A leading diving destination
Mayotte has one of the largest lagoons in the world (more than 1,500 km2), making it a very popular destination for divers. Multicolored corals and exotic fish will not be alone with you, maybe you will meet turtles, dolphins or whales. It is even an ideal base to jump into the water and discover scuba diving if you have never done it before. The water is never below 25°C: even in winter, you can swim, it goes up to 30°C, and sometimes the wetsuit is even useless. The water is clear, waves and choppy water are very limited thanks to the protection of the reef barrier and to the low wind speed. The currents, except in the passes, are also very weak and thus meet all the conditions for a safe start. It is possible to make beautiful dives inside the lagoon, at a depth of less than 15 meters. The more experienced divers can visit the passes and the drop offs. The site of the "S" pass, which is a natural reserve in front of the Mamoudzou pass, is world famous.
On the water, cruises and water sports
Sea outings. In Mayotte, everything is an excuse to go to the lagoon. To admire the whales that come from July to October to give birth and give birth. To say hello to dolphins, turtles, small fish, manta rays from February to June, or even sharks by jumping into the water at the most appropriate place. Or just to move around and go to an islet for a picnic. The lagoon is suitable for fishing - always miraculous - as well as for simple sunbathing. A typical sea trip starts with an 8am departure from the Mamoudzou or Petite-Terre dock, a first launch followed by breakfast on board. Nothing more luxurious than watching dolphins while nibbling a chocolate bread! Once your stomach is full, it's time to get back in the water to admire the animal of your choice and then head for the islets to have an aperitif on the beach: white sand islets, Choizil islets, Mtsamboro islets..., the choice is varied and will depend on the outing chosen. The day goes on and the aperitif turns into a picnic on the beach, with tasting of a good local dish before going back to the sea because it would be difficult to get tired of it. The day usually ends around 4pm with a return to the starting point. The itineraries are multiple and the service providers are ready to adapt your day according to your desires. Impossible to leave Mayotte without a sea trip... or even two or three!
Kitesurf and wakeboard. The island's jagged coastline does not allow for stable winds that are suitable for kitesurfing. However, Petite-Terre, which is less disturbed, is more suitable for kitesurfing, as well as other spots on Grande-Terre which are very nice, especially on the east coast and in the south
Kayak and paddle. The presence of the coral reef gives the lagoon the softness of a lake, ideal for kayaking or paddling while admiring the sea bed through the transparency. Day or half-day kayak excursions are possible, and recommended, to reach the islets bordering Grande-Terre. The most popular excursion is of course the one to Bandrélé islet, accessible in (a good) thirty minutes from Sakouli beach. To be combined with a picnic and a snorkeling tour. As for paddle boats, most of the coastal hotels rent them out, but you are advised not to exceed a certain distance from the coast.
A good fishing spot
Ancestral fisheries. The Mahorais have always been fishermen and have always drawn their livelihood from the lagoon. Until a few years ago, women used to fish with djarifa. This is now forbidden. They used to set up along the beaches near the mangrove during high tides, because the fry were numerous. A group of women would go into the water up to their hips and spread a long cloth called the djarifa, which is the name of this mosquito net-like cloth, on the bottom of the water, and then the others would hit the surface of the water in order to scare and precipitate the fry into this net.
The men more often practice longline fishing, leaving the mainland in the early evening to reach the outer barrier reef with their outrigger canoes or with their small motor boats for the better off, and thus plunge a line weighted with a stone and finished with a hook hooked with bait. The fishermen spend the whole night and come back early in the morning to sell their fish in the villages.
Big game fishing. Big game fishermen, who fish outside the lagoon, will find something to do in Mayotte, but it is important to know that there are very few service providers who organize these trips. Lure, longline or trolling, everything is possible here. The offer of sport fishing is developing slowly but surely. More accessible, jacks, barracudas, kingfish, groupers and wahoos are present in the lagoon.
Spectacular hikes
Mayotte is a great adventure ground for hiking. In the middle of one of the largest lagoons in the world, the island is one of those rare places that have managed to preserve an exceptional environment. Daytime hiking on the trails is not a problem, although the vegetation can get in the way and scratch your calves. You will also sometimes encounter a ford to cross
Numerous paths allow you to discover the dense and luxuriant mahorese bush to end up going along the imposing baobabs and black woods which dominate the whole dry forest of Maoré. A mangrove with seven species of mangroves covers almost the entire coast of Maoré and acts as a nursery for fish and a filter for the lagoon. And often, you will be able to refresh yourself near the small waterfalls that dot the island. In short, Mayotte will surprise the most weary and the city dwellers in search of nature!
From Mayotte, beautiful views on the island and on Anjouan are not rare from the summits. You should not miss the ascent of Mount Choungui and Mount Bénara, which is the most difficult walk on the island. Then, a tour along the crater of Lake Dziani will delight you and an incursion into the heart of the bush will surely please you. Everywhere, unique encounters with makis, dogfish, drongos and souimangas, endemic birds will be memories engraved forever in your mind
If you go hiking, don't forget to take the IGN maps at 1:25,000, good walking shoes, water and cookies or energy bars. It is hot on the island, even in winter you can get sunburned... The paths and the GR (long distance hiking path) around the island are not always well maintained, but this is part of the charm of an island where nature keeps its rights, helped by the humid tropical climate of Mayotte.
The 13 stages of the GR of Mayotte. Notice to hikers: a long distance path (GR) goes around Mayotte in an anti-clockwise direction, sometimes on the ridges, sometimes on the sea shore. It is marked with a red and white marker. The portions are not all maintained but efforts are underway to rehabilitate it. If there is no or little accommodation on the trail, it is very easy to go away from it to reach the surrounding villages to spend the night. Stage 1: from Mamoudzou to Koungou - 10,5 km, 2h45 ; stage 2: from Koungou to Dzoumogné - 18,8 km, 4h55 ; stage 3: from Dzoumogné to M'tsamboro - 11,9 km, 4h15 ; stage 4: from M'tsamboro to Mtsangamouji - 10.8 km, 3h25; stage 5: from Mtsangamouji to Chiconi - 15.7 km, 4h; stage 6: from Chiconi to Chirongui - 17 km, 7h30; stage 7: from Chirongui to Dapani - 8,73 km, 2h30; stage 8: from Dapani to Mtsamoudou -- 10,28 km, 3h; stage 9: from Mtsamoudou to Bandrélé - 8,32 km, 2h30; stage 10: from Bandrélé to Tsaranoro - 14.8 km, 5h10; stage 11: from Tsaranoro to Vahibéni - 11 km, 4h; stage 12: from Vahibéni to Mamouzdou - 10.8 km, 2h40; stage 13: from Dzaoudzi to Pamandzi (Petite-Terre) - 14 km, 3h25.
On land, other possibilities
MOUNTAIN BIKING. Grande-Terre lends itself very well to the practice of mountain biking. The ONF has already listed nearly a hundred kilometers of trails, notably in the commune of Tsingoni. However, there is still a lack of rental companies, but the tourist office of Combani offers guided tours.
Climbing. Climbers can rejoice, the department hosts specialists who often come as part of a mission (PE teachers). The rock is mainly basalt (phonolite), the best time to practice is the dry season from May to October. For the cliffs, go to Hagnoundrou which has about fifty prepared routes and to Passi-Keli; the boulders are located at the Seychelles beach with Mount Choungui as a backdrop, in Bouéni, Mouanatrindri and Passi-Keli as well. The accesses are sometimes difficult, avoid going alone, robberies have been reported. There is a dedicated web site that references dozens of routes and even more boulder passages on Mayotte (www.mayotteescalade.org).
Golf. The one and only golf course in the Comoros archipelago, the Golf Club Les Ylangs, is located in Combani in the heart of the island. It is open every day and offers nine holes on an idyllic course, along the ylangs that will fill you with their perfume, with lemurs and dogfish as spectators
Tennis. Tennis enthusiasts can hit the yellow ball a few kilometers north of Mamoudzou, in the Koropa complex in Majicavo, where there is a club and several courts.
