Anjouan

Mutsamudu is the capital and largest town of Anjouan, an autonomous island of the Comoros, and the country's second-largest city. Built around a deep-water port on the island's northern coast, it combines a working harbour, a historic medina and a dramatic 18th-century citadel that overlooks the old stone town.

The town's identity is shaped by its Swahili-Arab trading past. The medina's narrow alleys, coral-stone houses and carved wooden doors reflect centuries of Indian Ocean commerce, while the restored citadel, the Ujumbe Palace and lively markets give Mutsamudu a distinct historical character.

Beyond the centre, Anjouan's steep green hills, ylang-ylang and clove plantations, waterfalls such as Tatringa Falls and the crater lake Dzialandzé offer day trips from town. These landscapes have earned Anjouan a reputation as one of the most scenic islands in the Comoros.

Mutsamudu remains a practical gateway for the island: Ouani Airport sits a short drive away, and the port connects Anjouan with the other islands. For business and island logistics as much as for independent travellers, the town is the natural base for exploring Anjouan.

Visitors come here for slow-paced island discovery rather than mass tourism, finding an authentic, compact town where everyday Comorian life continues around the harbour, mosque, market and medina.