Plizio Visual Lab

Dzialaoutsou Waterfall

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Relief

Weather…

Dzialaoutsou Waterfall is located on the island of Anjouan in the Comoros archipelago, with a drop of about 120 meters. It is one of the highest waterfalls in the Indian Ocean region. The waterfall is a key attraction for adventure tourism, drawing visitors who hike through dense tropical forest. The trail to the falls passes through villages where locals cultivate cloves and coffee. The waterfall's plunge pool is a popular swimming spot, despite strong currents. Conservation efforts aim to protect the surrounding ecosystem, which hosts rare bird species like the Anjouan scops owl. Economic benefits from tourism are slowly improving local infrastructure, including the construction of a small eco-lodge near the site. The falls are most impressive during the rainy season from November to April.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	9	9	9	9	8	7	7	6	6	7	7	8
Rain mm	97	76	94	97	123	113	102	96	82	71	63	73

📋 Practical info

🧭

Getting there

Reaching the waterfall typically involves a combination of driving up steep island roads and hiking a rugged trail. Hiring a reliable local guide is highly recommended due to the poorly marked paths.

📅

Best season

The transitional period just after the rainy season features the most spectacular water flow. During the heavy wet season, the narrow approach trails become extremely slick and potentially dangerous.

⛰️

Terrain & paths

The final approach requires navigating very uneven volcanic stones and slippery dirt paths deep within lush greenery. The descent to the plunge pool area is steep and requires careful, slow footing.

🎒

What to bring

Footwear with an aggressive, non-slip sole is entirely crucial to safely cross wet basalt rocks. A lightweight waterproof jacket is good to have against the heavy mist generated by the falling water.

🅿️

Parking

Visitors generally park their vehicles informally near the edge of the nearest small settlement before the trail starts. It is customary to ask locals for a safe patch of land to leave the car temporarily.

⚠️

Safety

Flash floods can occur quickly if heavy rain falls higher up the mountain slopes. Always assess the sky and stay clear of the immediate plunge zone to avoid the danger of sudden rockfalls.

⏱️

Time needed

Expect the entire round-trip excursion from the nearest main road to take about three to four hours. This provides adequate time for a deliberate hike and resting by the spectacular cascades.