I lived on this small island in the Indian Ocean for almost four years, tucked between Madagascar and the African continent. Mayotte, sometimes known as “Little Africa,” remains an endearing French territory, far from the tourist crowds and deeply rooted in its values and identity. If you ever have the chance to visit, don’t hesitate. The island will appeal to anyone who loves diving, lagoons, white-sand beaches, coconut palms, and beautiful reefs, as well as travelers looking for a more authentic experience.
Close
Mayotte is made up of two main islands: Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, where the airport is located. Other islands and islets, either volcanic or formed from white sand, are scattered along the reef and throughout the lagoon. Mamoudzou is the capital.
Previously a departmental collectivity, Mayotte became France’s 101st department and its fifth overseas department in 2011, following a referendum held in 2009.
The population is primarily Mahoran, Comorian, and Malagasy. French is the official language, while Shimaore, a language related to Swahili, is widely spoken. Subsistence farming, including cassava and breadfruit cultivation, remains an important part of daily life.
The island is known for its coral reefs, mangroves, makis (lemurs), sea turtle nesting sites, and enormous baobab trees.
Still, even though the island remains a true paradise in my eyes, it is impossible to ignore its recurring problems: irregular immigration from the Comoros, crime, urban violence, and the deportation of undocumented migrants, among others. These are part of the island’s reality and are worth understanding before planning a trip to Mayotte. It is a complex place in every respect.
At the time of writing, I was living in French Polynesia, which gave me some perspective on my experience and the years I spent in Mayotte. No, Mayotte is far from being the Seychelles, with white-sand beaches and coconut palms everywhere, all year round. Beyond the island’s complexities, however, what I remember most is the kindness of the Mahoran people, their warm welcome, their openness, and above all, the authenticity of an island that feels genuinely “real,” as I like to say.
I love this African atmosphere. I felt the same connection while visiting Tanzania on a photo safari and traveling to Mozambique to discover Ibo Island. Africa is a continent unlike any other, and to me, Mayotte is very much a part of it.
In any case, if you are planning a trip to Mayotte, don’t hesitate. It can be an incredibly rewarding life experience and a wonderful opportunity to connect with others. To get started, here are the best things to do on Mayotte Island. More articles will follow!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies such as cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Failure to consent or withdrawal of consent may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
Technical access or storage is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of transmitting a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
Technical access or storage is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences not requested by the subscriber or Internet user.
Statistics
Storage or technical access used exclusively for statistical purposes.Storage or technical access which is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. In the absence of a subpoena, voluntary compliance by your Internet service provider or additional third-party records, information stored or retrieved for this sole purpose generally cannot be used to identify you.
Marketing
Technical access or storage is necessary to create user profiles in order to send advertisements, or to track the user on a website or on several websites with similar marketing purposes.
