Watching turtles struggle on to the beach and lay their eggs is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences you can have.  You can do it on the Island of Sandakan. …….

Sandakan has chalets for about 60 people. Rooms are basic, but they’ve all got air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.  The food is honest and well cooked.  Sandakan is small and there’s not much in the way of facilities really, but the coral sandy beach is fabulous.    It’s very exciting to see a female turtle beginning to make its nest up close.  A ranger collects the eggs for the hatchery to stop the local monitor lizard population from decimating the eggs.  If you’re lucky, you’ll get to help by laying the eggs in a mesh tube to protect them or even release some hatchlings at the edge of the beach.   As you settle down for a beer at the end of the day, you can still hear the “swish, swish” of sand as mother turtles continue to dig holes for the next generation.    A night on Turtle Island is definitely a privilege.