May 23

Celebrating World Turtle Day 2013

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May 23, 2013

Sea turtles are not the biggest sea animals you’ll find at the beach but they do have a very important role to play in our ecosystem. These marine animals help to keep the sea grass beds healthy ensuring the survival of other sea animals, such as the prawns, lobster and tuna that we eat.

Sadly, though, turtles face the threat of being wiped out from our shorelines. Sea pollution, disappearing beaches due to erosion and other predators are among the top threats facing sea turtle population around the world. According to World Wildlife Fund there are only seven sea turtle species in the world and five of those can be found on South African shorelines, especially on the warmer East Coast beaches.

As a result, South Africa has the longest continuous turtle monitoring programme in the world. Today is World Turtle Day and to celebrate this special day we have compiled a list of Rhino Africa’s favourite places to see these little guys, from KwaZulu Natal to Madagascar.


Phinda Turtle Drive

If you are lucky enough to be a guest at Phinda Private Game Reserve between mid November to the end of January, add a turtle drive to one of your activities. This adventure is a 45-minute drive from Phinda. Your own beach ranger will show you the wonders of the beach activities at night. You will see not one but two species, as loggerheads and the huge leatherbacks make a long trail on the beach to lay their precious eggs. The leatherback is the only sea turtle without a shell but is protected by leathery skin. After the drive you can enjoy a delicious meal or snacks depending on the weather.


Thonga Beach Lodge

You can also enjoy turtles from Thonga Beach Lodge which is only a few metres away from the beach which makes it perfect for spotting turtles. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer South Africa’s best snorkelling and fantastic off-shore scuba diving. It is also close to South Africa’s biggest fresh water lake.


Turtle Island in Madagascar

Nosy Iranja or Turtle Island is a great tropical paradise with plenty beach activities to keep you busy while visiting such as snorkelling, kayaking, hobby cat, waterskiing, sailing, and fishing. We recommend going to see the endangered hawksbill and green turtle. Visit during the nesting and hatching seasons and watch a new circle of life begin.

Where to stay: When in Madagascar to see turtles there is no better place to stay than Nosy Iranja Lodge – located on the southern island of Nosy Iranja. It has 29 cosy chalets and a private beach. Each chalet has a terrace providing panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Relax on the hammock in the afternoon or book a relaxing massage to end the day.


Fast Facts

  • The largest recorded leatherback turtle measured over 3 metres and weighed 916 kgs.
  • One of the leatherback’s favourite meals is jellyfish. They often nibble on plastic mistaking if for jellyfish which leads to death. So be sure to keep beaches clean!
  • Turtle eggs incubate for roughly 60 to 70 days.
  • The Kemp’s Ridley is the only sea turtle that consistently nests during the day and is the smallest.
  • Once the nest is ready a turtle can lay between 40 and 110 eggs in one laying.
  • There are only 2,300 adult female leatherbacks left in the Pacific Ocean.

This is why we support and recommend lodges and reserves that practice sustainable tourism to ensure the biodiversity and conservation of Africa’s species.

Image from the Global Post

For more information and to start planning your own African adventure to view the different endangered turtle species, contact one of our travel experts. We can help you book the best accommodation for your needs and to be close to the action, whether in Phinda or Madagascar.


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About the author 

Matthew Sterne

Matt discovered a passion for writing in the six years he spent travelling abroad. He worked for a turtle sanctuary in Nicaragua, in an ice cream factory in Norway and on a camel safari in India. He was a door-to-door lightbulb-exchanger in Australia, a pub crawl guide in Amsterdam and a journalist in Colombia. Now, he writes and travels with us.

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