Volunteer with Sea Turtle Hatchling Season on Sal Island, Cabo Verde - 2024

Overall a great experience, as I wanted to volunteer in wildlife conservation. The work itself is fulfilling, and you get to see turtles like almost no one else does. You also get to see a popular holiday destination from a different perspective: You live and eat around locals instead of a resort environment, which is something I highly recommend for anyone who is used to resort vacations.

However, some communication and organisation issues within the project need to be addressed, and the cost of participation could be a little lower.

The atmosphere is really great, work is hard but satisfying and I can really feel my positive impact on nature and sea turtles. Most of the people here are friendly and approchable. Organization could be better sometimes but overall I can't complain.

The biggest problem is mosquitoes and sometimes rain during the night shift - but if you are prepared for it it's not a problem.

If you are prepared for hard but satisfying work, sometimes in not perfect conditions, with you will definitely enjoy your stay here.

Whether young or older this is a fabulous programme. If you want to mix with a lovely community, work alongside amazing people and experience the wonder of helping beautiful creatures then this is for you. Tough, rewarding and a forever memory. Just be prepared to get stuck in, work as a team and soak up every moment. I had the pleasure of working alongside fellow volunteers who I remain in contact with. We all share the desire to return to the island to meet again. Be prepared to meet people who will make you a better person :)

Being in Capo Verde with project biodiversity was a very very great experience. I learned a lot about turtles and share with others volunteers. Can release baby turtles at night and at sunshine was really unbelievable. The association take care of their volunteer, help us to plan our trip, to discover the city, to talk a better english :)
It's a really human and engaged association, if you like turtles, if you want to do something usefull AND really enjoy it, Project Biodiversity is the one to choose !!

I planned on doing the volunteer program for 3 weeks, but I loved it so much I eneded up changing my flight twice and stayed for a month and a half!
The work you need to do is not to heavy or dificult, it doesnt take up too much of your day and you get to hold baby turtles evey day!
Sometimes some night-shifts can be tiering, since you sleep at the beach, but when you see, at the end of the shift, how many turtles you helped save, it's extremely gratifying. And with so many exciting things to do in your free time, you'll regain energy in an instant!
In Sal it's always sunny and warm almost all year round and you have a beach 5 min away from you at all times. It truely feels like paradise...
Eating out is quite cheap (around 5€ per meal) and the food tastes amazing. For vegetarians and vegans eating out might be more challenging but you can already see some (but few) options arising around town.

Even though the baby turtles were the cutest creatures ever, for me, as a psychology undergraduate, the highlight were the people. I met such amazing people. Not only the volunteeres I lived and worked with but also the people that work in the Project with us everyday, especially Débora, the volunteer coordinator. Everyone is always nice and ready to help you and support you with anything you might need. So trust that if anything goes south, you'll have people there along side you.

Project Biodiversity truely felt like a second family, and Sal like a second home.
I might just go back next year (or every year, who knows?). Will I see you there? ;)

From October to November 2021 I passed three weeks on Sal Island as a volunteer, and to be honest, it was an incredible experience. As a geoscientists I always dreamed of working outside in nature and here I found the best opportunity. On Sal you find the perfect mixture of natural conservation, contact to tourists, spending time at the beach and having a nice and friendly team always around you. Sometimes it can become hard to stay awake the whole night to rescue the turtles, but the next morning you return to your appartment with a smile - always! The island is very safe and the program provides you more than enough time to discover it.

I have done the hatchling season for turtles for 3 weeks (november-december). It was an amazing experience. If you like turtles, sleeping under the stars, discovering people from all over the world, beeing in an island with beautiful beaches : this volunteering is for you and you don't have to wait for doing it !
In addition, Project Biodiversity is a super organization which is taking really care about its island and the environment impact. They have lot of differents programs : birds protection, cleaning beaches, learnings for profesionals...
Also, the team is super kind, open-minded and really fun !
Sal Island is super nice and there is a really good atmospher there. Local people are really kind. So, if you are worry about the safety, you can put this idea out of your head :) And if you have any problems, the project team is always here for helping you.
Thank you for everything, Project Biodiversity... I'm sure this experience was a big step in my life and this is thanks to you :) It could be a pleasure to come back for another volunteering with you !

La experiencia trabajando para este voluntariado ha sido de las mejores decisiones que he tomado en el último tiempo. Si eres un amante de la naturaleza, que busca experiencias en pro de la conservación o simplemente disfrutas de estar en ambientes outdoor, totalmente recomiendo participar en cualquiera de las temporadas que ofrece el proyecto.
Para mi ha sido muy hermoso poder involucrarme de manera directa en la protección de especies marinas, poder entender cómo es el ciclo natural de ellas, también, entender cómo es que se pueden llegar a hacer proyectos amigables con el medio ambiente y cómo se está trabajando esto en el resto del mundo, creo fielmente que es el camino que se debe tomar para el futuro en nuestro planeta.
La experiencia de compartir hogar con más voluntarios de todo el mundo ha sido increible, compartir costumbres, risas, comidas ha hecho de esta experiencia aún mejor, he pasado muchos buenos momentos gracias a esto.
Isla de Sal ofrece muchas experiencias increibles, el poder bucear en aguas claras y con tanta diversidad de especies ha hecho aún más gratificante mi estadía en Cabo Verde, hay mucho para disfrutar y hacerlo de manera consiente y responsable con el planeta me ha encantado.
Muchas gracias!