Turtles
Grazing near shore.
VillageHero from Ulm, Germany — CC BY-SA 2.0 · VillageHero from Ulm, Germany — CC BY-SA 2.0 · VillageHero from Ulm, Germany — CC BY-SA 2.0 · VillageHero from Ulm, Germany — CC BY-SA 2.0
N'Gouja is one of Mayotte's best-known beaches, in the commune of Kani-Kéli in the south of Grande-Terre, about 26 km in a straight line south-west of Mamoudzou. It is famous because visitors are almost certain to see sea turtles there. Several species of sea turtle feed on the seagrass meadow stretching from the beach to the drop-off, and this colony is among the most important in the region. Snorkellers watch the turtles grazing a short distance from the sand in calm water. The beach lies inside the vast lagoon enclosed by a reef about 160 km long, one of the largest and deepest lagoons in the world. Big trees shade the sand, and in the neighbouring garden brown lemurs climb the trees and come close to visitors. The beach is free. Do not touch or chase the turtles and keep your distance, do not feed the lemurs, go in the morning when the water is clearest, and check local safety advice before travelling.
Grazing near shore.
In the nearby garden.
Out to the drop-off.
Kani-Kéli, southern Mayotte
Very likely when snorkelling.
No.