Mayotte
{{ message }}
Residence Hoteliere Maharajah
Rue du CommerceMamoudzou
Hotel Sakouli
Plage de sakouli BP 63 NyambadaoMamoudzou
Le Jardin Maore
Plage N\'Gouja BP636 ChironguiMamoudzou
Mayotte is a French island in the Indian Ocean off East Africa between Madagascar and Mozambique.
Understand
Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. When Comoros voted for independence in the 1970s, Mayotte decided to remain a French "collective". In March 2009, the islands voted overwhelmingly (95.2%) to become France's 101st 'departement' effective in 2011. The island is 95% Muslim and many Muslim customs such as polygamy, Islamic-inspired law, and male dominance were commonplace, although all were reversed in accordance with French law as of 2011. A large percentage of the island's population is composed of illegal aliens from neighboring Comoros. Despite the island's French ownership, less than half of the population understands French and very few speak French fluently.
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.
Cities
- 1 Mamoudzou — capital of the island
- Bandrele
- Dzaoudzi
- Sada
Other destinations
Get in
By plane
Planes fly daily between Réunion and Dzaoudzi, the airport/military base in Mayotte. For a return flight from Paris to Mayotte on Air Austral, expect to pay at least €800.
Kenya Airways announced flights from Nairobi to Mayotte (via Comoros) in November 2006. This is an extension of their Paris-Nairobi flights.
Inter Iles Air uses an SAAB-340B aircraft to link Mayotte to Anjouan and Moroni several times a week.
By boat
The primary port is Dzaoudzi. Ferry service to Anjouan and Grande Comore is sporadic and costs about the same as a flight on Inter Iles Air.
Get around
The easiest way to get around Mayotte is with bush taxis ("taxi brousse") who will take you around the island for a few euros. Passenger and car ferries operate continuously between Dzaoudzi and Mamoudzou costing under a euro roundtrip for foot passengers.
Talk
French is the official language and is spoken by roughly 63% of the population. More commonly-spoken are Mahorian (commonly considered a dialect of Swahili) and Malagasy.
Buy
Money
Currency is the euro (€). Local produce (bananas, manioc, fish) is inexpensive, imported items (dairy products, manufactured products) are expensive.
See
Do
- A hike (almost a climb) to the summit of Mont Choungui will offer a spectacular panorama of the island
- Makis (brown lemurs) 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.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Work
Stay safe
Cyclones can occur during the rainy season.
Stay healthy
Mayotte is a malaria-infested zone. Consult your doctor for anti-malaria medicine, 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.
Connect
Mayotte has four mobile phone providers: Orange, SFR, Only, and Maore Mobile. The first three have 3G/4G coverage while the fourth is 4G only and only covers around a third of the island's land mass. Prepaid SIMs are readily available for all four (and if needed, Orange allows visitors to sign up for month to month postpaid service). Orange and SFR are better for heavy, short-term use (voice/text/data bundle offers on the two providers are for a few days at a time, like SFR's 5 GB for 5 days for 5 EUR or Orange's unlimited talk/text/5GB for 7 days for 7 EUR) while Only is better for lower usage and longer stays (offers bundles valid for a month at a time like 200 minutes/200 texts/200MB for 5 EUR). In addition, some mobile providers in the EU treat Mayotte as part of the EU roaming area, allowing free usage, so if you're arriving with an existing SIM from an EU-based provider, check to see if they cover Mayotte.
Exercise normal security precautions
The decision to travel is your responsibility. You are also responsible for your personal safety abroad. The purpose of this Travel Advice is to provide up-to-date information to enable you to make well-informed decisions.
Crime
Although infrequent, petty crime such as pick-pocketing, purse snatching and theft from unlocked cars occurs. Exercise caution in crowded outdoor markets, parks and beaches. Ensure that personal belongings, passport, and other travel documents are secure at all times.
Demonstrations
Demonstrations occur and have the potential to suddenly turn violent. Avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings, follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media.
Transportation
Located in the Indian Ocean, Mayotte is part of the Comoros archipelago. Mayotte is made up of two main islands, Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, and several other small islands, including Mtsamboro, Mbouzi and Bandrélé.
Taxis are the only urban public transport. It is possible to travel between the islands by boat. You should avoid boats that are in poor condition or overcrowded, as there have been incidents of boats capsizing in the past.
Car rental agencies are also available. The road network is currently being rehabilitated, so it should be noted that road quality is still variable. In some spots, the lack of maintenance, lighting and traffic lights is deplorable.
Consult our Transportation FAQ in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.
General safety information
Tourist facilities are limited.
France’s main telecommunications carriers operate in Mayotte, providing reliable access to the telephone network. Broadband Internet access (ADSL) has also been also available in Mayotte since April 2012, and work to improve the network is ongoing.
Mayotte has all the traditional postal services; the post office is a modern and reliable institution.
Emergency services
Dial 15 or 02 69 61 86 86 to reach the police, 17 to reach the gendarmerie and 18 to reach fire fighters.
Health
- Measles: Global Update - January 28, 2014 19:56
Vaccines
Routine Vaccines
Be sure that your routine vaccines are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
Vaccines to Consider
You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health provider about which ones are right for you.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread by contaminated food or water. All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment or occupational exposure) should get vaccinated.
Influenza
Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or through personal contact with unwashed hands. Get the flu shot.
Measles
Measles occurs worldwide but is a common disease in developing countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia. Measles is a highly contagious disease. Be sure your vaccination against measles is up-to-date regardless of the travel destination.
Typhoid
Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among travellers going to rural areas, visiting friends and relatives, or with weakened immune systems. Travellers visiting regions with typhoid risk, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation should consider getting vaccinated.
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Yellow fever is a disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.
| * It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements. | |
| Risk |
|
|---|---|
| Country Entry Requirement* |
|
| Recommendation |
|
Food/Water
Food and Water-borne Diseases
Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers' diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.
In some areas in East Africa, food and water can also carry diseases like cholera, hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in East Africa. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
Travellers' diarrhea
- Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
- Risk of developing travellers’ diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.
- The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.
Insects
Insects and Illness
In some areas in East Africa, certain insects carry and spread diseases like African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), chikungunya, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, onchocerciasis (river blindness), Rift Valley fever, West Nile virus and yellow fever.
Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites.
Malaria
Malaria
- There is a risk of malaria throughout the year in the whole country.
- Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease that is spread by mosquitoes. There is no vaccine against malaria.
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites. This includes covering up, using insect repellent and staying in well-screened air-conditioned accommodations. You may also consider sleeping under an insecticide-treated bednet or pre-treating travel gear with insecticides.
- See a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before you travel to discuss the benefits of taking antimalarial medication and to determine which one to take.
Animals
Animals and Illness
Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, monkeys, snakes, rodents, and bats. Certain infections found in some areas in East Africa, like avian influenza and rabies, can be shared between humans and animals.
Person-to-Person
Person-to-Person Infections
Crowded conditions can increase your risk of certain illnesses. Remember to wash your hands often and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette to avoid colds, the flu and other illnesses.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are spread through blood and bodily fluids; practise safer sex.
Medical services and facilities
Medical services and facilities
A general hospital offering a wide range of health care services is available in Mamoudzou, and there is also an auxiliary hospital in Dzaoudzi. There are no hospitals outside these major cities, but it is possible to visit a doctor or a local clinic.
Keep in Mind...
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.
Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.
You are subject to local laws. Consult our Arrest and Detention page for more information.
Canada and France are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in France to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and French authorities.
Dual citizenship
Although France recognizes dual citizenship, dual citizens are considered French citizens and are subject to French laws. Consult our publication entitled Dual Citizenship: What You Need to Know for more information.
Dress and behaviour
The majority of the population is Muslim. Dress conservatively, behave discreetly, and respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.
Money
The currency is the Euro (EUR). Automated Banking machines are increasing in numbers and are common in Mamoudzou and Petite-Terre.
Climate
There are two seasons in Mayotte: the hot and humid season (November to April) with possible cyclones and northeastern monsoons; and the dry season (May to October).