Mayotte lies in Africa. The territory falls in the Southern Hemisphere south of the equator and the Eastern Hemisphere east of the prime meridian. Northern Madagascar borders it to the southeast across the Mozambique Channel. The Union of the Comoros islands lie immediately to the northwest. The Indian Ocean surrounds it to the north, east, and west.
The Department of Mayotte serves as the official name. Grande-Terre forms the main island at 363 square kilometres. Petite-Terre provides a smaller companion island of 10 square kilometres. The archipelago totals 374 square kilometers in land area. Volcanic peaks rise to 660 metres at Benara on Grande-Terre.
This article details where is Mayotte is through continental placement, physical features, regional relations, time zone structure, and connectivity patterns for travellers, researchers, planners, and general geographic reference purposes worldwide.
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Where Is Mayotte? Key Takeaways
Mayotte occupies continental Africa as part of Comoros Archipelago in the Indian Ocean off East Africa coast near Mozambique Channel with volcanic island terrain and lagoon formations typical of the region.
Regional orientation centres Mayotte in northern Mozambique Channel surrounded by Indian Ocean waters positioning it southeast of Comoros islands and northwest of northern Madagascar landmass across maritime distances.
Indian Ocean forms primary surrounding sea with no land borders; Union of Comoros islands position immediately northwest while Madagascar extends southeast across approximately 300 kilometres of channel waters.
Time zone follows East Africa Time standard at UTC+3 offset applied uniformly across territory without daylight saving adjustments throughout calendar year for consistent scheduling.
Key Facts About Mayotte’s Location
Mayotte's location facts include administrative status, continental ties, and statistical measures. These cover the island group scale, population range, area, and codes for reference. Such attributes position Mayotte within standard geographic frameworks alongside French overseas territories. Official records consistently apply these values across international listings and cartographic products. Population estimates typically range from 150,000 to 300,000 residents across the main islands. Land area registers at 374 square kilometres, combining Grande-Terre and associated islets. ISO designations facilitate precise identification in global systems and statistical compilations.
| Attribute | Value |
| Capital | Mamoudzou |
| القارة | أفريقيا |
| المنطقة الفرعية | East Africa |
| السكان | 150,000–300,000 |
| المساحة | 374 sq km |
| المنطقة (المناطق) الزمنية | East Africa Time (EAT) |
| ISO-2 | YT |
| ISO-3 | MYT |
| Calling code | +262 |
| العلم الوطني | Mayotte Flag |
Where Is Mayotte Located Geographically?
Mayotte consists of volcanic islands in the northern Mozambique Channel. The main islands sit at tropical latitudes around 13 degrees south. Rugged terrain rises to modest peaks amid extensive lagoon systems characteristic of Comoros Archipelago geology.
Latitude and Longitude: Centred near 12.8°S and 45.2°E across island group, spanning roughly 50 kilometres north-south and 20 kilometres east-west in main configuration.
Hemispheres: Lies wholly within Southern and Eastern Hemispheres, positioned south of equator by 13 degrees and east of Greenwich meridian by 45 degrees.
Total Land Area: Land totals 374 square kilometres across Grande-Terre at 363 square kilometres, Petite-Terre at 10 square kilometres, and surrounding islets.
Major Physical Features: Volcanic peaks reach 660 metres at Benara on Grande-Terre; lagoons enclose 100 square kilometres of barrier reef coastline around islands.
Tectonic Setting: Forms from ancient hotspot volcanism within Comoros chain on Indian Ocean plate, featuring shield volcanoes and caldera remnants.
Is Mayotte in Africa?
Mayotte is in Africa. It belongs to the East Africa sub-region. Geographic lists place it among the Indian Ocean islands off the continent's east coast. International frameworks consistently classify the territory within African continental divisions for mapping and statistical purposes. This placement appears in UN statistics, World Bank reports, and regional atlases treating overseas territories under host continents.
Continental position: Assigned to Africa in standard geopolitical schemes.
Sub-regional grouping: Included among East African territories and islands.
Hemispheric context: Aligns with Southern and Eastern Hemisphere for African islands.
Map reference usage: Appears under Africa in datasets avoiding European classification.
Classification standards: UN listings treat it as African overseas territory.
Reference consistency: Atlases position it within African regional contexts. Regional compendia maintain this alignment across editions and formats.
Where Is Mayotte Located Relative to Its Neighbours?
Mayotte forms part of the Comoros Archipelago with maritime separations. Sea boundaries define its isolation amid the northern Mozambique Channel. The island group maintains distinct territorial waters within this volcanic chain spanning several hundred kilometres across ocean approaches.
Land borders north-northwest: None; Union of Comoros islands separated by narrow straits of 20 to 70 kilometres.
Southeast maritime boundary: Northern Madagascar lies across 300 kilometres of Mozambique Channel waters.
Northwest island alignments: Anjouan and Mohéli position close within archipelago grouping at 70 and 95 kilometres respectively.
Channel positioning: Mozambique mainland distant west across broader ocean expanse exceeding 400 kilometres.
Where Is Mayotte? Seas, Oceans, & Natural Features
Mayotte lies amid the Indian Ocean with extensive lagoon coastlines exceeding 100 square kilometres enclosed by barrier reefs. Volcanic landforms and fringing reefs shape its insular geography. The archipelago features rugged shorelines and interior plateaus formed through hotspot activity over millions of years.
Seas/Oceans: Encircled entirely by Indian Ocean waters within the northern Mozambique Channel setting.
Coastline: Total length measures 185.2 kilometres around Grande-Terre, Petite-Terre, and the surrounding islets.
Major Rivers: Short seasonal streams drain volcanic slopes directly into coastal lagoons and marine embayments.
Mountains: Benara peak rises to 660 metres above sea level on the main Grande-Terre island.
Deserts: Absent entirely; tropical rainforest and savanna cover volcanic terrain across elevations.
Where Is Mayotte Located? Time Zones and Seasonal Geography
Mayotte observes East Africa Time uniformly. UTC+3 applies without DST across the islands. References to time difference in Mayotte centre on this fixed tropical offset amid wet-dry cycles. The single zone covers Grande-Terre, Petite-Terre, and islets consistently. No seasonal adjustments occur despite proximity to Comoros neighbors. Continental climate patterns feature rainy summers from November to April and drier winters. Local schedules align with this steady EAT framework year-round.
| Attribute | Value |
| المنطقة (المناطق) الزمنية | East Africa Time (EAT) |
| UTC offset | UTC+3 |
| DST status | No daylight saving time |
| Regions covered | Entire territory |
| Seasonal notes | Tropical with wet summers |
Where Is Mayotte? Significance of Its Location for Travelers
Mayotte's Indian Ocean island position shapes access patterns and circadian adjustments for incoming flights. Direct routes from Europe span 10-12 hours from Paris or Marseille on Air France schedules. Africa mainland connections range 2-4 hours from Dar es Salaam or Johannesburg carriers. Australia links exceed 12 hours typically via Réunion or Mauritius hubs with connections.
Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport serves as primary gateway handling international and inter-island traffic. Regional carriers from Air Austral, Air Madagascar, and Comoros Aviation link to Comoros archipelago, northern Madagascar ports, and Réunion Island routinely. Ocean-spanning air corridors from East Africa and Europe facilitate itineraries that combine coastal lagoons with top things to do in Mayotte such as barrier reef diving and volcanic peak hikes.
Jet lag calculations from Western Europe position Mayotte 1-3 hours ahead during standard time periods. East Coast Australia departures face 7-8 hour lags behind local time. Short-haul flights from regional hubs minimize readjustment needs. Maritime ferry options supplement air access from nearby Comoros islands seasonally.
Network Coverage Across the Location of Mayotte
Mobile coverage in Mayotte follows island geography with denser nets on populated shores. Main islands host layered services across 4G bands; remote islets see coverage gaps due to distance from towers. Coastal population centres receive overlapping signals from competing operators while upland interiors face terrain limitations.
Urban focus: Mamoudzou and Dzaoudzi areas overlap multiple operators serving ports, markets, and administrative zones.
Transport corridors: Roads around Grande-Terre connect carrier zones reliably between main settlements and airport access.
Rural coasts: Villages along shores access primary networks for basic voice and data requirements year-round.
Interior hills: Volcanic uplands limit inland signals somewhat through elevation and vegetation density.
Top local networks: SFR Mayotte, Orange Mayotte, Only, Maoré Mobile operate island-wide with base stations positioned strategically.
Lagoon-facing areas maintain marine signal extensions for boats. Tower density concentrates around Petite-Terre ferry routes. Coverage mapping reflects 95 percent population reach across 374 square kilometres. Seasonal tourism peaks prompt temporary signal boosts near dive resorts.
Using SimCorner eSIMs & SIM Cards in Mayotte Location
Arrivals in Mayotte rely on data for navigation, bookings, payments, reef safety apps, and marine weather updates. SimCorner eSIMs and SIM cards connect via SFR Mayotte, Orange Mayotte, Only, Maoré Mobile networks. These options provide affordability across data tiers, instant QR code activation upon landing, hotspot sharing for multiple devices, transparent plan structures with exact allowances listed, zero international roaming fees regardless of origin carrier, and 24/7 multilingual support through app chat or hotline.
SimCorner provides eSIM Mayotte plans and Mayotte SIM cards tailored for short weekend getaways or extended month-long stays. Plans interoperate seamlessly with local networks on eSIM-compatible smartphones and tablets, ensuring continuous service from Dzaoudzi airport through remote coastal villages. Daily, weekly, and monthly data packages match typical traveller consumption patterns without hidden overage charges.
Conclusion
Mayotte comprises volcanic islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, in Southern and Eastern Hemispheres amid Comoros Archipelago and Mozambique Channel.
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