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Comoros - Things to Do in Comoros in May

Things to Do in Comoros in May

May weather, activities, events & insider tips

May Weather in Comoros

28°C (82°F) High Temp
24°C (75°F) Low Temp
150 mm (5.9 inches) Rainfall
70% Humidity

Is May Right for You?

Advantages

  • May sits right at the tail end of the rainy season, which means you get lush, green landscapes without the relentless downpours of January through April. The vegetation is spectacular, waterfalls are actually flowing, and the islands look their absolute best for photography.
  • Tourist numbers drop significantly in May as most visitors clear out before the drier winter months arrive. You'll have beaches, diving sites, and hiking trails largely to yourself. Hotels typically offer 20-30% discounts compared to July-September peak season rates.
  • Sea visibility for diving and snorkeling is excellent in May, typically reaching 25-30 m (82-98 ft). The water temperature hovers around a comfortable 27°C (81°F), and you're likely to spot humpback whales migrating through Comorian waters during this transition period.
  • The ylang-ylang harvest reaches its peak in May, and the entire archipelago smells incredible. You can visit distilleries during active production, which gives you a much more authentic experience than the tourist-oriented tours during the dry season when processing slows down.

Considerations

  • Weather remains genuinely unpredictable in May. You might get three gorgeous days followed by a full day of rain, and forecasts beyond 48 hours are essentially guesswork. This makes planning boat trips and summit hikes frustrating, and you'll need flexibility in your itinerary.
  • Inter-island flights and boat services run reduced schedules in May, and cancellations due to weather happen more frequently than locals will initially admit. What should be a 30-minute flight to Mohéli can turn into a two-day wait if conditions deteriorate. Budget extra days between islands.
  • Some dive operators and tour services close entirely in May for maintenance or simply because business is slow. The infrastructure here is limited to begin with, and your options shrink further during shoulder season. You'll need to confirm everything is actually operating before you arrive.

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Best Activities in May

Mohéli Marine Park snorkeling and diving expeditions

May offers the best underwater visibility of the shoulder season, with minimal plankton bloom and calm conditions between weather systems. The marine park sees maybe a dozen tourists total during the entire month, so you'll have pristine reefs completely to yourself. Water temperature is perfect at 27°C (81°F), warm enough that you can skip the wetsuit for snorkeling. Green turtles are nesting on the southern beaches, and if you time it right with a local guide, you can witness hatchlings making their way to the ocean at dawn. The lack of crowds means you can actually spend quality time at each site without feeling rushed.

Booking Tip: Most dive centers require 7-10 days advance notice in May since they're operating with reduced staff. Expect to pay 25,000-35,000 KMF per dive including equipment, or 15,000-20,000 KMF for guided snorkeling trips. Look for operators who provide their own boat rather than chartering, as this reduces cancellation risk. Check current tour availability in the booking section below.

Mount Karthala volcano hiking

The 2,361 m (7,746 ft) active volcano is actually more accessible in May than during the dry season, despite what you might assume. The trails are muddy, sure, but the cloud cover is lower and more predictable in the morning hours. Start your ascent at 3am and you'll typically reach the crater rim by sunrise, with clouds rolling in around 9-10am. The vegetation is lush, the endemic birds are more active, and you won't be dealing with the scorching heat that makes the dry season climb genuinely miserable. That said, you need to be flexible - if the weather looks questionable, postpone rather than push through.

Booking Tip: Guides cost 30,000-45,000 KMF for the full-day trek, and you absolutely need one for navigation and safety. Book at least 5-7 days ahead so your guide can monitor weather patterns. Most hikers camp at 1,500 m (4,921 ft) the night before the summit push. Bring your own quality rain gear - what guides provide is typically inadequate. See current guided trek options in the booking section below.

Ylang-ylang distillery visits and perfume workshops

May is peak harvest season for ylang-ylang flowers, which are picked at dawn when their fragrance is most concentrated. Unlike the sanitized tours offered in high season, visiting in May means you'll see actual production in full swing - workers bringing in fresh flowers, the distillation process running continuously, and the intense, almost overwhelming scent that fills the facilities. Several distilleries on Grande Comore and Anjouan offer informal workshops where you can learn about the extraction process and even try your hand at blending. The experience is far more authentic when it's not staged for tourists.

Booking Tip: Most distilleries don't require advance booking in May since tourist numbers are minimal. Just show up between 8am-11am when processing is most active. Expect to pay 5,000-8,000 KMF for a guided tour, or 15,000-25,000 KMF for a hands-on blending workshop. Bring cash - card payment is essentially nonexistent. Current workshop experiences can be found in the booking section below.

Traditional dhow sailing around Anjouan coastline

The inter-monsoon period in May brings variable but generally manageable winds, perfect for experiencing traditional sailing without the intensity of peak season conditions. Local fishermen often have downtime between weather systems and are willing to take visitors out for half-day or full-day coastal trips. You'll sail the same routes that have been used for centuries, stop at isolated beaches accessible only by water, and likely have lunch prepared on board using the morning's catch. The experience is unhurried and genuinely cultural rather than tourist-oriented.

Booking Tip: Arrange dhow trips through your accommodation or by asking around at fishing villages like Moya or Domoni. Expect to pay 20,000-35,000 KMF for a half-day trip including lunch, or 50,000-70,000 KMF for a full day. Book 3-5 days ahead and confirm the morning of departure, as trips are weather-dependent. The booking section below has current sailing tour options.

Mitsamiouli beach and local village cultural experiences

May brings calm conditions to the northern beaches of Grande Comore, and Mitsamiouli offers the most accessible combination of beautiful coastline and authentic village life. The beach is wide, clean, and virtually empty during weekdays. More interestingly, May coincides with traditional wedding season, and if you're respectful and properly introduced through a local contact, you might be invited to witness celebrations. The village market operates Thursday and Saturday mornings with produce at its freshest and most diverse thanks to the recent rains.

Booking Tip: No formal booking needed for beach access, but hiring a local guide for village tours costs around 8,000-12,000 KMF for a half day. This is money well spent for cultural context and appropriate introductions. Accommodation in Mitsamiouli runs 25,000-45,000 KMF per night for basic guesthouses. Check the booking section below for current cultural tour options in the area.

Coelacanth Marine Centre visits and marine conservation programs

The research center in Moroni offers the only opportunity in the world to learn about living coelacanths in their natural habitat. May is actually an ideal time to visit because researchers are more available and less overwhelmed by visitors. The center runs informal educational sessions about ongoing conservation work, and occasionally you can join evening boat trips when researchers are tracking coelacanth populations using submersibles. Even if you don't get out on the water, the exhibits and conversations with actual scientists working on these prehistoric fish make it worthwhile.

Booking Tip: The center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am-4pm. Entry is 3,000-5,000 KMF. If you're interested in joining research activities, email at least two weeks ahead - spaces are extremely limited and weather-dependent. Donations are appreciated as funding is minimal. Current marine conservation experiences can be found in the booking section below.

May Events & Festivals

Mid May

Ylang-ylang Harvest Festival

This informal celebration happens across Grande Comore and Anjouan when the ylang-ylang harvest peaks. It's not a staged tourist event - rather, it's a series of community gatherings at distilleries where workers celebrate the season's production with traditional music, food, and dancing. The timing varies by location and harvest progress, so you'll need local connections to find out where celebrations are happening. Worth experiencing if you can arrange it through your accommodation or a local guide.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Lightweight rain jacket with pit zips - afternoon showers in May last 20-40 minutes and come suddenly. The humidity is 70% so you need ventilation, not just waterproofing. Skip ponchos, they're useless in wind.
SPF 50+ reef-safe sunscreen - UV index hits 8 regularly, and the cloud cover is deceptive. You'll burn faster than you expect. Bring enough from home as local options are expensive and limited.
Quick-dry hiking pants and shirts - cotton takes forever to dry in this humidity, and you'll be damp from either rain or sweat most days. Synthetic or merino wool is essential for any outdoor activities.
Sturdy waterproof hiking boots if attempting Karthala - the volcanic rock is sharp and trails are muddy. Ankle support is non-negotiable. Break them in before you arrive.
Dry bags in multiple sizes - for protecting electronics, documents, and clean clothes during boat trips and hikes. The moisture gets into everything, and a soggy passport is a nightmare.
Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees - Comoros is conservative Muslim, and this applies even on beaches outside resort areas. Women should pack a lightweight scarf for visiting villages.
Basic first aid kit including anti-diarrheal medication, antihistamines, and blister treatment. Medical facilities are extremely limited, especially on Mohéli and Anjouan.
Headlamp with extra batteries - power outages are common, and if you're hiking Karthala you'll be starting well before dawn. Phone flashlights don't cut it for 3am volcano climbs.
Cash in euros - ATMs are unreliable and often empty. Bring enough euros to exchange for Comorian francs. Credit cards are accepted almost nowhere outside major hotels in Moroni.
Insect repellent with DEET - mosquitoes are active year-round, and May's combination of rain and warmth makes them particularly aggressive at dawn and dusk. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended.

Insider Knowledge

The inter-island ferry schedules posted online are essentially fiction in May. Boats leave when they're full and weather permits, which might be hours or days different from the official schedule. Always have a backup plan and don't book tight international connections.
Locals eat lunch between 12:30-2pm, and restaurants that cater to Comorians often close by 3pm. If you're hungry outside these hours, your options shrink dramatically. Stock up on snacks from markets.
The best exchange rates for euros to Comorian francs are at small exchange bureaus in Moroni's Volo Volo market, not at banks or hotels. You'll get 10-15% better rates, which matters when you're dealing with cash for everything.
May is traditional wedding season, and if you hear drumming and singing in villages during evenings, it's likely a celebration. Comorians are generally welcoming if you're respectful, but always ask permission before photographing and don't just wander in uninvited.

Avoid These Mistakes

Booking rigid itineraries with same-day inter-island connections. Weather delays are common in May, and you'll miss flights or activities if you don't build in buffer days. Add at least one extra day between islands.
Assuming French language skills are sufficient everywhere. While French is official, Comorian and Arabic dominate outside Moroni, and English is rare. Learn basic Comorian greetings - it makes a significant difference in how you're received.
Relying on cards or mobile payment. Bring substantially more cash than you think you'll need. When ATMs work, they often have withdrawal limits of 50,000-100,000 KMF, which is roughly 100-200 euros and disappears quickly.

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Travel guide for June

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Weather and seasonal patterns for Comoros

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