Comoros
Why Film in Comoros?
The Comoros is a little-known archipelago of volcanic islands scented by ylang-ylang, offering an active volcano, an Arab-Swahili old town, pristine marine parks and turtle beaches – exotic, deeply under-filmed Indian Ocean material.
- Mount Karthala – a giant active volcano
- The old medina and Friday Mosque of Moroni
- The pristine Mohéli Marine Park – turtles and whales
- The “Perfume Islands” and their ylang-ylang
- Coral reefs, black beaches and crater lakes
- Rich Arab-Swahili island culture
- The waters of the “living-fossil” coelacanth
- Genuinely remote, under-filmed islands
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Capital City
Moroni
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Main Cities
Moroni, Mutsamudu and Fomboni
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Main Languages
Comorian, Arabic and French (all official)
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Currency
Comorian Franc (KMF)
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Climate
Tropical volcanic islands – cooler, drier May to October
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Best Time To Shoot
May to October (dry, cooler)
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Main Production Hubs
Moroni (Grande Comore)
Production Services
Our Comoros production services include:
- Local Producers
- Film Fixers
- Production Management
- Film, Video & Stills Crew
- Camera Equipment
- Lighting & Grip
- Drone Operators
- Location Scouting
- Film Permits
- Casting
- Transport & Logistics
- Crew & Cast Accommodation
- Security
- Catering
Crew & Equipment
The Comoros suits travel, natural-history and documentary productions, with local fixers coordinating permits and logistics across remote islands.
The local crew base is very small; local fixers, guides and production assistants support on the ground, while technical crew and specialist equipment are brought in, usually via the region.
Productions plan to import camera, underwater and drone packages, and to arrange boats and inter-island flights.
Top Filming Locations
The Comoros’ most extraordinary locations centre on volcanic peaks, pristine marine parks and Arab-Swahili heritage.
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Mount Karthala
A giant active volcano on Grande Comore.
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Moroni old medina & Friday Mosque
An Arab-Swahili port town.
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Mohéli Marine Park
Turtles, whales and dolphins.
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Anjouan (Mutsamudu)
An old town and citadel.
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Anjouan waterfalls & ylang-ylang
Green highland plantations.
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Lac Salé
A striking crater lake.
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Chomoni & black-sand beaches
Volcanic shores.
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Ylang-ylang plantations
The "Perfume Islands".
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Coral reefs & diving
Rich marine life.
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Nyumbani & Bimbini beaches
Quiet island coves.
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Livingstone fruit bats
Rare giant bats.
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Moroni waterfront & dhows
Traditional sailing craft.
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Volcanic craters & lava fields
Dramatic geology.
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Arab-Swahili culture
Distinctive island heritage.
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Mohéli's pristine islets
Untouched marine scenery.
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Nesting turtles
Beaches alive with hatchlings.
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Whale & dolphin watching
Seasonal marine encounters.
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Mountain rainforest
Green volcanic slopes.
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Untouched volcanic-island coast
Wild, empty shores.
Lodge & Hotel Options
The Comoros’ hotels and eco-lodges serve as bases for productions. Access for filming is subject to approval and availability.
- Retaj Moroni Hotel – The capital’s leading hotel.
- Golden Tulip Moroni – Modern city hotel.
- Laka Lodge, Mohéli – Marine-park eco-lodge.
- Al Amal Hotel, Anjouan – Island base.
- Moroni guesthouses – City accommodation.
- Beach and island guesthouses – Coastal bases.
Crew & Cast Accommodation
Cast and crew accommodation is strongest in Moroni, with eco-lodges on Mohéli and hotels on Anjouan. We arrange group bookings, inter-island flights and boats.
- Luxury (talent, directors, key clients)
Retaj Moroni / Laka Lodge, Mohéli – Bases for talent and clients. - Mid-range (main crew, production team)
Moroni: Golden Tulip and city hotels – Reliable capital bases.
Mohéli & Anjouan: lodges and hotels – Island bases. - Budget & serviced options (extended crew, longer shoots)
Moroni guesthouses – Value options for larger crews.
Island guesthouses – Practical bases near locations.
Accommodation availability and rates vary by season and should be booked well in advance. African Fixer manages crew and cast bookings, transfers and per-location logistics as part of production support.
Best Time to shoot
- May to October – The cooler, drier season and the main window.
- The dry months are calmest for marine and inter-island work.
- Turtle nesting and whale seasons offer additional natural-history material.
- November to April is warmer, wetter and the cyclone season.
Visa Requirements
International cast and crew should confirm visa and work permission requirements before travelling. Typical documents may include a valid passport, flight details, accommodation details, invitation letter, crew list and equipment list.
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General Requirements
A valid health insurance policy, along with proof of accommodation, a letter of invitation (if applicable), and a return travel itinerary, are all required for entry.
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Cost
Approx. $200
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Timings
3–7 working days
International Crew Accreditation
International productions may require local coordination, film permissions and supporting letters depending on the production type, locations and crew nationality, and should work with an in-country fixer or service company.
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Required Documentation
Passport, Media mission order from employer/local invitation
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Timings
3–7 working days
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Cost
Event-specific
General Film Permit
Filming permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with marine-park permissions on Mohéli and respect for the islands’ conservative Muslim culture. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time; inter-island logistics need planning.
Drone Permit
Drone filming requires authorisation, with restrictions near sensitive sites and marine parks. Permissions should be arranged in advance; the volcanic coasts and reefs are superb for aerials.
Equipment Customs Clearance
Professional equipment can usually be temporarily imported with the correct customs documentation. An ATA Carnet may be used where applicable, and equipment lists should be prepared in advance.
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Clearance Process
All equipment must be declared upon arrival. A deposit may be required at airport customs for clearance.
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Required Documentation
Detailed equipment list with serial numbers, Customs clearance application
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Issuing Organization
Gabonese Customs Authority
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Timings
3–10 days
Safety and Security
The Comoros is generally safe and quiet, though it has experienced political instability in the past, so current advice is worth checking. The main practical considerations are remoteness, limited inter-island flights and boats, modest infrastructure, malaria and a conservative Muslim culture.
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Security Considerations
Avoid isolated areas after dark. Military presence can be requested via the Ministry of the Interior for on-ground filming security.
Rebates & Incentives
The Comoros does not currently operate a formal national film cash rebate for international productions, so budgets should not rely on a rebate.
African Fixer will confirm the latest position on permit fees and any incentives during planning, and manage the permissions and inter-island logistics that make the Comoros accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with additional permissions for protected and heritage areas. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time.
The Comoros has local fixers and a very small crew base; technical crew and specialist equipment are brought in from the region.
Mount Karthala, the Moroni medina, the Mohéli Marine Park and the ylang-ylang islands of Anjouan.
Hotels in Moroni, eco-lodges on Mohéli and hotels on Anjouan.
Yes, with the correct customs paperwork; an ATA Carnet may be used. Plan to import camera, drone and specialist packages.
Yes. Drone filming requires civil-aviation authorisation, with restrictions near sensitive sites and protected areas.
No. The Comoros does not currently offer a film rebate. We confirm permit fees before you budget.
Yes, especially for travel, natural-history and documentary work needing volcanic islands, marine parks and exotic culture.
Yes. We provide full production support from planning through to wrap, including permits and logistics.
Did you know?
The Comoros is nicknamed the “Perfume Islands” for its ylang-ylang, a key ingredient in fine perfumes – and its waters are one of the only places on Earth where the coelacanth, a fish once thought extinct for 65 million years, still survives.
PRO TIP:
Plan around limited inter-island flights and the calm, dry May-to-October season, base marine work on Mohéli’s protected park, and respect the islands’ conservative Muslim culture throughout.
