What to see, what to do Mayotte?

In Mayotte, as on the islands in general, we live with the sun so early! The population being in great majority Muslim, the professional life (and thus the opening of the stores, administrations and offices) follows the rhythm of the prayers. People are busy before dawn to prepare breakfast which will be consumed only after the first prayer which takes place at sunrise (between 4 and 6 am depending on the month). Generally, employees leave work around 3 or 4 pm, 5 pm at the latest. So remember to do your shopping during the day and ask about your lunch from 11am so that you don't find yourself in front of empty stalls.

There are only a few tourists in Mayotte, however it is essential to book your accommodation and activities well in advance because the metropolitan people living in the archipelago are very fond of these activities, especially the sea trips which are sold out every weekend. Kayaks and paddles for rent are also few and far between, so always call a few days in advance if you have an excursion planned. Finally, the basic rule for any activity is to call back the day before to check that it is still on and to confirm your arrival.

Count between 60 and 80 € for a day at sea. This may seem like a budget, but it often includes pastries and coffee in the morning, lunch and punch at noon, and many hours of sailing as the trips start at 8am and end around 4-5pm. It would be a shame to miss out on such activities, so if you are on a tight budget, plan to cut back on food and transportation. Guided tours or workshops to discover the local culture cost around 20 € for 1 or 2 hours. Two activities are fortunately free: hiking and swimming on the beautiful coral reefs.

In Mayotte, religious festivals are great moments of sharing and conviviality, to which travellers are easily invited, regardless of their origin or personal religion. The months of July and August are also the period of the great weddings (manzaraka) which allows to observe traditional ceremonies. Mahorais living in mainland France and in Reunion Island often return for the occasion, which mixes celebrations and reunions. Entire villages gather for days (and evenings) of festivities. Other cultural festivals (FIM, FESCUMA...) highlight local know-how and traditions and allow people to meet and exchange with the Mahorais.

As everywhere, the guided tours allow you to go further in the discovery of the island, whether it is its fauna, its flora, its history but also the local way of life. The Naturalists are the key players on the island for everything that is land and sea hiking. For any visit related to the flora of the island and in particular to the culture of the ylang-ylang, do not miss a passage by Combani, the heart of the island. Finally, several associations offer to initiate you to the beauty mask technique or to the Mauritian cooking, moments of sharing and happiness guaranteed.

The legislation concerning smoking is the same as in mainland France, however you will see few locals smoking in the public sphere.

With the attraction of visitors to the sandy islets, several local fishermen wanted to exploit the potential and now offer sea trips on their boats for half the official price. It's friendly, authentic and inexpensive for sure, but some tourists have been disappointed when the fishermen forget to come back for them at the scheduled time, and some islets disappear at high tide. To avoid this kind of surprise, only go up with the fishermen you were recommended or ask them to stay with you.

To test on the spot: a Sunday picnic with the locals. If for us metropolitans the picnic is a romantic activity that is practiced on a few occasions when summer comes around, in the islands of the Indian Ocean the picnic is a real art of living. All year round, on Saturdays and Sundays, families gather in large numbers on the seashore to share real food cooked on the spot with care. Music is always present and the meal goes on until nightfall. Participating in a picnic is an opportunity for you to enjoy a privileged moment with the locals and to test the good Mauritian cuisine.