Plage de N'Gouja

Plage de N'Gouja lies near Kani-Keli on the southwestern coast of Grande-Terre, Mayotte, and is widely regarded as the best place on the island to see green turtles at close quarters. A sheltered bay of pale sand backed by coconut palms and coastal forest, the beach has calm, shallow water over seagrass beds where turtles graze, often within a few metres of the shoreline. Swimmers and snorkellers regularly see them surfacing for air, and the grazing turtles are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. The bay is a marked turtle-watching site, and a local association has historically promoted respectful observation rules: keep a distance of a few metres, never touch or chase the animals, and avoid flash photography. At night, turtles also come ashore to nest on beaches in this part of southern Mayotte, and any night visit should be done with a local guide to avoid disturbing them. The beach is free and open at all hours, with simple facilities nearby including a small restaurant and lodging. Most visitors spend two to four hours here, snorkelling in the morning from about 07:00 to 11:00, when the water is clearest and the sun is lower. Photographers do best from the water's edge looking across the bay toward the forested headlands, or underwater with a camera on a wrist strap. Weekdays are quiet, while weekends bring local families, particularly in the afternoon. Public minibus taxis, known as taxi-be, run from Mamoudzou toward Kani-Keli for about 3 euros, followed by a walk of around ten minutes to the beach. The neighbouring Plage de Sakouli is a short walk away, making the two easy to combine.