Greetings from Comoros: The Story of Lost Luggage and Being Stranded

Greetings from Comoros! I’m thrilled to finally be here, but getting from Bahrain to this remote African island nation turned out to be an adventure like no other. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi here is so slow that I can’t upload any photos yet — but I just have to share my journey from Bahrain to Comoros, lost luggage and all.

From Bahrain to Dubai – and the First Challenge

My trip started with a late-night flight from Bahrain to Dubai, followed by a three-hour layover. That meant I had already lost an entire night’s sleep before the real adventure even began.

In Dubai, I hit my first hurdle: at the gate, airline staff told me the flight was full and I wouldn’t be able to board. I explained that I had a connecting flight in Nairobi and had to get on this plane. Thankfully, persistence paid off, and I got a seat. The victory was short-lived, though — the flight was delayed by almost two hours, and with only one hour between connections, I knew I was in trouble.

Missed Flight in Nairobi – and Lost Luggage in Comoros

By the time I landed in Nairobi, my connecting flight to Comoros was long gone. Kenya Airways arranged a visa, hotel room, and buffet dinner for me while I waited for my rescheduled flight later that evening. I asked if I should collect my luggage, but they assured me that my bag is going straight to Comoros.

I arrived in Comoros in the middle of the night, utterly exhausted after traveling for more than 24 hours. Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport has to be the smallest international airport I’ve ever seen! After filling out my visa form, I headed to the passport control desk, where I was told the visa fee was $50. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough cash on me. Coming straight from the Middle East, I hadn’t yet adjusted to the essential Africa travel mindset — always carry plenty of US dollars.

I couldn’t pay by card, and there were no ATMs at the airport. Thankfully, a kind local man who was there to pick up someone else offered to pay for my visa and take me to an ATM in Moroni, about 20 km away, so I could pay him back. His generosity was my first taste of the incredible hospitality of the Comorian people.

I passed through passport control, ready to grab my backpack and find a hotel for the night — but my bag was nowhere to be seen. Somehow, I had half-expected this. On the flight from Nairobi to Comoros, I had made sure to keep my baggage tag safely tucked inside my passport. But when I reached the office to file a claim, the tag was gone. It was no longer with my passport, and I was convinced the immigration officers had accidentally dropped it while checking my documents.

I went back to the immigration desk, but it had already been closed for the night. Eventually, someone came to unlock it and tried to help me look for the tag, but with the booth almost pitch-black, he couldn’t see a thing. I returned to the office, where the lady told me she couldn’t do anything without it. I insisted that I was absolutely certain the tag was inside the immigration booth. I asked them to open the door once more, and this time I stepped inside myself and began searching. And I found it! I went back to the office, and they were telling me that my bag would be here the next day. They were not going to bring it to my hotel, though, so I would have to come back to the airport.

From Stranded to Sheltered: My Night Without a Hotel Room

I was finally ready to leave the airport with the local man and his sister who he was picking up from the same flight. He first took me to a hotel, but since I didn’t have a reservation (there were no hotels available to book online) and it was already 2 a.m., no one came to open the door. We tried another hotel, but it was also closed. That’s when the driver’s sister kindly offered me a place to stay for the night.

It turned out to be an eye-opening experience to see how locals live in Comoros. The walls were made of sheet metal, and instead of a Western-style bathroom, there was just a bucket in the backyard for showering. Exhausted from a sleepless journey, I was ready to collapse into bed as soon as we arrived. The house was small, so I ended up sharing the same bed with the girl.

Everything was fine—until the mosquitoes came. There was no mosquito net, and my anti-malaria tablets were, of course, in my bag… which was still in Nairobi. I’d heard that malaria can be quite severe here, and I regretted not starting the medication back when I was still in Bahrain.

Finally Settling In

After a not-so-well-slept night, my host kindly offered me breakfast before the driver came again to pick me up. We went to the ATM, and I finally paid him for the visa and taxi. He then took me to the hotel where I’m still staying. Despite the less-than-smooth arrival in Comoros, I’m happy it happened this way because it allowed me to experience the incredible hospitality of the Comorian people.

I spent my first day in Comoros just waiting for my bag, and I was lucky to get a ride to the airport because the hotel owners happened to be going there to pick up their daughter.

Today, I’ve simply been enjoying my time here. I’ve already made some local friends, hiked up to see a volcanic crater, and gone swimming. The Wi-Fi is painfully slow, so I can’t post any pictures yet—but I’m dying to show you just how beautiful this place is.

What’s Next?

Tomorrow, I’m taking a boat to another island, Mohéli, where I’ve been told there’s no electricity or running water. Lonely Planet describes the boats as “death traps,” and I’ve received very mixed messages about whether I’ll even be allowed to take one. Some people assure me it’s fine—the boats are safe and locals use them every day—while others say the government doesn’t allow foreigners to board them because they’re too dangerous. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. Wish me luck, and hopefully, you’ll hear back from me in a week or so!