Turtle in Cape Verde
Turtle Conservation
Save the turtles of Cape Verde from extinction.

Save the turtles of Cape Verde from extinction.

Baby turtle in a hand
Hatchling Turtles
A hatchling turtle ready to head to the ocean

A hatchling turtle ready to head to the ocean

Group photo in Cape Verde
Group photo
Photo opportunity on the beach

Photo opportunity on the beach

Turtle in Cape Verde
Conservation Efforts
Your volunteer efforts help preserve the local ecosystem

Your volunteer efforts help preserve the local ecosystem

Snorkeling with turtle in Cape Verde
Snorkeling
Diving with a view

Diving with a view

Overview icon

Overview

The Cape Verden island’s beaches are one of the most visited sites by the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) for nesting during the months of July to October and extending until December. These species play a critical link in the marine ecosystems and in the marine food chain by maintaining the health of sea grass and coral reef ecosystems that provide food and home for a wide variety of other marine life.

The greatest threat to these sea turtles’ survival is loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances (such as coastal lighting and housing developments) that cause disorientations during the emergence of hatchlings. Other major threats include incidental capture in longline fishing, shrimp trawling and pollution. Incidental capture in fisheries is thought to have played a significant role in the recent population declines observed for the loggerhead.

Through this program you and members of the local community will be working to ensure protection of the female sea turtles.

Objectives

To protect and conserve the loggerhead sea turtles and their nesting habitat by various means such as providing protective hatcheries, treating injured or wounded turtles, conserving their beaches from pollution, and collection of data to better understand the species and their habitats.

Impact

Volunteer experiences have a direct and positive impact on local communities by injecting money into the local economy through the purchase of food, transportation, and tourism activities. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the comunity and make a difference in the world. Depending on the type of volunteer experience you are interested in, your time can be spent improving educational resources and opportunities, providing medical services to underserved communities, or promoting environmental conservation and sustainable farming techniques.

One Tree Planted logo

25 trees will be planted on your behalf for every experience purchased, via our partnership with One Tree Planted.

See more at onetreeplanted.org

1% for the planetlogo

1% of gross sales will be donated to 1% for the Planet-approved charities via our partnership with 1% for the Planet.

See more at onepercentfortheplanet.org

Overview icon

Location

Ribera Da Prata, Cabo Verde
The city is named after the indigenous plant Tarrafe, (Tamarix senegalensis). Also called Mangui or Mangue, it is situated on the northern part of the island of Santiago. A fishing port situated on the northwestern coast and also is a municipality.
Overview icon

Itinerary

Overview icon
Sunday - Arrival

Arrive at Praia International Airport (RAI) in our pickup window of 06:00 to 20:00

Overview icon
Monday to Friday (June to December)

1830 to 1900 - Clean the beach

1900 to 1930 - Orientation for the day with station positions along the beach

2030 to 2230 - Shift 1 - Night patrol

2230 to 0030 - Rest

0030 to 0200 - Night Patrol

0200 to 0400 - Night Patrol

0400 to 0600 - Patrol to clean up the beach

Overview icon
Monday to Friday (January to May)

0900 - Travel to the beach

0930 to 1000 - Orientation for the day

1000 to 12:00 - You will be doing one or two of the following tasks cleaning and maintenance of the turtle project site, tree plantation at the beach or awareness program at the local school or designing pamphlets or distributing printed pamphlets or making awareness wooden boards and placing it at the beach, and promoting the importance of sea turtles in the villages around the beach through paintings and drawings and beach clean-up activities.

1200 to 1400 - Lunch at the centre

1400 to 1430 - Travel to beach

1430 to 1630 - Continue with hour activities planned for the day

1630 to 1800 - Join the locals to play beach football or volleyball.

Overview icon
Saturday - Departure

Leave your accommodation Saturday morning and take a taxi (1.5 hours) to the PRAIA International Airport

Overview icon

Inclusions

  • Shared Accomodation
  • All meals included
  • Free beverages
  • Wifi in public areas
  • Arrival Transfer (included with 2 wk+ trips)
  • Departure Transfer
Overview icon

Options

  • Upgrade to Private Room for 1 week (Cape Verde)$235
  • Airport Drop Off (Cape Verde)$180
  • Extra night accomodation (before experience)$60
  • Extra night accomodation (after experience)$60
  • Pick-ups outside of the regular pickup window (Cape Verde)$180
Overview icon

More Information

Requirements

  • minimum age18
  • minimum english levelBasic
  • CRB RequiredOn signup
  • passport copy requiredOn signup
  • resume copy requiredNo

Other Requirements

  • Yellow fever vaccination is a mandatory requirement for all participants arriving in Cape Verde.
  • Participants below 18 are required to provide parental consent letters and participants above 65 should have the medical clearance.
  • Understand written and spoken English
  • Good level of physical fitness
  • High level of energy and flexibility
  • Able to cope with physically challenging conditions (camping, long walks, late nights, hot weather, insects)
  • Ability to work and live with people of different backgrounds and nationalities

Food

The meals will contain a mix of local and various types of Western food.

Accommodation

You can expect to share a room on single gender basis. The bathroom is shared and western toilets are available.

Cancellation Policy

Bookings can be amended and cancelled 30 days before the program start date without any costs. Bookings that are cancelled less than 30 days before the program start date will be charged the first week of the booking.

Turtle Conservation in Cape Verde

CategoryAnimals
Stylebackpacker
AvailabilityOpen
Price per person$675/week
Minimum Duration2 weeks
$undefined/week