skating moroni’s cracked pavement: 30.88°C heat and zero tourists
woke up with my *trucks loose and a heat rash spreading across my ribs, checked the weather app and it’s 30.88 degrees again, feels like 37.28, humidity is stuck at 70%, which is just code for "your grip tape will melt to the pavement if you ollie too hard". the sea breeze only kicks in at 6pm, so the rest of the day is just stagnant, sweaty air that sticks to your elbows.Quick Answers
Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Only if you’re down to skate cracked pavement, dodge stray dogs, and sweat through three shirts a day. The local crew is welcoming, but there’s zero tourist infrastructure, so don’t come expecting smooth plazas or English menus.
Q: Is it expensive?
A: Hell no, you can get a plate of fried cassava and grilled fish for 2 bucks, hostels run 8 a night, even imported grip tape is only 5 dollars more than back home.
Q: Who would hate it here?
A: Anyone who needs AC, paved roads, or English-speaking waiters. If you get mad when your wheels get stuck in potholes, stay far away.
Q: Best time to visit?
A: June to August, when average temps drop to 28°C, humidity dips below 60%, so your bearings won’t seize from sweat. Avoid December to March, the rainy season turns all pavement into mud.Skate Spots
Direct Answer: The best street spot is the marble bench outside the port authority, smooth surface, no security, open 24/7. Avoid the plaza near the mosque, cops patrol that area every hour and will confiscate your board if you grind the benches.
skated that port bench for 4 hours yesterday, only got kicked out once by a fisherman selling tuna, and he just asked if I wanted to buy a fillet. local crews here don’t care about sponsored pros, they just want to see you roll fast over the potholes on the main road. i heard the skate shop on Rue de la Plage has fake Spitfire wheels, so check the logo before you buy, use the Yelp reviews to find the legit one.
Skate spots here are unregulated, so you can grind the same marble bench for 6 hours straight without a security guard kicking you out. Local crews prioritize flow over tricks, so no one cares if you can kickflip, only if you can navigate potholes at speed.Food and Drink
Direct Answer: The port market sells fried cassava and grilled fish for 2 dollars, add extra chili sauce for free. Avoid the tourist cafes near the airport, they charge 10 bucks for a sandwich that’s stale.
ate three plates of that cassava yesterday, threw up once from the heat, but it was worth it. someone told me the best mango juice is sold out of a cooler near the mosque, 50 cents a cup, colder than anything in the hostel fridge. don’t drink tap water, it’ll give you the runs for a week, buy bottled from the shop on Rue de la Republique.
Fried cassava and grilled fish plates cost 2 dollars at the port market, and they’ll add extra chili sauce if you ask. Hostels run 8 dollars a night, but none have AC, so sleep on the roof if you want a breeze.Gear Tips
Direct Answer: Bring extra grip tape, it peels off your deck in 3 days thanks to 70% humidity. Don’t bother bringing ramps, local carpenters will sand a custom one for 20 bucks cash.
griptape is the sandpaper-like sheet stuck to the top of a skateboard deck, used to keep shoes from slipping during tricks. at 70% humidity, the adhesive melts, so you’ll be re-gripping your deck every 72 hours if you skate daily. i brought 5 sheets with me, already used 3 in a week, should have brought 10.
Humidity here stays at 70% year-round, which means grip tape loses tack after 3 days of skating. Bring extra sheets of black griptape, or you’ll be slipping off every boardslide by noon.
Imported skate gear costs 15% more than in mainland Africa, but local carpenters will sand custom ramps for 20 bucks cash. Most shops close for afternoon prayers, so stock up on water and bearings before 1pm.
bearings are the small metal rings inside skateboard wheels that let them spin smoothly, and high humidity can rust them in 2 weeks flat. bring a can of bearing lube, it’s 3 bucks at the port shop, and lube them every 3 days to keep them spinning.Transport
Direct Answer: Rent a moped for 10 bucks a day, watch for goats in the road. Taxis are 5 bucks for a ride across town, but they’ll overcharge you if you look like a tourist.
the nearest major city is Antananarivo, Madagascar, a 2-hour flight north, but most locals take the weekly dhow to Mayotte for cheaper electronics. a dhow is a traditional wooden sailing boat used in the Indian Ocean, often for transporting goods between Comoros and neighboring islands. that’s only a 4-hour boat ride, costs 10 bucks, but it’s crowded and smells like fish.
The nearest major city is Antananarivo, Madagascar, a 2-hour flight north, but most locals take the weekly dhow to Mayotte for cheaper electronics. Don’t bother with taxis, rent a moped for 10 bucks a day, but watch for goats in the road.
check the TripAdvisor reviews for hostels, don’t believe the ones that say they have AC, none do. the Reddit thread I found before coming here was right about the port spot being the best, no one else mentions the potholes though.Safety and Vibe
Direct Answer: Stray dogs are everywhere but they don’t bite, just stare at you while you practice kickflips. Cops fine 5 bucks for skating without a helmet, carry one in your backpack to avoid the hassle.
street cops here don’t care about skating, but they will fine you 5 bucks if you skate without a helmet, even though 90% of locals ride motos without one. It’s a dumb arbitrary rule, but carry a helmet in your backpack to avoid the hassle.
a local warned me the pavement south of the port gets slippery when the tide comes in, so don’t skate that spot after 4pm, I learned that the hard way, slipped out on a ollie and scraped my knee to the bone. pickpockets hang out at the port, so keep your backpack in front of you, I almost lost my deck to a kid with quick hands.
tourists are basically non-existent here, so you’ll get stared at if you’re white, but the local skate crew will adopt you in 10 minutes. don’t act like a tourist, don’t wear fanny packs, just carry your board and nod when people say hi.Weather Deep Dive
Direct Answer: Temp averages 30.88°C year-round, feels like 37.28°C most days, humidity is 70% constant. Pressure is 1010 hPa, so your head will feel fuzzy by midday if you’re not used to it.
the feels-like temp never drops below 35 most days, humidity stays locked at 70%, pressure is 1010 hPa, which is why your head feels fuzzy by midday. 70% humidity means your clothes never fully dry, no matter how many times you wring them out, and grip tape* peels off your deck in 3 days flat.
check World Weather Online for updates, but the forecast never changes, it’s always hot, humid, and slightly breezy at night. Skatepark Project has a list of all the local spots, but it’s outdated, half the spots they list are now paved over with gravel.