Dembeni: Islets, fringing reef and sugar factory remains

Dembeni brings together diverse coastal landscapes and traces of its agricultural history. The Îlots de Dembéni offer a distinctive landscape; in Hajangoua, the remains of a sugar factory and its tall chimneys recall the municipality’s past.

Islets and fringing reef

The Îlots de Dembéni, also known as the Îlots Hajangoua, include Pouhou, Pengoua and Kolo Issa. They have different shapes: Pouhou is a small rocky island core, while Pengoua and Kolo Issa are elongated. A fringing reef connects the two long islands. The group thus brings together a compact rocky core and two elongated islands linked by a reef. This contrast gives the island landscape a clear outline: three named islands, two distinct shapes and a connecting reef.

Traces of the sugar industry

In Hajangoua, the remains of a sugar factory and its tall chimneys bear witness to the agricultural past of the municipality of Dembéni. The chimneys are just as much a part of this historical picture as the structural remains. This makes it possible to place the history of agriculture in a specific location in Dembeni.

The routes also offer another perspective on the subject: in Dembeni, they pass the remains of former sugar factories and continue to Iloni Beach. The route thus connects historical traces with a beach destination. When considering Dembeni for your trip, you can set the island group and this route alongside each other as two different points of interest: on one hand, the shapes of the islands and reef; on the other, the link to the agricultural past and the route to the beach.

Mayotte: lagoon, landscapes and cultural heritage

The wider travel destination of Mayotte offers other nature and activity themes. Activities in the Mayotte lagoon include recreational boating, anchoring, recreational fishing, diving and snorkelling, observing marine wildlife, other water sports and spending time on the coast. This range therefore includes both activities on the water and time along the coast. You can prioritise these options according to your interests when planning your trip.

On Petite-Terre, Lac Dziani is a volcanic crater lake. Its circular trail follows a marked path and takes about an hour. Access to the Vasière des Badamiers is different: a small path leads there at low tide. When planning, the approximate duration of the circuit matters for Lac Dziani, while the tide level matters for the Vasière. Before visiting the Vasière, check whether it is low tide.

The connection between the two islands is also part of getting around Mayotte. The barge connects Petite-Terre with Grande-Terre; the crossing takes about 15 minutes and is used daily by Mahorais. Check the latest operating details before travelling.

Further landscapes can be found in the south of Mayotte: Mont Choungui is 594 metres high and the island’s second-highest peak. N’Gouja Beach is considered a favourite resting place for makis. Mayotte’s best-known mangrove lies in Baie de Bouéni. The peak, beach and mangrove landscape each offer a different perspective on the wider destination.

Mayotte’s historical and cultural heritage also includes the Îlot M’Bouzi National Nature Reserve. It was established by ministerial decree on 26 January 2007. MuMA, the Musée de Mayotte, is a project launched in 2015 for a departmental museum and is currently in the preparatory phase. Through regular exhibitions at the Caserne de Dzaoudzi on Petite-Terre, MuMA has become established.

Discover more destinations: Ongojou, Bandrele, Mamoudzou, Dzaoudzi, Mamoudzou.

Back to the main travel overview: Mayotte.