Petite-Terre and Lake Dziani

On this page 4 sections

1. Lake Dziani
2. Moya beach
3. Dzaoudzi and the barge
4. An underwater volcano close by

Lake Dziani

Lake Dziani (or Dziani Dzaha) fills an almost circular explosion crater. Its alkaline waters, coloured by micro-organisms, take on a unique emerald-green hue. A path runs around the crater: allow about an hour's walk, preferably early in the morning or late in the day. Swimming is not advised.

Moya beach

Nestled at the foot of the cliffs, Moya beach is one of the main turtle nesting sites in Mayotte. Night-time observation is only allowed in line with the instructions of local associations. By day it is a popular place to swim, to be approached with caution depending on the state of the sea.

Dzaoudzi and the barge

The island's former capital, Dzaoudzi sits on a rock linked to Pamandzi by a causeway. Here you can see buildings from the colonial era and the quay of the barge that makes the crossing to Mamoudzou in about twenty minutes. Mayotte's international airport is in Pamandzi.

An underwater volcano close by

Since 2018, Mayotte has been at the centre of remarkable seismic and volcanic activity: a new underwater volcano, named Fani Maoré, appeared about fifty kilometres east of Petite-Terre. It is closely monitored by scientists and poses no danger to visitors on land.