Mamoudzou Travel Guide, Mayotte

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Location

Mamoudzou is an exotic travel destination located on Mayotte Island 135 miles from Moroni and 270 miles from Nacala, part of Comoro Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Mamoudzou travel guide presents the most important facts related to this city.

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Topography and Climate

Located on a volcanic island, Mamoudzou has a slightly undulating topography, going down to the sea with green rolling hills. The soils are fertile, set upon a hard rocky substratum created throughout time by consecutive volcanic eruptions.

Climate in Mamoudzou is tropical with strong marine influences which act as a regulator, thus eliminating temperature extremes. There are two seasons in Mayotte, a rainy one from November to May bringing high temperatures and humidity and a dry season from June to October with lower temperatures and scarce rainfalls. The best time to visit the city is during the dry season when the climate is mild and there are no threats regarding the cyclones.

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

Located in an area with such favorable climate and soils, Mamoudzou looks like a green tropical garden welcoming the tourists with beautiful coconut trees, clove trees and along the shores thick mangrove forests. These places are also famous for their spices that are cultivated here like the cinnamon, vanilla and for the scented flowers used in perfume and cosmetics industry such as ylang ylang.

Fauna is also abundant on both land and in the waters of the ocean mainly represented by mammals like wild pigs, bats, birds like the hummingbird and egret and numerous turtle species, exotic fish and the spectacular dolphins. Several whale species can also be admired offshore, especially during summer when they arrive here to give birth.

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Population

The city houses a number of about 30.000 inhabitants and is the most important administrative center in Mayotte. The dominating religion here is Islam followed shortly by Christianity and the official language is French. Besides French which is mainly used in administration and diplomacy, locals speak widely a dialect of Swahili and other dialects like the Maore and Bushi very few people being able to speak French.

Local economy in Mamoudzou is based on agriculture which provides important amounts of spices like vanilla and cinnamon, rice, coffee and sugar cane. Tourism is a continuous developing sector due to the island’s position, quite far from Europe, still very promising taking into account the paradisiacal landscape one can find here.

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Culture and Arts

Local culture and art is mainly expressed through traditional music and crafts which are very well preserved and which are strongly influenced by the northern African ones. In matters of influences Mamoudzou is a diverse city, its architecture having a unique similarity with Madagascar; local music being influenced by the French and the local “taarab” music keeping Zanzibar influences. Theatre is also popular in the city along with crafts which can be admired in special places downtown, much appreciated by all tourists.

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Transport

Mamoudzou is located on a small island so travel options are few, still getting here is easier by plane or by boat if you arrive from the coast. The nearest airport is located in Dzaoudzi on a smaller island called Petite Terre, the city being also the main port. The airport has good connections with several African countries and France, so if you arrive from other locations you will have to make at least one stop until here. On water ferries are again a very good option to get to the airport or to other nearby islands while on land you can rent a car and have a tour of the island, you will be impressed. Within the city bush taxis are the most popular and least expensive along with walking since the city is not too large and distances small.

Mamoudzou, Travel Guide – Festivals

The most well known such event in Mamoudzou is Haroussi Festival which is a traditional festivity celebrating marriage and which gathers numerous women dressed in bride gowns on the streets of the city. The event lasts for about two weeks and presents beautiful traditional dances, costumes and traditions.