Mayotte - Facts
- Advance Notification: For forms to complete in advance of arrival see Clearance.
- Located at the northern entrance of the Mozambique Channel and 150 miles from Madagascar, the island of Mayotte has been a crossroads for maritime trade between Europe and the Indian Ocean for centuries.
- Mayotte may be French, but 99% of the population is Muslim.
- Mayotte Island is geographically part of the Comoros archipelago, a small group of islands lying between the northern tip of Madagascar and East Africa in the Indian Ocean.
- On January 1, 2014 Mayotte became ‘an outermost region’ of the European Union. It is an overseas administrative department of France and the French Navy maintain a naval base on the island.
- The island is surrounded by reefs and the main harbour at Dzaoudzi is very well-protected. There are many anchorages inside the reef and diving is excellent. Expect to see turtles, fish, dolphins, manta rays and dugongs.
- Some repair facilities are available in Dzaoudzi. Supplies are better than in neighbouring Comoros and most imported goods are French (so not cheap).
- On the other hand, clearance here is easy and free and mooring is a very low cost as well.
- The other three islands in the group, Grande Comore, Moheli and Anjouan, now form the independent republic of Comoros.
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Free Moorings (map)
Note anchoring is only permitted at the one place (Dzaoudzi where most will arrive to clear in). However there are Park moorings all around the main island (and on some of the smaller islands) – Just be careful to match the mooring to your boat weight. Free park Mooring map – https://parc-marin-mayotte.fr/documentation/carte-des-mouillages-du-parc
And while I’m posting – here are a bunch of other notes I made during our 2022 visit…
Snorkel tips
* https://www.snorkeling-report.com/destination/snorkeling-mayotte/
* https://generationvoyage.fr/spots-plongee-mayotte/
You can expect to see Turtles, fish, dolphins, and if you are lucky manta rays and even dugong
Clearing in – helps if you have a printer and can revive attachments via your at device email account – as the port clearance can the be done via email – customs and immigration require a trip to the airport (walk or taxi) and then send (email) copy to port captain.
Dinghy dock – to south of ferry landing and navy/police dock. It’s a floating dock but often crowded and can be subject to swell.
ATM – at Dzaoudzi ferry landing (near the dinghy dock and just inside the entrance cage – no entry restrictions so you can come and go as you please into the ‘cage’ area) – so you can soon get some Euros to start spending.
Ferry between Dzaoudzi and Main island is 75c for a return trip (you only pay one way), the ferries run regularly and seem in good order.
Taxis are ‘collective’ or ‘bush’ meaning they may pick up other passengers during your ride (more like a on demand bus but a car – €2 per person per ride for most trips (fuel cans / groceries may be €extra per can/bag) – can be found at most public places or just hailed as you see them.
Free internet at yacht club (buy a drink). Also laundry machines at 1.50 Euro per load!
3 major sim providers – Orange, Only, and SFR (and other smaller providers no doubt)
– orange – we didn’t use this one, but others were happy with it
– SFR – we paid €2 for a SIM that came with 3gb free and then paid €5 for 5gb (lasts for 5 days) – we went with a data only plan. If you top up at the machines in official SFR stores then extra data is automatically added (at least that was offered during our visit)
– Verify in store that internet and hot spot is working (and ask how to top up if required)
Grocery
– Covered market on main and petit islands
– Afternoons have a few women selling veggies at ferry landing area (Dzaoudzi)
– Big covered market at Mamoudzou by ferry landing
– Supermarkets on Petit – Carrefour, sodifram (Kawani)
– Mall on Grand terre also has hardware store (Mr Bricologe) and grocery (Jumbo Score)
– We found supermarkets were poorly stocked with fruit and veg, often they would have nothing, or maybe just pears – lots of empty areas. Also we were surprised (even at the markets) at the lack of fruit/veg options. Carrots and potatoes were hard to come by. Grapes, Avocados, seemed an impossible dream.
Chandlery
– grand Terre- SV Nautique – not a great lot of stock, but very helpful
Note: Clearance section reference a link to documents at https://www.mayotte.cci.fr/ports-de-plaisance/ – however that link is no longer valid.
Thanks MaryAnne – again – web link has changed and forms are now easier to find in the first blue box – top right of page. Go to https://www.mayotte.cci.fr/nos-implantations/port-de-plaisance/ [links for arrival form and exit form in the first blue box, right of site]. Noonsite updated.
Posted on behalf of Brian Simm
All paperwork is shore-based and free. Entry and exit forms are held by yacht club 200 m to the left of the ferry landing at Dzoudri. ( open 11 am to 8 pm ) visits to the airport for immigration and to customs are needed on arrival and departure.
http://www.sailingadventureworldwide.com/index_htm_files/ACHM/index.htm
We are here in the moment and having a great time with this French people… the ACHM club is fully supporting us and give great service…
Greetings, Hans