Plage de Sakouli

Sakouli on Mayotte's southeastern coast is a sheltered beach with a reef flat starting a short swim out, baobabs standing along the back of the sand and shade from casuarina and coconut. Turtles feed on the seagrass in the bay and are seen from the water regularly. It is one of the easier beaches to reach from Mamoudzou and is used by families at weekends. A small hotel operates behind the beach and is one of the few on this stretch of coast. The bay is shallow enough that at low tide the reef flat can be walked out onto.

What you actually see

• The reef flat - coral starting a short swim from the beach.
• The baobabs - the trees standing along the back of the sand.
• The turtles - the animals feeding on seagrass in the bay.
• The shade - casuarina and coconut along the shore.

When to go

May to October is the dry season. Tide governs how much reef flat is swimmable. Weekends bring crowds from Mamoudzou.

Honest expectations

The reef flat is shallow and can be unusable at low tide. It gets crowded and littered at weekends. Facilities are basic.

Nearby

Bandrélé is south, and Mamoudzou is north.