Leatherback Turtle Nesting

About this spectacle

On the remote beaches of Mayumba National Park in southern Gabon, the world's largest leatherback sea turtles haul themselves ashore under cover of darkness. During peak nesting season, hundreds of these ancient creatures emerge from the Atlantic Ocean each night, their massive bodies — some exceeding two metres in length — leaving deep tracks in the sand as they labour to dig nests and deposit clutches of eggs. Visitors wade through warm tropical air, listening to the rhythmic sound of the surf and the heavy breathing of turtles at work. Guides lead small groups along darkened beaches, torch-free to protect the animals, making the experience intensely primal. The sheer density of nesting turtles on this stretch of coast is unmatched anywhere in Africa. On a single night, the beach transforms into a slow-motion procession of prehistoric life, with turtles visible at every stage — arriving, excavating, laying, covering, and returning to the sea.

When to go

Oct — Mar

Getting there

Nearest airport: MYB. Nearest city: Port-Gentil.

Booking options

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