Moroni Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Moroni.
Moroni's healthcare network is modest. The main public hospital handles most emergencies, while two small private clinics cater to travelers seeking faster service.
El-Maarouf National Hospital on Rue de la Corniche offers 24-hour ER. Clinique de la Paix in Kawéni provides cleaner facilities and English-speaking staff for a higher fee.
Pharmacie de la Gare opposite the Volo-Volo bus stop stocks common antibiotics and rehydration salts. Insulin and specialized prescriptions are often unavailable.
Complete travel insurance with evacuation coverage is strongly recommended, not mandatory.
- ✓ Bring prescription medicines in original packaging. Customs officers at Prince Said Ibrahim Airport sometimes inspect labels.
- ✓ Tap water is chlorinated but tastes metallic. Use bottled water to avoid stomach upset after tasting street-grilled lobster.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Opportunistic pickpocketing of phones and small wallets while boarding crowded daladalas or browsing spice stalls.
Narrow coastal roads, unexpected potholes, and scooters without headlights after dusk.
Equatorial sun reflects off white coral sand, leaving unshaded skin tingling within 30 minutes.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Men grab luggage at the ferry dock, then demand inflated tips while blocking the exit.
Vendors sell low-grade pods wrapped in paper stamped "Grade An Anjouan" at souvenir stalls near the Old Friday Mosque.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Negotiate taxi fares before entering. Metered taxis are nonexistent and quoted prices drop by 30% if you speak basic Shikomori greetings.
- • Avoid daladalas after 8 pm when headlights flicker and routes become erratic.
- • ATMs at Banque pour l'Industrie et le Commerce on Rue du Commerce dispense Comorian francs. Withdraw during daylight when guards patrol.
- • Leave passports in hotel safes. Carry a laminated copy plus a photo of your visa on your phone.
- • Choose grills where skewers sizzle over glowing mango-wood embers, heat kills bacteria and the smoky aroma signals freshness.
- • Peel fruit yourself. Vendors will slice pineapples with machetes on request, revealing juicy yellow flesh.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo women travelers report feeling respected. Greetings are polite and physical contact is rare.
- → Sit with families on daladalas. Men often offer seats to women traveling alone.
- → Decline invitations to private homes politely with a smile, "Je suis fatiguée, merci", and return to your hotel.
Same-sex relationships are illegal under Article 318 of the Penal Code, though prosecutions are rare.
- → Book twin beds rather than doubles in guesthouses to avoid questions.
- → Use encrypted messaging apps to arrange meet-ups with local contacts.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Medical evacuation to Réunion can exceed the cost of a week-long luxury stay. Insurance ensures swift transfer if dengue fever spikes or coral cuts infect.
Ready to plan your trip to Moroni?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.