Plage de N'Gouja

N'Gouja in Mayotte's far south is the island's best known beach and the reason is the turtles: green turtles feed on the seagrass in the shallows a short swim from the sand, in numbers and at close enough range that snorkelling with them is essentially reliable. Baobabs and coconut palms stand along the back of the beach and lemurs come down into the trees.

What you actually see

• The green turtles - feeding on seagrass within a short swim of the beach.
• The baobabs - the trees standing along the back of the sand.
• The lemurs - the maki coming down into the beachside trees.
• The seagrass beds - the feeding ground that keeps the turtles there.

When to go

May to October is the dry season. Turtles feed year round with the tide governing access. The wet season from November brings cyclone risk.

Honest expectations

Touching or chasing turtles is prohibited and the rules are enforced. The lemurs are habituated and will take food, which they should not be given. A fee is collected and facilities are basic.

Nearby

Saziley is east, and Mount Choungui is north.