Moheli, the marine park island
Moheli is called Mwali in Shikomori, and its main town is Fomboni. The island is best known for its park. The managing body today is the Parc National de Mohéli, a public body with its own legal and financial standing under the ministry for the environment, listed as IUCN category VI. If you want nature rather than a town, this is the island to look at closely.
Keep the designations apart. UNESCO cites a marine park designation from 2001 and Mwali as a biosphere reserve in 2020, covering 66,286 ha in total, of which 20,864 ha are land and 45,422 ha are sea. Those figures describe the biosphere reserve, not the national park area.
Our take: Moheli on an 8-day route
This route includes sea turtle observation at Itsamia, with no guarantee of sightings.
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
Moheli has no equivalent here. On Grande Comore, a guided day on Mount Karthala with a local guide and hotel pickup can round out a trip between the islands.
Moheli marine park and its habitats
Reefs, mangroves, forests.
UNESCO describes reefs and a lagoon, seagrass, mangroves, islets, forests and Lake Boundouni on Mwali. That mix of habitats is what makes the Moheli marine park interesting. The "regulations" and "itineraries" pages on the park website only hold placeholder text, so we cannot give you visiting rules, distances, fees or permitted zones. Contact the park or the local association before you go.
Green turtles at Itsamia
An experience that cannot be guaranteed.
The Comorian association AIDE describes protection and monitoring of green turtles on the beaches of Itsamia, Mtsanga Nyamba, Bwelamanga and Miangoni, working with the park and Kélonia. It names April to June as an especially strong nesting period. That report dates from 2023. It is neither the only possible season nor a promise of a sighting. No source gives a fee at Itsamia, a guide requirement, viewing distances or light rules, and we do not invent them.
Diving and beaches on Moheli
Topics, not products.
ONTC lists reef activities on Moheli, including diving. This site does not sell diving or boat trips, so treat it as something to research on the island. For beaches, ONTC names Nioumachoua, Itsamia and Fomboni, and the park gives "Nioumachoua plage" as a contact point. There is no guarantee of safe swimming, lifeguards or facilities, and dive prices and equipment are not documented. See the Comoros beaches page for all three islands.
Preparing for Moheli
Transport and onward plans.
Air and sea links to Moheli are hard to confirm. ONTC describes inter-island flights in general terms, while one aggregator marks the Moheli to Moroni route as inactive. Those sources cannot show whether a flight runs on a given date. Kwassa-kwassa boats are discouraged. See how to fly to the Comoros and confirm each leg with a carrier.
Several practical details are simply not documented in the sources we used: a 2026 park or eco fee, child discounts, a binding map of protection zones, the price of a dive and compressor supply. Until the park or the local association confirms them, treat all of these as unknown and plan with some margin.
Moheli: frequently asked questions
What is the local name for Moheli?
Mwali in Shikomori. The main town is Fomboni.
What is the difference between the marine park and the biosphere reserve?
UNESCO cites a marine park designation from 2001 and a biosphere reserve from 2020. The 66,286 ha figure applies to the biosphere reserve only.
Will you see turtles at Itsamia?
The association AIDE describes green turtle nesting with a peak from April to June. No sighting is guaranteed.
Are there fees or visitor rules?
No reliable source gives any at the moment. Ask the park or the local association.
Can you book diving on this site?
No. Diving is an information topic here, not a product we offer.