Turtle Nesting on Sao Tome and Principe

If you’re planning a holiday between November and February, it’s turtle nesting time across the beaches of Sao Tome and Principe!

Four different species of turtle come to the shores of Sao Tome and Principe to nest: the Olive Ridley, Green, Hawkesbill and Leatherback. The best turtle-watching excursions will always be at night, because turtles prefer to come to shore under the cover of darkness. The Olive Ridley species are known for a nesting habit referred to as ‘arribada’ whereby the turtles come to shore en-mass. Similarly, the Olive Ridley hatchlings will hatch over a period of days but will coordinate their dash to the ocean, so they go in unison. This is an essential part of their survival strategy, because many of them fall foul to predators, with only 1 in 1000 surviving into adulthood.

Mothers arrive in November, under the cover of darkness

They will start arriving onto the beaches in November and can be seen laying eggs through to February. Then until the middle/end of March you will see the hatchlings making their way to the ocean for the first time. Turtles often lay hundreds of eggs in one nest, so you can often see a great rush of hatchlings flapping their way across the sand. Similarly to their mothers, the hatchlings will head to the ocean at night, using the light on the horizon as their guide. To witness these magical moments during our turtle watching trips is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Low impact turtle watching excursions

We’ve teamed up with eco guards who will take you on special evening turtle watching trips and these can be incorporated into any of our tailor-made holidays during the months of November to March. Like any wildlife watching experience, seeing turtles is not guaranteed but you can read more about what to expect, and find out how we make sure the activity is low impact and sustainable here.

Which beaches should I visit to see turtles?

Turtles can be found nesting on both Sao Tome and Principe, and on a variety of beaches. Like with all wildlife experiences, it’s impossible to predict the turtle’s exact movements. Females return to the beach where they were born but we’re not privy to exactly when this will happen.

We haven’t specified which beaches to visit because the team will simply take you to the one with the most turtle activity. Staff members scope out the island in advance of your excursion, reporting back so they can make an informed decision. This means that you will be taken to the beach where the most turtles are nesting, where eggs are hatching, or when hatchings are being released from the secure nurseries.