Dziani Dzaha Crater Lake

Dziani Dzaha is a volcanic crater lake on Petite-Terre, the small island of Mayotte reached by barge from Grande-Terre and home to Dzaoudzi and the island's airport. Occupying an old explosion crater near the village of Dzaoudzi-Labattoir, the lake is known for its striking opaque, milky green to turquoise colour, caused by very high salinity and dense blooms of micro-organisms. Scientists study the lake as an analogue for early Earth environments, and its extreme chemistry means swimming is not recommended and the water is not for bathing. The visit is short and scenic: visitors walk up to the crater rim and follow a path along its edge, with views down onto the lake, across the island's palm-covered slopes and out toward the lagoon and the reef. Flamingos and other waterbirds occasionally feed in the shallows. The best light is at sunrise and in the early morning, between about 07:00 and 09:00, when the air is cool, the water is still, and colours are most intense. Most visitors need between one and two hours, including the walk from the road. The site is free and open daily, and there are no facilities, so water, sun protection and sturdy shoes are advisable. The paths can be slippery after rain, and the crater rim has steep drops, so children should be supervised. Photographers favour the rim viewpoints for wide shots and a longer lens for birds. Crowds are minimal; the site is rarely busy outside school holidays. It is about a 15-minute walk from the centre of Dzaoudzi along the airport road, and combines well with Plage des Badamiers and Plage de Moya on the same island.