NATURE WATCHING
Turtles, whales, corals, rare birds and the latest exciting discovery
Boa Vista's sandy shores and deserts make it one of the most important nesting sites in the Atlantic for loggerhead sea turtles, which in summer flock here in their thousands to lay their eggs. Recently, the rare olive ridley sea turtle has nested here, while the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) grazes all year round among the seaweed in several spots near the shore. Strolling along Estoril beach, it is not uncommon to see the little head of a turtle popping up, or to find it swimming alongside you.
Cape Verde is the third-largest sea turtle reserve in the world, after Oman and Florida. Guided tours to observe turtle spawning take place at night in the period from the beginning of July to the end of September; August is the peak month for spawning.
From September to November, baby turtles can be observed hatching in the numerous nurseries set up on the beaches. An introductory briefing will provide you with both general information on the biology of sea turtles and the ongoing conservation work, as well as the basic rules to follow in order to limit disturbance to the animals.
Nature excursions with our qualified partners
Whale Watching
When it comes to sea creatures, however, the greatest thrill can be experienced between mid-February and May, when the shallows around Boa Vista welcome humpback whales (baleja de bossa or jubarte in Portuguese), which provide the ideal environment for weaning the young and then for mating. During this period, they can frequently be spotted as close as a few hundred metres from the beaches between Estoril and Santa Monica, spouting from their blowholes and making acrobatic leaps in the water. The north-east coast, one of the less frequently visited, offers other spectacular encounters. The waters are particularly rich in fish, and sharks often reach the shore; if you stand at the shoreline, you might well spot their fins grazing the surface of the water. An experienced marine biologist will accompany you on the whale-watching cruise, providing you with information during the trip.
Nature excursions with our qualified partners
Bird Watching
Boa Vista offers excellent opportunities to observe an interesting variety of birds, with more than 20 different species breeding on the island, so it’s worth visiting the brackish or saltwater marshy areas along the coast, or the freshwater areas inland, where it’s generally possible to encounter different species. Nature trails to discover plants and birds are not to be missed. The regal osprey, with its unmistakable call, is a stable presence here, while the cotovia is a cute little lark native to the island that you might spot darting through the brushwood. Numerous colonies of white-tailed tropicbirds nest in the cliffs in spring. The gannets dive unerringly into the waves, and although difficult to spot during the day, the white-faced storm petrel (pelagodroma marina) is easily recognisable, with slender webbed feet that allow it to dart across the water to feed on plankton and small fish.
Nature excursions with our qualified partners
The baby shark 'nursery'
Research conducted by the University of Lisbon (Laboratorio Marıtimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciencias, Cascais, Portugal) together with the Cape Verdean NGO Sphyrna, revealed that the Sal Rei bay is an ideal nursery area for a number of invertebrates, fish, and in particular sharks. The bay offers the newborns and young of various shark species (harmless, and indispensable to the marine ecosystem) ideal conditions in which to grow up safe from predators, and then migrate. This is a very rare occurrence, seemingly the only case in West Africa. Ask us for information on the project
Snorkelling among the corals
Cape Verde is one of the top ten places in the world for its coral biodiversity. Although there are no real coral reefs in the archipelago, there are a large number of sites with large coral communities.
Baia das Gatas, on the NE coast of Boa Vista, combines optimal natural conditions for both coral growth and safe snorkelling.
The coral community found in this bay features hermetic, or hard coral species, which support an impressive variety of marine life. Snorkelling tours are only possible at high tide.
The necessary freediving equipment (wetsuit, booties, life jacket, mask and snorkel) is provided; no flippers are used, to avoid damaging the corals.
Nature excursions with our qualified partners