The name Ngouja is said to be derived from the kiswahili word port of call. The Arabs are reported to have chosen this name in the 14th century when they landed there. This is also the former name of Zanzibar. Before the 19th century, the first kaniens (people from Kani be & kani keli) were living on the beach of Ngouja. We still see old remnants of that era. They then quarrelled because of the smallness of the site and the absence of fresh water. They are dispatched in the 2 villages we know today. Ngouja became a tobe village (yield) Important people from Mayotte, among whom Jean Francois Hory, Adrien Giraud & Younoussa Bamana bought the site back and started the construction of 8 bungalows in August 1977. As there was no road, people reached the site by pirogue. Just before 1984, a skipper called Joachim Berndt arrived from South Africa by sailboat. An engine failure marooned the boat.1984 hurricane sank it down 20 meters deep on the reef of Ngouja. Joachim is still living in Ngouja, he is now retired after 23 years activity as a pilot of the Jardin Maoré s boats. The wreck now offers gorgeous night dives. Pierre Stefanica, the new owner, bought le Jardin Maoré in April 2000 with his associates Frédéric Bourgeois and Bruno Fichou. They began restoring the buildings. The 18 bungalows and the site retained the same traditional & local disposition . Old people say the number of seaturtles has increased widely since the construction works. Scientists cannot understand this. because it is unnatural to have more tourists and more turtles at the same time. In 2001, the site became a reserve through prefect s decision. It is now forbidden to fish and to sail on the seagrass.
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