Dzaoudzi – History of a Former Capital

Dzaoudzi was Mayotte’s former capital. The wider destination of Mayotte offers additional landscapes and activities. If you’re considering which themes you want to shape your stay, it helps to distinguish Dzaoudzi’s own history from the broader regional context.

History and architectural heritage

The Rocher de Dzaoudzi was originally a Swahili city-state; Dzaoudzi was also Mayotte’s former capital. This makes it possible to distinguish two historical scales: the history of the Rocher and the site’s former political role.

The Governor’s House is part of the architectural heritage. The white building was constructed using structural elements by Gustave Eiffel. A large garden surrounds the house; cultural institutions are now located there. This building thus brings together architectural features and the garden’s present-day cultural use.

MuMA and Mayotte’s cultural heritage

MuMA, the Musée de Mayotte, regularly held exhibitions at the Caserne de Dzaoudzi on Petite Terre and established a permanent presence there. MuMA’s collection includes evidence of Mayotte’s natural, archaeological, historical, and ethnographic heritage. The exhibitions were held at a specific location in Dzaoudzi, whereas the collection covers themes related to Mayotte’s heritage as a whole. This brings local history and a broader range of cultural themes together.

Mayotte as a regional context

Across the wider destination of Mayotte, nature experiences vary according to the landscape and conditions. Lac Dziani on Petite-Terre is a volcanic crater lake; the marked circular trail around it takes about an hour. A small path leads to the Vasière des Badamiers at low tide. The two route details answer different planning questions: an approximate duration is given for the circular trail, while the path to the Vasière is explicitly tide-dependent. Take the low tide into account when considering this route.

The Barge connects Petite-Terre with Grande-Terre; the crossing takes about 15 minutes and is used daily by Mahorais. Check the latest service details before your trip.

Mayotte’s lagoon adds recreational activities to these nature themes. These include recreational boating, anchoring, recreational fishing, diving, snorkeling, observing marine life, other water sports, and spending time on the coast. The range extends from activities on the water to observation and time on the coast, offering a different focus from Dzaoudzi’s local history.

The protection of natural areas is also part of Mayotte’s regional picture: the Îlot M’Bouzi National Nature Reserve was established by ministerial decree on January 26, 2007. Mont Choungui in southern Mayotte is the island’s second-highest peak, at 594 meters. N’Gouja Beach is considered a favored hangout for lemurs; Mayotte’s best-known mangrove is in Baie de Bouéni. Together, these regional nature examples span a protected area, a peak, a beach, and a mangrove.

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

Go to the main travel overview: Mayotte.