Follow the miracle of the reproduction of the gigantic leatherback and loggerhead turtles in their annual nesting (Nov-Jan) and hatching (Jan-Mar) rituals in the St. Lucia World Heritage Site in KwaZulu-Natal. 
Late-night nesting
Turtles weighing just shy of 400kg, and up to a ton, glide effortlessly through the warm Indian Ocean to a place they know only from a few hours spent there after birth. They drag their gravity-stricken bodies from the waves and haul themselves towards some of the highest forested dunes in Africa. Their smaller, mollusk-crushing cousins follow…
As the late-night mystery unfolds, the female turtles prepare their chosen nests, deposit their eggs into an egg pot (burrow), then cover and conceal them.
This could be a scene from a science fiction movie. It’s not.
And with most female turtles nesting an average of ten times per season, your chance of crossing their paths is almost certain.
Ancestral birthplace
Your search will take you into the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park Marine Sanctuary, north of Cape Vidal, as far as Kosi Bay - the ancestral birthplace of these majestic reptiles and one of the most important nesting areas in the Southern Indian Ocean.
Journey through rural Africa - with its dust tracks, coastal plains, Nguni cattle lazing in the afternoon sun and locals involved in agricultural activities.
Turtle-hatching tours
The young hatch approx. 2 months later, and begin their own battle for survival.
With the support and agreement of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Shakabarker Turtle Tours has embarked on a turtle-hatching tour program, which allows visitors to view the baby turtles making their way to the sea.
Tours depart from St. Lucia to Sodwana or Kosi Bay during certain evenings between January and March. Departure times vary according to the tides, so previous booking and confirmation is essential. Each trip lasts approx. 8-24 hours. A substantial dinner is included, along with all drinks and refreshments. The price includes gate fees, catering and transport with a third of the fee paid going towards turtle conservation. A qualified and experienced guide (B.Sc. in Botany and Zoology and a degree in Fishery Science) will accompany you.
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