When to go to Mayotte Island?

Having lived almost four years on this island in the Indian Ocean, I am particularly familiar with the weather and climate on the island. Progressively, I continue to write on this travel blog about past destinations. In this “tips” article, I explain when to go to Mayotte and what the best seasons are depending on what you want to do on the island. It’s always interesting to prepare your trip, isn’t it?

Besides, if you’re in the middle of preparing your trip, you’re probably asking yourself what to do in Mayotte, right? By the way, to find the cheapest flights from where you live to Mayotte, I often look on this website.

For trips to the tropics, you are generally not likely to get cold. For the island of Mayotte, it will mainly be a question of knowing when the rainy season, also known as the hurricane season, occurs.

Temperature

After 4 years spent on the island, I can tell you that it is generally warm all year round on the island. The average temperatures vary from 25° to about 35°.

As in the whole Southern Hemisphere, temperatures in Mayotte drop slightly from June to October. Otherwise, temperatures remain more or less the same.

Precipitation

The island of Mayotte is relatively unaffected by heavy rainfall. The annual average is around 1400/1500mm of water, which is not huge for an island in a tropical environment. The rainiest months are generally from December to April.

The winds

As far as we can tell, there is very little wind during the year. Only the cooler period (June to August) brings the trade winds to the island.

Seasons in Mayotte

We generally consider two seasons on the island:

• The rainy season: it runs from November to April, a period during which it can rain often. It is the rainiest period of the year. The humidity level is high at over 90%. The average temperature is 27/28°. It is worth noting that the south coast of Mayotte is less rainy overall. The North coast is much greener, you will realize it with its beautiful lush vegetation. It is also the mosquito season!

• The dry season: From June to September, it is the driest season (little or no rain), and it is also the period during which the trade winds blow a little. It is the best time to do some kitesurfing and sailing. Average temperatures are lower (23/25°).

A good part of tourism in Mayotte remains family tourism or people from Reunion Island who come to enjoy the beauties of the island’s lagoon, either for scuba diving or to see whales.

If you are wondering when to see whales in Mayotte, they arrive during the cool season, from July until October. They come to give birth in the lagoon and you will therefore have the chance to see calves during this period!

Several clubs (Lagon Aventure, Mayotte Découverte, Planète Bleue, etc.) offer day trips to see the whales in the lagoon. Depending on the provider, the departure point can be from the Mamoudzou pontoon or bases in the south of the island for some clubs (Lagon Maoré or Planète Bleue). Generally, count between 60 and 70€ for the day, including meals. You can also consider going whale watching with a local fisherman for a day.

For those who are wondering about sea turtle spawning, they take place more or less all year round.

If there is a reason to visit the island of Mayotte, it is to enjoy scuba diving. The underwater depths are exceptional and I have frankly seen some very beautiful things. So yes, compared to French Polynesia where I currently live, there are a lot less “big fish”, but the diversity is 1000 times more important (that’s a random number, eh!).

When I lived in Mayotte, I was able to do at least 150 or 200 dives on the island and I remember enjoying looking for little things in the coral: nudibranchs, leaf fish, moray eels, etc. The diversity of corals and fauna was amazing and I can say after a little hindsight that it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the opportunity to dive in the world. The dives in Madagascar and Mozambique are also in the same lineage.

The best season for diving in Mayotte is from April to November. Rainfall is very low and visibility is often excellent. When I have the time, I will write everything there is to know about diving in Mayotte.

A few quick words on the subject because who says tropical island potentially says hurricane. Mayotte is relatively sheltered from the main cyclone passages, being partially protected by the island of Madagascar. Cyclones generally arrive from the east and often hit Reunion Island, Mauritius or Madagascar. It sometimes happens that some depressions form and move up the Mozambique Channel between Mayotte and Africa.

Overall, I would advise avoiding the rainy season and focusing on the dry season, which is between July and September. You are therefore in the ideal season to see whales and other marine mammals, but also the ideal period for diving. Knowing that there is no real tourist season, I excluded that point. In my opinion, the heat remains bearable all year round.

I will stop here for this little guide article. I hope you have learned the necessary and feel like making a small stopover there? In the meantime, if you are still hesitating, I really suggest you make the trip. The island, although the situation is rarely simple there, remains in my heart. To continue traveling, go discover the Mount Choungui hike.

See you soon and have a good trip.

To help you organise your stay, feel free to consult our guide to accommodations in Mayotte.

Written by Sylvain PONS

From 2011 to 2015, Mélanie and I lived for four years on the island of Mayotte. This allowed us to appreciate the island's beauty, its culture, and its endearing population. It was undoubtedly one of our best life experiences!

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