Bandrele between the coast and salt-making traditions

The coastline of the municipality of Bandrele includes the beaches of Balises, Sakouli, Baragoume and Mtsatroundrou. Mtsatroundrou lies in a small bay and is also called Musicale plage. These four names make the coastline a clear focus for your planning; trails and the history of salt-making round out the picture of the municipality.

Coast and trails

A hiking trail leads from Bandrele to Mont Bénara. The Sentier des crêtes de Bandrélé is also a named trail. Some hiking trails may have missing markers or markers that are still being installed; check the trail markings before setting out. This lets you include hiking in your travel plans alongside the coastal towns.

Salt-making as a local craft

Salt-making was a local craft in Bandrele. In 1998, a group of women decided to preserve this knowledge through an association. This story adds a social and artisanal dimension to the nature themes: it shows that a stay in Bandrele cannot be described solely in terms of its coastline. If you are looking for a hotel in Bandrele, first decide whether beaches, hiking or salt-making traditions will be the focus of your stay.

Nature in the wider region

In the wider region, the area includes the Saziley and Charifou coral reefs, mangroves, beaches and rocks, as well as coastal and dry forests, agroforestry and padza. With ten beaches where turtles lay their eggs, Saziley is an important breeding ground for green sea turtles. They are the most common turtle species in Mayotte. These landscapes and habitats are part of the wider regional picture of the trip and are distinct from the specific beaches in the municipality of Bandrele. Mont Choungui lies in the south of Mayotte and, at 594 metres, is the island’s second-highest peak.

Mayotte in a wider context

Activities in the Mayotte lagoon include recreational boating, anchoring, recreational fishing, diving, snorkelling, observing marine wildlife, other water sports and spending time on the coast. This offers a wide range of options for travellers who want to include water-based activities in their Mayotte plans alongside coastal and hiking interests.

Lac Dziani, a volcanic crater lake, is on Petite-Terre in Mayotte. A marked circular trail around the lake takes about an hour. At low tide, a small path leads to the Vasière des Badamiers. These two details offer different planning guidance: an approximate duration is given for the circular trail, while low tide is essential for the path to the Vasière.

In Mayotte, the Barge connects Petite-Terre with Grande-Terre. The crossing takes about 15 minutes and is used daily by Mahorais. Check the latest service information before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Bandrele, Mamoudzou, Mamoudzou, Dzaoudzi and Dembeni.

Go to the main travel overview: Mayotte.