Overview
Volunteer Travel with Turtles in Ghana

Joining GVI to help turtle conservation in Ghana will take you to protect and monitor nesting turtles, educate the local people about the importance of turtles and coordinate ecotourism projects to generate alternative sources of income for the community; enabling the turtles and the indigenous people to thrive in coexistence.

Ghana has three species of nesting turtle and all of these are endangered, their survival depending both on the immediate efforts of those who choose to volunteer with the turtles, and also on ensuring that the locals – particularly fisherman, who come into contact with the turtles a great deal – are on board as well. Volunteer responsibilities include patrolling the beach, collecting eggs and releasing hatchlings, helping with research and education, and creating ecotourism projects.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

An incredible setting and such valuable work.

Penny Riordan, 2008 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

Fishermen, and other members of the local community who come across the turtles, are not aware of the importance of protecting them. This unfortunately means that many turtles are killed and the meat is sold or the eggs are poached from their nests, so much so that the Ghana Wildlife Society is worried that “given the current rate of killing the turtles, they will soon be extinct.” Volunteers will play an extremely important role in the protection of turtles, and therefore in the long term conservation of Ghana’s wildlife.

Highlights

Living and working on a stunning beach, assisting well known grass roots organisations with their research, teaching the local communities, watching nesting turtles and their hatchlings. Exploring this beautiful and friendly west African country.

Location

This project is located in a coastal fishing and farming community in the most south-westerly part of Ghana.

Field Conditions

Volunteers will stay in simple dormitory huts, a relaxing beach-side environment where volunteers can unwind after working and meet other people. All meals are included and will be prepared by the resident chefs at the beach camp.