Maputaland's Turtle Hatching Season

See more Wildlife. See best of Kwazulu in South Africa.

More holidays » Featured Holiday

Southern Africa Wildlife Express

A 10-day journey through South Africa, Botswana and Zambia for the true nature enthusiast. Abundant ...

10 days, from £593 (Group tour). G.A.P Adventures »

Every year turtles return, sometimes travelling thousands of kilometres, to the warm watered beaches in this region to lay their eggs near the spot they had hatched.

Once they’ve arrived on the beach, the nesting is a slow process and most turtles lay between 500 and 1000 eggs at a time, dug into large holes and finally covered by 30cms of sand. The eggs hatch two months later and the tiny hatchlings dig their way out of the nests and scurry to the ocean. The warm water attracts different kinds of turtles: Loggerheads, huge Leatherbacks and Green Turtles and tropical Hawksbills.

Turtles lay their eggs at different times and if you’re lucky you will be able to see both nesting and hatching in the one night. The season starts in October and finishes in April. Most of the money generated by tourism in this area goes back into the Maputaland Sea Turtle Project (you can even adopt your own turtle, who you can hold before you release into the ocean.).

Review by editor World Reviewer Staff

‘Wildlife to change your life’

People are housemates with wildlife when it come to the earth and we're just as much part of the circle and cycle of life as wildebeest, salmon, whales, turtles, sardines, birds and all animals. Reconnecting with wildlife can be energising and inspiratio (Travel article) Read more »

Have you been here? Why not add your own review or report an error.

Add photo Fullscreen map