Anjouan, the island of Mutsamudu
Anjouan is called Ndzuani in Shikomori. It is one of the three islands this guide covers, along with Grande Comore and Moheli. Its main centre is Mutsamudu, a port town where the national tourist office (ONTC) describes a medina with a citadel above it. Start with that town, then look at the hills and the crops that shape the rest of the island.
Mutsamudu is one of the historic towns in the UNESCO site "Medinas of the Historic Sultanates of the Comoros", inscribed in 2026. Domoni, another town on Anjouan, belongs to the same group. Inscription says nothing about opening hours for houses or monuments, and no reliable timetable or price list for the citadel exists in the sources we used, so we give none.
Our take: Mutsamudu on an 8-day route
This route includes a visit to the Mutsamudu medina and citadel; lunch that day is not included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Mount Karthala hike
This site has no Anjouan activity of this kind. If your trip also includes Grande Comore, a guided day on Mount Karthala with a local guide and hotel pickup is an option there.
Mutsamudu, Anjouan, Comoros: medina and citadel
The town to see first.
The Mutsamudu medina is a tight set of lanes by the sea, with the citadel above it. It is the historic heart of the island and the main reason many visitors stop here. Plan to walk, ask residents for directions and keep photography discreet. Always ask permission before photographing people.
The sources we used give no opening times, entry prices or visiting conditions for the citadel or any museum. Ask locally or at your accommodation before you build a morning around them. For the sultanate background, read the history of the Comoros.
Lake Dzialandzé and the perfume plants
The interior of the island.
Lake Dzialandzé
ONTC places the lake at 910 m, south-east of Mont Ntringui, reached on foot. It is an important water reserve and a sacred place. ONTC states a clear ban on swimming, so do not swim there. Do not confuse it with Lac Salé on Grande Comore.
Ylang-ylang, clove and vanilla
ONTC lists ylang-ylang, clove and vanilla among the plants of Anjouan. That does not prove a distillery can be visited every day, and there is no general rule or fee for such visits. Ask a local guide or your host.
Beaches and sea
Moya and Bimbini.
ONTC names Moya and Bimbini as beaches on Anjouan. No source gives a general permission to swim, lifeguard cover or facilities, so ask about currents before you enter the water and dress modestly in town, as the UK advises for the whole country. The Comoros beaches page compares all three islands.
Getting to Anjouan and planning onward
Links between the islands.
Links between the islands are hard to confirm. We have no reliable timetable for domestic flights or boats, and crossings by kwassa-kwassa are discouraged. Check each leg with a carrier or your accommodation. The detail is on the how to fly to the Comoros page.
Anjouan: frequently asked questions
What is Anjouan?
Anjouan, Ndzuani in Shikomori, is one of the three islands of the Union of the Comoros. Its main town is Mutsamudu.
Can you visit the Mutsamudu citadel?
The sources we used describe the medina and the citadel but give no opening times, prices or access rules. Ask locally.
Can you swim in Lake Dzialandzé?
No. ONTC states a ban on swimming, and the lake is a sacred place and a water reserve.
Which beaches are on Anjouan?
ONTC lists Moya and Bimbini. There is no assurance of lifeguards or facilities, so take care with currents.
Is this an official site?
No. This guide is independent. It is neither the ONTC site nor a website of the government of the Union of the Comoros.