Turtle hatchlings

What it is

This isn’t a guided tour — there’s no schedule, no guide, and no charge. About two months after the green turtles nest, the nests begin to hatch, and because Mawamba sits right on the ocean side, you can simply step onto the beach at the right hour and pay attention. It’s one of the quiet privileges of staying here.

When to go

Hatching season runs mid-September to early December, peaking in November. The best times are early morning (5–6 a.m.) or late afternoon, after 4 p.m. — hatchlings avoid the hottest sand, which can burn them. Walk slowly toward the village (turn right from Mawamba) and watch for the nests: the large hollows in the sand.

How to do it right

• Bring repellent. There are plenty of mosquitoes and sandflies on the beach — exactly because so many turtles are hatching.
• Don’t touch, lift, or “help” the hatchlings. They need to make their own crawl to the surf — it imprints the navigation they’ll use for life.
• Never pay anyone to “find,” open, or take you to a nest. Those offers are prohibited and harm the turtles. If someone offers, say no — and tell us.
• Loose dogs are a real threat to hatchlings; if you see one near a nest, gently scare it off.

Watch peacefully, from a respectful distance. That’s what keeps this fragile process alive for the next generation.