Mahdia
El Mahdiya · Cap Afrique
35°30.0'N 11°03.7'E
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m in the bay on sand and sandy-mud. Gulf of Gabes springs 0.5–1.0m — anchor in minimum 3m at HIGH WATER. Marina preferred in any NE or E conditions above F3.
About This Anchorage
Mahdia is one of Tunisia's most historically significant and atmospherically compelling cities — the original capital of the Fatimid Caliphate, founded in 916 AD by Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi after whom it is named. The old town sits on a narrow headland (Cap Afrique) jutting into the Mediterranean, its walls, gates, and ribat (fortified monastery) remarkably intact for a 1,100-year-old city. The Skifa el Kahla (Dark Passage gate, 916 AD) is one of the finest examples of Fatimid architecture anywhere. Mahdia is a port of call on the ancient trade route between the Maghreb and Sicily — a Roman galley loaded with Greek bronzes (the famous Mahdia shipwreck) was discovered offshore in 1907, and its cargo is now in the Bardo Museum, Tunis. The small marina makes it a comfortable overnight stop for those passage-making between Sfax and Monastir.
Protected From
S · SW · W · NW · N
Exposed To
E · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina berth approx 20–35 TND/night; outer bay anchoring free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring near the Mahdia shipwreck archaeological zone (approx 3nm offshore east of Cap Afrique). Respect fishing boat traffic in the bay. Tidal range requires minimum 3m depth at HIGH WATER.
Hazards
- !Gulf of Gabes tidal range 0.5–1.0m — anchor in minimum 3m at HIGH WATER; less critical than Sfax but still important
- !Bay exposed to E and NE — in NE conditions above F3, use marina or leave for more sheltered harbour
- !Mahdia shipwreck archaeological zone (3nm offshore east) — no anchoring in marked area
- !Sirocco (Chili) from SE July–August — dusty, hot; Cap Afrique provides some shelter but departure may be blocked
- !Rocky approaches to Cap Afrique headland — approach from north via charted channel; avoid headland rocks
Skipper's Tips
- →Mahdia old town (medina) is compact and extraordinary — the Skifa el Kahla gate and ribat are 1,100-year-old Fatimid architecture
- →The Mahdia shipwreck (1907) is not accessible to divers — but its cargo (Greek bronzes) at the Bardo Museum in Tunis is unmissable
- →Morning fish market near the harbour has some of the freshest tuna and swordfish in Tunisia — buy for passage provisioning
- →Mahdia is an excellent overnight stop between Sfax and Monastir — quiet, historic, and uncrowded by tourists
- →The old town cemetery on the headland has extraordinary views over the gulf — best visited at sunset
Facilities
Good fish restaurants near the harbour and in the old town. Local seafood — particularly tuna and swordfish — excellent. Basic provisions in the medina.
Nearest provisions: Mahdia medina market (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
April–October. Best in May–June and September–October. July–August hot and Sirocco risk. Comfortable anchorage in the prevailing NW summer sea breeze.
Recommended Anchor Types
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
In the Gulf of Gabes, tides can drop 1.5m overnight and Sirocco can arrive without warning. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you sleep safely.
Download Free for iOS