Dzaoudzi was the former capital of Mayotte; the Rocher de Dzaoudzi was originally a Swahili city-state. These two points of reference give a trip a specific historical focus. The Governor’s House and MuMA add to this. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first decide whether Dzaoudzi’s history should be the main focus or whether you would like to include other aspects of Mayotte in your plans.

History, the Governor’s House and MuMA

The Governor’s House is a white building constructed with structural elements by Gustave Eiffel. It is surrounded by a large garden that now houses cultural institutions. The house is one of the buildings that bear witness to Dzaoudzi’s colonial past. Together with its former status as the capital and the history of the Rocher, it offers several historical perspectives on the place without needing to combine them into a single narrative.

Following the 2019 earthquakes, access to the building was prohibited for a time. If you plan to visit, check in advance whether access is currently possible. MuMA, the Musée de Mayotte, is also associated with Dzaoudzi: it regularly held exhibitions at the Caserne de Dzaoudzi on Petite Terre and established a permanent presence there. Its collection includes evidence of Mayotte’s natural, archaeological, historical and ethnographic heritage. The exhibitions in Dzaoudzi and the broad themes covered by the collection therefore represent different cultural points of reference. However, the exhibitions and collection contents alone do not indicate whether a visit is possible today; check access in advance.

Putting other parts of Mayotte in context

Across the wider destination of Mayotte, the lagoon offers a range of activities. These include recreational boating and anchoring, recreational fishing, diving and snorkelling, marine wildlife watching, other water sports and spending time on the coast. If you are interested in the lagoon, you can choose among these options according to your interests rather than treating them as a set itinerary.

The timings for two activities in Mayotte are also easy to distinguish: the barge connects Petite-Terre with Grande-Terre; the crossing takes about 15 minutes and is used daily by Mahorais. Check the current schedule before travelling. The circular route around Lac Dziani, a volcanic crater lake on Petite-Terre, follows a marked path and takes about an hour. While one time refers to a crossing, the other describes the duration of a circular walk. A small path leads to the Vasière des Badamiers at low tide; the tidal conditions are important when planning your visit.

For a scenic perspective on Mayotte, there are other distinct points of reference: at 594 metres, Mont Choungui in the south of Mayotte is the island’s second-highest peak. N’Gouja Beach is considered a favourite gathering place for lemurs, and Mayotte’s best-known mangrove is in Baie de Bouéni. These places and landscapes broaden the perspective on the destination of Mayotte; they offer a different thematic complement to Dzaoudzi’s historical and cultural highlights.

Choosing accommodation based on your priorities

When looking for a hotel in Dzaoudzi, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on: should the trip centre mainly on Dzaoudzi’s history and cultural themes, or would you also like to include other aspects of Mayotte? Local points of interest and regional activities appeal to different interests.

Explore other areas: Dzaoudzi.

Explore other destinations: Mamoudzou, Bandrele, Mamoudzou, Dembeni.

Go to the main travel overview: Mayotte.