Anjouan · Historic town
Mutsamudu
A citadel watching over the harbour, a stepped medina and sultans' palaces: Mutsamudu is one of the finest Swahili towns of the Indian Ocean.
Anjouan · Heritage
Domoni
On the east coast of Anjouan, the former capital of the sultans keeps its medina, its tombs and the spirit of the great merchant towns.
On this page 3 sections
An ancient capital
For centuries Domoni was one of the centres of power on Anjouan. Its medina, quieter than that of Mutsamudu, preserves old mosques, notables' houses and domed tombs. The town is closely linked to the political history of the modern Comoros.
The coelacanth, a living fossil
In December 1952, a fisherman from Anjouan hauled up a strange fish: a coelacanth, a species thought to have died out tens of millions of years ago until a first specimen was discovered in South Africa in 1938. This second specimen confirmed that the deep waters of the Comoros are home to a population of this “living fossil”, which has become a national symbol.
Surroundings
From Domoni, the coastal road leads to fishing villages, ylang-ylang plantations and valleys with flowing waterfalls. For full immersion, combine the visit with a night with a local family.
Approximate location.
Gallery
