Écomusée du Sel de Bandrélé
A museum at Bandrélé where women still make salt by the traditional method.
Updated 3 September 2026
At Bandrélé on Mayotte's southeastern coast a group of women have kept the traditional salt-making going, filtering seawater through sand collected from the mangrove flats and then boiling the brine down over wood fires in a process that takes days, and the ecomuseum there explains it and lets visitors watch. The salt is sold on site. It is one of very few places the method survives.
What's there
- The filtering - seawater run through mangrove sand to concentrate the brine.
- The boiling - the brine reduced over wood fires over several days.
- The women's cooperative - the group that kept the practice going.
- The salt itself - the product sold at the museum.
When to go
May to October is the dry season, which is when salt making works. The wet season stops production. Visits should be arranged to catch the process.
What to expect
Production is seasonal and depends on weather, so a visit may miss the making. The museum is small and an hour or two covers it. Explanation is in French.
Nearby
Saziley is south, and Sakouli is north.
What to pack for Écomusée du Sel de Bandrélé
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
