Pangani Beach and The Beach Crab

After a fabulous safari the beach was much needed ... after all we had spent a good number of hours in the car (and lost!). But first we needed to cross the Pangani River on the old ferry ... MV Pangani II

Only driver allowed to stay in the car .. why? 'Well,' said the guy, 'you might sink!'

And when we reached 'Beach Crab' we settled right in ... beer, five star food and views of the ocean ...

We were given the chance to see 149 baby turtles run for the sea! Just 3km off from the beach is a sand island that ten years ago was four hectares of trees, sadly they were all chopped down and with rising sea levels the island is now underwater at each high tide. But the turtles return to where they were born to lay their eggs, and if it were not for this organisation the eggs would be drowned in the water. Instead each day and eggs that have been laid are brought back and dug into the beach in a place where they can be monitored. When they have begun hatching they are held tight by a wicker basket and then late afternoon - on a glorious sunset - they are released and all make the dash for survival. Only one in a thousand turtles survive to adult hood so all these turtle conservation schemes are much needed.

Sometimes the little critters get flipped on their backs and have to right themselves before they have a chance ...



Sunset on the glorious Pangani Beach ...

Dawn on the beach ... I went back to bed!