Every year, thousands of loggerhead and leatherback turtles hatch on the beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal. They head to sea and are carried southward by the warm Agulhas Current. Facing high levels of predation and strong currents, many hatchlings find themselves off the Cape's south coast - stunned by the cold, weak and often injured. Many inevitably wash up and are stranded on our beaches.

Without help, these stranded hatchlings have no chance of survival.

The Two Oceans Aquarium conservation team has a plan: To undertake a "Turtle Road Trip" to visit the locals and communities , from Muizenberg to Plettenberg Bay, most likely to find these stranded turtles, to educate them and equip their communities with network points that are able to care for these hatchlings and to transport them to the Aquarium's turtle rescue, rehab and release centre.

Join us at one of the Turtle Road Trip stops

At each of the 10 stops, you can join the turtle conservation team for a short presentation about what YOU can do to help sea turtles as well as the work being done at the Two Oceans Aquarium to help stranded hatchlings. We'll discuss how you can help save stranded turtles that you might encounter, and what you can do to help them out on the other 364 days of the year as well. Be part of the sea turtle loving network!

Events at the stops are open for all to attend - all we ask in return is that you help save our turtles by spreading the message you hear using the #TurtleRoadTrip hashtag. Please find details about the "tour dates" and stops below.

What are the Turtle Road Trip tour dates?

Between 1 and 7 March 2018, 10 stops are planned, hosted by our network point partners:

1. Primi Piatti, Muizenberg Beachfront - 1 March at 18h30

Event hosted by the Shark Spotters Muizenberg network point.

2. Shark Conservancy, Hermanus - 2 March at 13h00

3. African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, Gansbaai - 2 March at 18h00

4. NSRI Station 30, Struisbaai - 3 March at 10h00

5. Pili Pili, Witsand - 3 March at 16h00

Event hosted by the Lower Breede River Trust network point.

6. The Granary, Dias Museum Complex, Mossel Bay - 4 March at 12h00

7. Loerie Nest at Ebb and Flow Rest Camp, Wilderness - 5 March at 18h00

Event Hosted by SANParks Wilderness network point.

8. SANParks offices, Thesen Island - 6 March at 18h00

9. Tenikwa Wildlife Centre, Plettenberg Bay - 7 March at 11h00

10. NSRI Station 14, Plettenberg Bay - 7 March at 18h00

Why are we doing on this road trip?

The Two Oceans Aquarium has a vision: to see abundant and healthy oceans for life. We strive to do this by inspiring people to take action for the future well-being of our oceans. The conservation work we do with turtles speaks to this in the most practical way possible.

From the physical action of rescuing a turtle to the realisation that plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats these creatures face, we are inspired to make lifestyle changes through the impact of these ocean ambassadors. We value this opportunity and want to develop it to its full extent, thus starting the Turtle Road Trip.

Learn more about the conservation work being done at the Two Oceans Aquarium and how you can support our efforts.