Asia > 🇾🇹Mayotte
Should You Hire a Car in Mayotte? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Mayotte (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Mayotte - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
Should you rent a car in Mayotte? 🚗🇾🇹 For most visitors, Mayotte feels like two islands split by a lagoon — Petite-Terre, where the airport is, and Grande-Terre, where almost everything else is. Because of this layout, many travellers naturally wonder: should you rent a car in Mayotte? The short answer is yes, usually — but only once you reach Grande-Terre. Renting a car straight from the airport on Petite-Terre is possible but less convenient than it looks.
🛬 Arriving at Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi Airport (DZA)
When you land at DZA, you are on Petite-Terre, not on the main island. Most major car rental companies do not have formal desks here. A few small local operators can deliver a car to the airport on request, but these are not bookable online and availability is unpredictable.
The far more common arrival pattern is:
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Take a taxi from the airport to the ferry terminal (very short ride).
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Board the Barge ferry across to Grande-Terre.
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Pick up your car after you arrive in Mamoudzou.
Even if a taxi driver crosses the ferry with you, you must pay their return fare as well — which is why many drivers prefer to drop you on the Petite-Terre side. Once you cross as a foot passenger, you will find taxis waiting on the Grande-Terre side. 🚕⛴️
🚘 Car Rental on Grande-Terre
Grande-Terre is the main island, and this is where car rental actually makes sense. You’ll find:
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Local agencies
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A handful of international-style operators
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Cars suitable for the island’s steep, winding roads
Everything is easier here: fuel, supermarkets, hotels, and almost all attractions are on this island.
A car makes travel much smoother, because buses exist but follow no reliable timetable and often stop early. With a vehicle you can easily reach:
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Sada
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Bandrele & the east coast beaches
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Chiconi & the interior uplands
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Dziani crater lake (Petite-Terre – reachable by ferry + taxi or by returning the car later)
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Mount Benara and Mount Choungui (trailheads scattered across the countryside)
Driving the main loop road around Grande-Terre takes a few hours in good conditions, but with photo stops and detours it becomes a brilliant full-day exploration. 🏝️📸
🚶♂️ Tourism Reality Check
Mayotte is not a major tourist destination. Most visitors are from:
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France (external territories, business, administration)
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Comoros (family travel)
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Réunion (regional links)
Because of this, transport infrastructure is built mainly for locals, not tourists. Car rental is therefore practical rather than optional, especially if you want to explore beyond Mamoudzou.
There are no flights from mainland Europe directly to Mayotte. Most arrive via Réunion (RUN), sometimes via Nairobi or the Comoros.
🏝️ Driving Around Grande-Terre
Yes — you can drive the island loop. The road is paved, scenic, and passes through:
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Coastal villages
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Forested hills
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Beaches
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Local markets
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Viewpoints over the lagoon
Allow a full day if you want to stop often. The island is larger than first impressions suggest, and speeds are low.
Summary — Should you rent a car in Mayotte? 🌴🚗💡
Yes — but rent it on Grande-Terre, not at the airport.
Because:
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Car rental on Petite-Terre is scarce and hard to arrange.
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The ferry transfer makes airport pickup awkward.
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Public transport is extremely limited and ends early.
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The best beaches, hills, and villages are spread widely around Grande-Terre.
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A day-rental or multi-day rental from Mamoudzou gives you maximum freedom.
You can absolutely enjoy the island without a car if you stay centrally and only do a few organised excursions — but to truly explore Mayotte, a rental car on the main island is the best option.
