“All’s well that ends well” – William Shakespeare.
I arrived into Mayotte in July 2025, and it was the last new country on my Rainy Summertime tour. The tour had many flaws, more downs than ups and some ridiculous hiccups that threatened to amalgamshake my entire backpacking journey and make me skip 3 of the countries on my list. In the end, and £2,000 into unexpected debt, I finally managed to visit the four countries I intended to – The Maldives, Zanzibar, Comoros and here, little Mayotte. Save for the best for last eh? Almost, quite…
I landed in Dzaoudzi International Airport at dusk and got a shared taxi then a ferry over to the capital city, Mamoudzou. I really loved that ferry system here, you get to visit the main two islands in Mayotte easily. I visited three places on two islands – Dzaoudzi on the island of Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), and Mtsapere and Mamoudzou on the island of Grande-Terre (or Maore), the main island of Mayotte. I was sleeping for a brace of nights in Mtsapere – this was well located in a local neighbourhood and also near the football stadium and the seafront. It was about 30 minutes walk from the capital city, Mamoudzou. I was sleeping in a place called L’Escale. But let’s start with a mishap, as much of my Rainy Summertime tour was.
*** Please Note – I originally went to the WRONG Hostel!! ***
Yes on my worst ever trip which involved 6 cancelled flights, a fake visa scandal (for a visa which I didn’t need, and didn’t get, and didn’t want), 4 missed connections, a broken phone, the wrong airport and many other mishaps, I actually went to the WRONG hostel. I had looked on Google Maps that my hostel/apartment L’Escale was opposite the hospital and therefore it was a short ride up the hill from the harbour, where the ferry terminal is…however that is a different L’Escale Hostel – totally different place also called L’Escale!! Reminders of backpacking Lome in Togo where there were TWO Diana Hostels and Malina and I went to the wrong one and got lost. Then there were ALSO TWO Coco Ocean Hotels and we again went to the wrong one and got lost again!!! It was happening again – two L’Escale Hostels in Mayotte! Why can businesses that are completely separate not use two completely different names in Africa???
Anyway, I went there to L’Escale at least where I thought L’Escale was, but it was shut and the lads staying there had no clue what to do. In a hazy daze and since I backpack offline, I went into the hospital car park where a legendary local lad pulled out his phone, called the number, spoke to Sara the manage of the OTHER L’Escale, the one I was supposed to be sleeping in, and then said to me “just wait in my car, I’ll drive you there once my patient comes out!”. Finally some good news and a gentleman, who stuck to his word and drove me there for free. Some skant consolation for being £2,000 down in debt from this trip.
So we waited in the hospital car park, it was quite late at night and this lad kindly gave me a lift to the real L’Escale, in Mtsapere, Mayotte, a bit further away than Mamoudzou city centre. Like a 10 minute drive!
When I finally got to the correct L’Escale, midnight had almost arrived and I was tired, frustrated, angry and weary. Luckily Sara gave me the key to my apartment and once I got inside, suddenly everything was amazing again!! I had fast Wi-Fi, a washing machine, a cosy bed, a kitchen (which I made good use of), a shower room and even a television. I have never bought a television, and it has been 9 years since I lived in a flat with a television and I was shocked that it was a modern television that I had no idea how to work. I headed to a YouTube option (I had never before seen that on a television!!) So I worked it out and stuck on Oasis…
“Maybe you’re gonna be the one that saves me” – Noel Gallagher (Oasis – Wonderwall).
Then I immediately stuck on the washing machine, showered and did some blogging. This was finally worth the crazy nuts days I’d endured…
I’ve been hand luggage loyal only for 6 years now, so all my clothes fits easilt into one fast wash! Result. They’d be dry by the time I was heading out backpacking the next morning at 10.00 a.m.
Here are a few more photos of this apartment, including the kitchen, the showerroom, the window views, and the outdoor.
Here are the details for booking a room or apartment at L’Escale Apartment in Mtsapere, Mayotte:
L’Escale, 17 Rue Zaza Veri mtsapéré, Mamoudzou, 97600, Mayotte
Here are some videos I made while staying at L’Escale Apartment in Mtsapere, Mayotte:
