St. Valentine’s Turtles

Baby sea turtles… We got to see baby sea turtles dig their way out of the sand, scuttle their little bodies down the sand, and get swept away by the ocean!  It was like something out of National Geographic or Planet Earth. Here’s how it happened…

Meet Crush! He was the first baby sea turtle to make it to the ocean.

Michelle and I got a WhatsApp from a fellow volunteer on Monday, “Hey!  Want to see sea turtles hatching on Valentine’s Day?”  What a great way to start the week!  Come Friday, Michelle and I are riding in a safari truck with four other volunteers as our guide navigated the unmarked, sand roads to arrive at the ocean.  When we got there, we were greeted by an eco-guide who works with Ezemvelo Wildlife.  From the start of mating season until the last nest hatches, the guides patrol the beaches on the lookout for poachers, and, for those who are more inclined to see nature in action, to provide some information about sea turtles.

Six Anxious Travelers and Two Trusty Guides

We learned from talking with the guide that there are three species of sea turtles that next along the Eastern coast of South Africa.  The two our group was likely to see that night were loggerhead sea turtles and leatherback sea turtles.  The guild told us two key pieces of information that would help us identify between the two types.  (Get ready to push up your nerd glasses.)  Loggerheads have a harder shell than leatherbacks.  Loggerheads also alternate their flippers when they crawl across the sand (kind of like freestyle swimming) while leatherbacks crawl by moving their flippers at the same time (kind of like the breaststroke). 

The guide told us we’d have to wait until a little after sunset before we’d be able to spot any hatchlings.  We learned that it takes the sea turtles about five days to dig to the surface from where they are hatched.  The baby sea turtles wait just under the surface until the sand is cool enough to race across the sand.  This is just the beginning of the incredible journey baby sea turtles make to get to the ocean where they hopefully grow to become adults… they risk succumbing to scolding sand, phantom crabs, kingfish, birds, and sometimes trash dumped by humans. Talk about epic!

While we waited for the sun to set, we snacked on some PB & J’s, played on the beach, and enjoyed the pinks, oranges, and reds of the changing sky. Michelle was literally doing cartwheels in anticipation of seeing sea turtles.  She was adorable.

Michelle Playing on the Beach

When it was time to go searching for the sea turtles, the guide led the way.  He kept a sharp eye along the sand dunes for evidence of any disturbance.  Within minutes of starting our walk along the beach, the guide spotted three baby sea turtles digging their way out of their nest.  It was amazing!  There we were, on the coast of the Indian Ocean, witnessing nature happen. 

Look how tiny Crush is!

We followed the sea turtles all the way down to the water to see them off as their journey into the big blue began.  Michelle was giddy the entire time.  (Did I mention that sea turtles are her favorite animal?  A couple of years ago, Michelle half-jokingly said we should get one as a pet.)  The guide said we could use the flash on our cameras, so we took lots of pictures.  Michelle took some video at one point, so we hope you enjoy it.

  

Champ struggles to make it past the waves and into the sea.

After the initial sighting, we continued to walk along the beach for about another hour with no luck.  On our return trip, the guide spotted one more turtle making its way down the sand.  Michelle and I watched in awe at the sea turtle’s determination to get to the water.  The guide told us that it was a “slow night” for sightings because he saw a couple of hundred baby sea turtles a few nights earlier.  We didn’t mind though.  We could have seen only one sea turtle and that would have made the whole trip worth it.

At one point while Michelle and I, along with our fellow volunteers, were walking along the beach, I commented, “We live here…” and we let the words sink in.  I find it amazing what the world has to offer, from its people and their cultures, to glacier-covered mountains, to plants and animals and their awe-inspiring acts.  Earth is such a cool place. 

Champ, nice and dry, before his ocean dive.

What made the night truly special was bearing witness to life springing into action in the company of my partner and friends.  I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve in South Africa; not only for the learners I get to see everyday, but for the adventures that are rounding out my experience.

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day!

Patty and Guillermo enjoying a lovely walk on the beach together.