vibrant.
- Tourist numbers remain low in July - Comoros gets maybe 3,000-4,000 international visitors in a typical month, and July isn't a European holiday peak like August. You'll have beaches essentially to yourself, and guesthouses are easier to book with just 7-10 days notice rather than the 3-4 weeks you'd need for the August rush.
Considerations
- Inter-island flights with AB Aviation can be frustratingly unreliable in July due to wind conditions. The 15-minute hops between islands sometimes get cancelled with minimal notice, and there's typically only one flight daily on each route. If your connection gets scrapped, you might lose a full day of plans. The boat alternatives take 3-4 hours and can be rough in the choppier July seas.
- July falls during Ramadan roughly every 10-11 years as the Islamic calendar shifts, and 2026 is NOT one of those years (Ramadan will be in late February/early March 2026). That said, Comoros is 98% Muslim, and daily prayer times still shape the rhythm - expect shops and restaurants to close briefly five times daily, particularly noticeable around sunset prayers when everything pauses for 30-45 minutes.
- Infrastructure remains genuinely challenging. ATMs frequently run out of Comorian francs (KMF), credit cards work almost nowhere outside the few upscale hotels in Moroni, and power outages happen 2-3 times weekly even in the capital. July's winds occasionally knock out power for 4-6 hours in coastal areas. You need to carry cash and have backup plans for basic logistics.
Best Activities in July
Humpback whale watching excursions off Mohéli Marine Park
July is peak season for humpback whale mothers and calves in the Mozambique Channel. The whales are reliably present and often surface within 100-200 m (330-650 ft) of small boats. Water temperature sits at a comfortable 24-25°C (75-77°F), and the cooler air means you're not baking on the boat during the 2-3 hour outings. Morning departures around 7-8am typically offer the calmest seas before afternoon winds pick up around 2pm.
Mount Karthala volcano hiking
The 2,361 m (7,746 ft) active volcano is significantly more manageable in July's cooler temperatures. Starting the pre-dawn ascent around 3-4am, you'll reach the crater rim by 8-9am before clouds roll in. July's dry conditions mean the trail is less muddy than during November-May rains, though you'll still encounter slippery volcanic rock. The views across to Mohéli and down to Moroni are clearest this month - visibility often extends 50-60 km (31-37 miles) on good days.
Ylang-ylang distillery visits in central Grande Comore
July sits right in the middle of ylang-ylang harvest season, and the traditional steam distilleries around Bambao and Itsandra are processing fresh flowers daily. You'll see the entire process from hand-picked flowers to essential oil extraction. The distillation runs early morning, typically 5-7am, when flowers are freshest. This is genuinely insider access - these aren't tourist attractions but working operations where a local contact or guesthouse owner can arrange visits.
Diving the Mitsamiouli and Malé coral walls
July offers the year's best diving conditions - 20-25 m (65-82 ft) visibility, calm morning seas, and water temperatures around 24-25°C (75-77°F) that are comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit. The north coast walls drop dramatically from 5 m (16 ft) to 40+ m (130+ ft), with healthy soft coral coverage and regular sightings of eagle rays, turtles, and reef sharks. The cooler water brings nutrients that attract larger pelagics. Afternoon dives can be choppy due to wind, so morning departures at 8-9am are standard.
Traditional fishing village stays on Anjouan's east coast
July's cooler weather makes the rural coastal areas of Anjouan particularly appealing. Villages like Moya and Mirontsy offer basic guesthouse stays where you'll experience actual Comorian daily life - morning fish markets starting at 6am, women weaving palm frond mats, kids playing on black sand beaches. The July winds keep mosquitoes down compared to the still hot season months. You'll need to arrange this through local contacts rather than online booking, and facilities are genuinely basic - bucket showers, mattresses on floors, shared meals with families.
Spice market exploration and cooking experiences
July brings vanilla, cloves, and fresh ylang-ylang flowers to markets across all three main islands. The morning markets in Moroni's Volo-Volo neighborhood and Mutsamudu on Anjouan are particularly vibrant from 6-9am. You can arrange informal cooking sessions with local women who'll show you how to prepare traditional dishes like langouste à la vanille (lobster with vanilla sauce) or mataba (cassava leaves with coconut). The cooler July temperatures make standing over charcoal stoves more bearable than in hot season months.
July Events & Festivals
Comoros Independence Day celebrations
July 6th marks independence from France in 1975. Expect official ceremonies in Moroni with military parades, traditional dancing groups performing the shigoma and toirab, and evening celebrations in major towns. The day before and after see reduced business hours and some road closures in capitals. It's worth experiencing if you're in-country, though it's more of a national civic event than a tourist festival.