Bandrélé Waterfall Trail

The Bandrélé Waterfall Trail is a short walk from the village of Bandrélé in southeastern Grande-Terre, Mayotte, to a waterfall viewpoint about 120 m higher. The route starts in Bandrélé village, 97660 Mayotte, and the path is not always obviously signed, so visitors are advised to ask locals for directions to the waterfall path. Without a car, a taxi-be from Mamoudzou reaches Bandrélé in about 30 minutes for roughly €2.50. No permit is known to be required. The trail is about 3 km round trip and takes one and a half to two hours. The elevation gain of around 120 m is spread over the route, and technical difficulty is easy, although the surface can be demanding in places. Expect a mix of dirt path, tree roots, wet rock and stream crossings, which become slippery in the rainy season, so water shoes or sandals with grip are useful. Parts of the route pass through shaded vegetation, and humidity is high. The waterfall itself is the main landmark and the natural turn-around point; flow is strongest from December to May after the rains and can shrink to a trickle during the dry months. Visitors should take care on wet rocks near the base and avoid entering the water after heavy rain, when streams can rise quickly. There are no refuge huts or services along the route and no safe drinking water, so walkers bring their own water. Insect repellent is recommended, as mosquitoes are common near water. Because the path is informal and local knowledge helps with navigation, going with a local companion or checking directions in the village before starting is a sensible precaution. Visitors should respect land used by residents, keep to the path and take rubbish away. The walk is brief enough to combine with other stops in the southeast of the island, such as the coast around Bandrélé, within a single day.