Pamanzi

Pamanzi, commonly called Petite-Terre, is a small island in the Mayotte archipelago in the Mozambique Channel. It hosts the town of Dzaoudzi and the island’s main airport.

A compact urban area with colonial-era buildings, a seaport, and the island airport; the shoreline and nearby reefs are used for local fishing and boat transport. The island’s scale makes it straightforward to explore on foot or by short vehicle trips.

Pamanzi was the administrative centre of Mayotte during the colonial era and retained important government functions until the main administration moved to Grande-Terre in the 20th century. It remains important for transport and local governance.

Part of the French overseas department of Mayotte, Pamanzi lies immediately off the south-western coast of the main island (Grande-Terre) and is connected by ferry and short boat services.

• Former capital: Dzaoudzi served as the administrative capital of Mayotte until Mamoudzou on Grande-Terre became the main centre in the 1970s.

What to See #

• Dzaoudzi: Dzaoudzi town occupies the western side of the island and contains colonial-era buildings, the local port and administrative facilities that once served as Mayotte's capital.
• Pamandzi-Dzaoudzi Airport: Pamandzi-Dzaoudzi Airport on the island provides the main air link to other islands and to Réunion and mainland France.