Fodor's Expert Review Le Village des Tortues

Dozens of turtles, large and small, lumber about this section of the small Réserve Botanique de Noflaye, 35 km (22 miles) east of Dakar. The 11 species represent marine, freshwater, and land turtles, and all are threatened, including the giant Centrochelys, which can weigh up to 100 pounds. The population is managed by SOPTOM, a French association for the protection of turtles. Researchers who live on-site study the animals and work to release young turtles into the wild.