Benara

Benara, often referred to as Mont Benara, is the highest mountain on the French island of Mayotte, rising to roughly 660 metres. It is the island’s principal high point and a landmark for the surrounding communes.

Hiking routes lead to viewpoints from which walkers can see the island’s interior and the Indian Ocean; nearby peaks and ridges are often combined into longer walks. The slopes are covered by native and secondary vegetation typical of the island’s uplands.

Benara is a natural volcanic-derived peak that has long formed part of Mayotte’s island topography and local navigation landmarks. It has not been heavily developed and remains primarily a natural area used for hiking and local access.

The mountain lies on Grande-Terre (the main island of Mayotte) within the commune area around Dembeni, in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique.

• Highest point: At about 660 metres above sea level, it is the highest point on Mayotte and provides panoramic views over the island and surrounding sea when conditions are clear.

• Start your hike very early (before mid-morning) to avoid cloud build-up obscuring views from the summit and to catch clear sunrise vistas across Mayotte and the Mozambique Channel.
• Use the main trailheads from the Dembeni side and follow local trail signage or hire a local guide for the steeper sections-guides can point out endemic plants and safer routes that many independent walkers miss.
• Bring binoculars for bird and marine-visibility from the ridge; the summit lookout offers sweeping views that are easy to miss if you linger only briefly at the top.