Laka Lodge

At Mohéli Laka Lodge you will stay in one of our 17 double/twin rooms. We have 8 beach view bungalows rooms, two 50 m2 sea view superior rooms, our beach villa with two Ocean Suites and the Panoramic View Suite, all with direct access to the beach and 4 garden view bungalow rooms.

Each room has its own terrace and a fully equipped private bathroom, including a hot water shower and A/C. All our rooms are within steps of the beach and have a direct view of the beach and sea.

Our larger rooms can be equipped with one or two additional beds to fit a small family or for groups. Thanks to our solar energy system we provide electricity 24 hours a day for lighting, fan ventilation and hot water.

Click here for more information about our rooms.

As we are located in a small and remote village, there are few dependable outside restaurant options. Therefore, we generally offer accommodation on a full-board basis.

Being located right on the beach and far from any supermarket, we offer a fixed menu consisting of the freshest, local ingredients available. Our meals include local and international dishes based primarily on the wide variety of fresh fish and seafood available in the sea around us.

If you have any special dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies, etc.) please inform us in advance so that we can prepare an individualized menu to exceed your dining expectations and ensure that you enjoy your island adventure to the maximum!

Our kitchen offers sumptuous dishes featuring fresh, local ingredients and a variety of Comorian and international recipes. Mohéli has no supermarkets and so we eat primarily what is available fresh from the sea: fish, shrimp, mangrove crab and lobster and calamari. Our meals are accompanied with fresh fruits and vegetables, plantain bananas, manioc, bread fruit, etc.

Bread, pizza and pastries are baked daily in our wood-burning oven.

The bar is open throughout the day. Try our Mojito cocktail made with limes and mint leaves straight from our garden.

Wifi connection is free of charge for residents. If you wish to have more data for your communications, you can purchase a local SIM card and charge data and in the evening you may share photos and stories of your adventures with family and friends.

Every year about 1000 Humpback Whales migrate from the Antarctic and visit the waters of the Comoros archipelago. These giant marine mammals may weigh up to 40 tons and be 17 meters in length. Their presence in the National Park of Mohéli is unique and fascinating when they roam around the isles facing the hotel. Amazing!

In the beginning of the Antarctic winter, in April, they start their 6000-kilometre-long journey through the Mozambique Channel, reaching Mohéli mid-July where they stay until the end of October. At Laka Lodge the best chance to observe and swim with the whales is from mid-August until mid-October.

Calves are born in July and August, and the young families rest in the warm, tropical waters for several months as the young whales gain strength. In early November they begin their return journey to their summer feeding grounds around Antarctica.

Mohéli is one of the few places in the world where one can safely observe and even swim alongside these gentle giants.

ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION

Mohéli National Park is not a zoo. Wildlife here is completely wild and free, and animals behave on their own terms. For this reason, we cannot guarantee sightings of humpback whales or any other species, regardless of the season or the excursion. The best approach is to book several outings and enjoy the experience while allowing nature to decide. We kindly ask visitors to understand this reality and to avoid unrealistic expectations. Respect for nature and patience are essential parts of the Mohéli experience.

We follow the latest protocols to ensure the safety of the humpback whales, their calves and our guests. Precise approach techniques, dive group limitations and pre-observation briefings are agreed upon to facilitate the best and safest whale encounter.

Here in this natural paradise, dolphins may surprise you while cruising around the pristine isles in search of a good diving spot or looking out for the humpback whales. A sudden jump high above the water by the spinner dolphins is often the start of a beautiful experience. What a thrill to have 30 sleek acrobats crisscrossing underneath you and leaping alongside. With our exclusive, small-boat adventures, you are an integral part of this ocean ballet.

Now it is time to drop into the crystal-clear water and join in the dance. As you swim with the pod you will listen to their calls and add the sound of their underwater chorus to this sensational experience.

Mohéli is home to numerous dolphin species. From small pods of acrobatic pan-tropical spotted dolphins, to groups of 200 Peponocephala electra basking on the surface, you will never forget your dolphin safari.

Mohéli is home to two species of marine turtles, the Green Sea Turtle (Cheolonia mydas) and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), although even a lonesome leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) has been spotted!

We organise visits to the best nesting beaches so that you can be a part of this extraordinary event. You will be just a few feet away as you watch these 300 kg giants pull themselves arduously up the beach, dig a hole, and deposit their eggs in the sand.

Almost every night, year-round, the turtles emerge from the waters of the Indian Ocean to lay their eggs deep in the sand. Sixty days later up to 200 baby turtles will climb out of their sandy nest and race down to the water. With a little luck you will also see this joyful event.

After 20 years moving around the Indian Ocean for thousands of kilometres, the females which survive their long journey will return to the same beach to lay their own first clutch of eggs!

Scuba divers and snorkelers are almost sure to come across one or more sea turtles quietly roaming the reef or having a rest on the sea bed.

Our eco guides are well trained in turtle behaviours and will be happy to answer any questions you have about these incredible creatures.

The northern Mozambique channel is recognized as one of the greatest areas of marine biodiversity in all the world. Located in the heart of this vast coral reef, Mohéli’ s reefs are home to hundreds of species of corals and fish. Visitors to Laka Lodge can snorkel on the beautiful “house reef” which begins just in front of our private beach.

Or take an excursion in our boat to snorkel or scuba dive on the pristine reefs surrounding the uninhabited islands, just 15 minutes away.

Marine biologists all agree that the Coral Reefs in the Mohéli National Park are some of the healthiest, thriving reefs found worldwide. Come witness the beauty of abundant coral species and the ecosystems they support.

For divers there are only a few places left in the world awaiting to be discovered. The Marine Park of Mohéli spans over 400km² of coral reefs and sand banks which are still largely unexplored.

Laka Lodge Diving invites you to be one of the first to experience a unique dive. The waters around Mohéli contain some of the richest biodiversity in the world and offer an enormous potential of diving sites still to be discovered.

Laka Lodge Diving is the first to systematically explore the diving sites and identify different species that are present. We have already identified a large number of excellent diving sites and are able to offer day and night dives at varying levels of technical skills.

Click here for more information about scuba diving.

The entire area south of Mohéli is a natural reserve, recognized since 1994 by the United Nations Environmental Program. Plans are now underway to have the entire island of Mohéli designated as a Biosphere Reserve.

Mohéli Laka Lodge can organize all your excursions to explore this tropical paradise. Have a quiet walk in the village of Nioumachoua. The villagers and children will kindly greet you and reply on “Djédjé with a friendly “Djéma”. Discover the old village of Chouani and the mangrove forests next door. Ask around and buy fragrant ylang-ylang oil (the heart of Chanel n°5), vanilla, cloves, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg.

For the adventurous, you can try our new exploratory hike. On arrival at the airport we will collect your luggage; then you will depart with a guide for the 5-hours trek. The hike will take you over the central mountain range (700 meters elevation, through the primary forest, and directly to the Lodge. Discover the native plants and trees of the island and enjoy the views of all 3 Comorian islands from the top of the range.

The numerous streams which descend from the mountains to the sea create hidden waterfalls just waiting to be discovered.

The waterfall of Miringoni is just a 15-minute walk from the road. Swim in the large pool of clear water or relax on the rocks and watch the never-ending stream of water emerge from the forest and drop sparkling into the pool.

The Merimani waterfall is best accessed from the sea and only accessible during high tide. After running the boat ashore in the hidden cove, a 3-minute walk behind a patch of mangroves and over jumbled boulders will reveal the cascade plunging into a small pool and running through the rocks and into the ocean.

The Livingstone’s Flying Fox (Pteropus livingstonii) is a fruit-eating bat with a wingspan of up to 1.4 meters. They are a critically endangered species found only on Mohéli and Anjouan, with less than 1,200 individuals remaining. Efforts are ongoing to preserve their habitat and understand their life cycle.

Begin your visit to the Livingstone's Bat Reserve by hiking through the subtropical rain forest. You will follow a beautiful stream towards the mountains as your guide points out local medicinal trees and edible plants. You will climb to an altitude of 200 meters to discover the giant bats sunning themselves in the trees and circling their roost on the morning thermals.

Your visit to the reserve will support the local community association of the village of Ouallah and aid their mission of education concerning the importance of conservation and protection.

The National Park of Mohéli offers plenty of opportunity to discover the treasures of biodiversity. During a hike in the rain forest bird watchers can observe many tropical birds and endemic species found only on Mohéli. These include the beautiful Blue Vanga (Cyanolanius madagascarinus comorensis) and Benson's Brush-warbler (Nesillas mariae). With luck you may also catch a glimpse of the Mohéli Scops Owl (Otus Mohéliensis), which was only discovered in 1983.

At the east end of Mohéli is a guano covered monolith, standing proudly in the sea. “Mchako,” the bird island, is a preferred spot for nesting Frigates, masked Boobys, and many others.

To experience the underwater flight of the Manta ray first-hand is an amazing experience!

The Manta Alfredi gracefully cruise between the islands in search of plankton. With a wingspan of up to 3 meters, the first sign of these gentle giants is a shadow under the water or the glimpse of wingtip breaking the surface.

Sliding quietly into the water with mask and snorkel, you can relax in place as one, two, or three mantas cruise past with mouth agape; then watch them loop and wheel around to make another pass.

To see this majestic sight on video is amazing. To be in the water with them, so close that they sometimes brush you with their wingtips, is unforgettable!

Manta observation follows strict guidelines to ensure the safety of divers and the manta rays, with your snorkel guide providing you with a detailed briefing and a maximum of 8 guests in the water at any one time.