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TravelTips24 : Africa : East Africa : Mayotte

Mayotte

Mayotte is an insland in the Indian Ocean off East Africa between Madagascar and Mozambique. It was formerly part of the Comoros islands (and is currently claimed by them).

Cities

Other destinations

Culture and History

Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence.

Climate

Tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November).

Landscape

Generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks.

Travel to Mayotte & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Mayotte

Planes fly daily between Réunion and Dzaoudzi, the airport/military base in Mayotte. For a return flight from Paris to Mayotte, expect to cash out at least €800.

Kenya Airways announced flights from Nairobi to Mayotte (via Comoros) http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143958919 in November 2006. This is an extension of their Paris-Nairobi flights.

By boat

The primary port is Dzaoudzi.

Tours & Getting around Mayotte

The easiest way to get around Mayotte is with bush taxis ("taxi brousse") who will take you around the island for a few euros.

Talk

French is the official language and is spoken by roughly 35% of the population. More commonly-spoken is Mahorian, a dialect of Swahili.

Mayotte souvenirs & shopping

Currency is the Euro (€). Local stuff (bananas, manioc, fish) is inexpensive, imported items (dairy products, manufactured products) are expensive.

Mayotte attractions and sightseeing

Mayotte city tours

  • A hike (almost a climb) to the summit of mont Choungui will offer a spectacular panorama of the island
  • Makis can be found in remote regions of the island.
  • Diving is mandatory. Expect spectacular sights in the world's largest lagoon.
  • Sea turtles come to roost on the southern beaches.
  • In august-september, humpback whales can be found with their calves in the lagoon.

Mayotte Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Mayotte nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Mayotte cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Learn

Work

Voluntary service: Volontariat Civil à l'Aide Technique (VCAT). [1] Conditions: you must be French or from another EU-member state or a country belonging to the European Economic Area. You must be over 18 and under 28 years old (inclusive). You must not have had your civic rights revoked by a court or have been convicted of certain offences.

Stay safe

Cyclones can occur during rainy season.

Stay healthy

Mayotte is a malaria-infested zone. Consult your physician for anti-malaria medecine, and pile on mosquito repellent.

Respect

90% of the population is Muslim, following a very tolerant Islam. Say hello to people you will cross while hiking, always smile, and you will be respected.

Contact

This page was last edited at 10:09, on 5 August 2008 by Wikitravel user Ypsilon. Based on work by Todd VerBeek, Jim Logan, Antoine, David and David Le Brun, Wikitravel user(s) Hoshie, Episteme, InterLangBot, BigHaz, Karen Johnson and CIAWorldFactbook2002 and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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