Zamburu Passage
Zamburu Passage
Zamburu Passage is a waterway in the Mozambique Channel. It sits between the Choazil Islands and Zamburu Island (Chissioua Mtsamboro), about 3 miles off the northwest coast of Mayotte. It is used as part of the route toward Pamanzi Bay or the Zaudzi anchorage.
How sailors approached Mayotte from the northwest (simplified)
- Keep Zamburu peak to the south and stay clear of the nearby shoal.
- Align Cape Duamuni with the second summit of Pamanzi until Zamburu peak is west, then turn east to the next marks.
- Use Point Congo with the second summit of Pamanzi as you proceed, noting there is a poorly defined extreme land beyond Point Congo called Point Makaoen.
- Stay in the main channel between narrows, past Prévoyante Shoal on the right, toward Pamanzi Bay or Zaudzi anchorage.
- When rounding Zaudzi spit, don’t turn south too early; wait until the Nossi Effatsi islands lie west of Mognaméri.
Dangers in the fairway
- As you enter Zamburu Passage with the leading mark, you’ll cross a shallow bank about a mile long. Depths there are roughly 4.5 to 6.5 fathoms (about 8–12 meters) in places, with the deepest points around 7 fathoms.
- This bank can be dangerous for ships with deep drafts. It’s a known shallow area that has been sounded by ships such as the Cordelière and Somme.
In short, Zamburu Passage is a notable route near Mayotte with important landmarks to follow and a shallow bank to avoid.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:26 (CET).