Comoros: Wildlife Expedition

The country is relatively untouched by tourism which in many ways is a good thing, but it also means that you’ll need to have a little more patience and flexibility. We stay at some of the top hotels available in the areas we visit, however, the standards may be lower than what you are used to having in more well-visited tourist regions. Don't expect this to be your traditional touring experience.

Medical facilities are limited, particularly on Moheli and the smaller islands. During this journey the group will spend time in remote areas without home comforts or easy access to medical facilities. You will need to have excellent physical health to join this trip and consult with your doctor before travelling if you have any ongoing illnesses or injuries.

1. There are only a small number of flights in and out of Moroni and limited transport options so we have included a complimentary group arrival and departure transfer on this trip. Please confirm your departure flight details at least 14 days before travel.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 6 in the Itsamia Bungalows where you will be in shared village bungalow accommodation.

3. We require your passport information at the time of booking to in order for us to book the domestic flights included on this trip. We are unable to book your flights without your passport information.

4. This trip includes two internal flights. The luggage allowance is 15kg for checked luggage and 5kg for hand luggage. Any additional luggage can be stored at the Moroni hotel during the Moheli portion of the trip.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances.

Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc. for day trips. Domestic flights in Comoros have a 15kg checked luggage limit, plus 5kg hand baggage. Additional luggage could be left at the Moroni hotel, but it is better to limit your luggage to the 15/5kg limit for simplicity.

Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip.

ESSENTIALS:
- Trail shoes or hiking shoes. As this trip includes a hike into the jungle with some steep/wet sections, we highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in trail shoes or hiking shoes. These will help keep you stable and protect your feet from cuts and scratches. Closed-toe shoes also act as a barrier to protect you against bites or stings in this environment.
- Lightweight clothing. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing, some warm items for the evenings, and long shirts and pants for protection against mosquitoes in the malaria areas. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Some people like to wear jeans for evenings out, but they can be tough to dry and should not be used for trekking. Avoid nylon and other synthetics, which can be very uncomfortable in hot weather. Ex-military or military-style clothing and equipment is NOT recommended.
- Insect repellent - not readily available in Comoros, so be sure to bring enough with you from home.
- Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses

RECOMMENDED:
- A good quality, high-beam headlamp or torch with a red light option. Some of these properties have limited lighting and are powered by generators that switch off at a certain time. Artificial light can disrupt the natural behaviour of female turtles and their young hatchlings. To avoid disturbing the turtles, we encourage you to bring red-light headlamps to witness the full experience.
A waterproof/windproof jacket is a good idea for wet days and early morning or evening activities when it can be cool.
- Personal medical kit. Large kits will be on hand at the lodges and from your group leader, but we recommend you carry items such as mild painkillers, electrolytes and bandaids.
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera with a spare battery or power bank.
- Binoculars

OPTIONAL:
- Ear plugs to guard against a snoring roommate.
- A good book, journal, music, podcasts, etc. for the long drives.

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe when available. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents, e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. There is no recycling in Comoros, so most bottles end up discarded in the natural environment. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.

BATTERIES/POWER:
Our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras almost every day. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery or power bank just in case.

CONSERVATIVE DRESS:
Comorians dress conservatively and travelers should dress modestly out of respect for cultural differences. Wear skirts or shorts that reach just above the knee and tops that cover shoulders at a minimum. If visiting coastal areas, wear a cover-up when you step off the beaches., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

Itsandra Beach Hotel and Resort (formerly known as Golden Tulip Resort), VOIDJOU P.O. BOX 8217 269, Moroni, COMOROS, Phone: +269 77733333

Itsandra Beach Hotel and Resort is a beautiful hotel located on the north side of Moroni and just 20 minutes from Moroni International Airport (HAH). The hotel is in a lovely location on the coast, with a small, private beach and a lovely garden under the coconut palms looking out over the sea. Facilities include a beachside swimming pool, a restaurant, a cliff-top bar and bistro. Each guest room features air conditioning, a flat screen TV, an ensuite, and free WiFi.

Alternate Joining Point

A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met at the baggage carousel just after immigration. There, you will see a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. If you cannot find your transfer representative, or if your flight is delayed, please contact our local operations team by phone or WhatsApp at +269-361-6010. Neither the driver nor any representative should ask you for additional payment.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The price should be agreed before entering the vehicle and should be approximately $20 USD for a basic, local taxi, or $30 USD for a nicer, air-conditioned taxi. The drive is approximately 20 minutes.

Itsandra Beach Hotel and Resort (formerly known as Golden Tulip Resort), VOIDJOU P.O. BOX 8217 269, Moroni, COMOROS, Phone: +269 77733333

Itsandra Beach Hotel and Resort is a beautiful hotel located on the north side of Moroni and just 20 minutes from Moroni International Airport (HAH). The hotel is in a lovely location on the coast, with a small, private beach and a lovely garden under the coconut palms looking out over the sea. Facilities include a beachside swimming pool, a restaurant, a cliff-top bar and bistro. Each guest room features air conditioning, a flat screen TV, an ensuite, and free WiFi.

Alternate Finish Point

A departure transfer from our hotel to the airport is available if arranged 10 days before departure. Please advise your departure flight details at least 14 days before your tour start date. If you plan to stay longer, this departure transfer can only be offered in conjunction with post-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid. If you have booked a post-trip airport transfer, please ask your leader to confirm the time of departure and meeting place. If you have any problems, please call our operations team by phone or WhatsApp at +269-361-6010.

If you are making your own way to the airport, a taxi from the hotel to the airport will cost approximately US $30 and take around 25 minutes.

Check-out time from the hotel is 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.

Breakfasts included: 8

Lunches included: 7

Dinners included: 5

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

Your group leader will endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered for in most instances. Please notify your group leader of any dietary requirements in your group meeting at the start of the trip.

For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavour to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.

Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages are not part of included meals.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

Intrepid local operator whatsapp: +269 3616010. Intrepid local operator phone: +269 3491190

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Comoros has very limited tourism infrastructure. We stay at some of the top hotels available in the areas we visit, however, the standards may be lower than what you are used to having in more developed tourist regions.