EKAD - Caretta Camp

EKAD - Caretta Camp is an active sea turtle monitoring and nature conservation research station situated along the Mediterranean shoreline in Belek, Antalya. Founded in 2003 under the Ecological Research Society (Ekolojik Araştırmalar Derneği, or EKAD), the organization was established by academic scholars specialized in biodiversity and environmental protection. The initiative traces back to 1987, when dernek president Dr. Ali Fuat Canbolat lived alone in a simple wooden cabin on the sands of Dalyan to study sea turtle behavior at close quarters. Following his graduation from Hacettepe University Biology Department, Dr. Canbolat earned Turkey's first doctoral degree centered specifically on sea turtles, steering critical research across Dalyan and Patara before concentrating long-term fieldwork on the 29.5-kilometer coastline of Belek in 2007. This expansive stretch represents one of the largest nesting grounds for endangered loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the entire Mediterranean basin, hosting the highest concentration of turtle clutches anywhere in Turkey. Over the decades, the organization has engaged more than 2,000 volunteers from Turkey and abroad in continuous conservation efforts. The governance and field leadership include wildlife and ecology scholars such as vice president Dr. Burak Akbaba, a zoologist specializing in terrestrial vertebrates, alongside Belek project coordinator Cansu Ulusoy. Travelers and participants visit this coastal camp to witness rigorous, science-based conservation in an open-air natural environment, helping protect marine biodiversity directly at the water's edge.

What to See and Do

Visitors and participants at the Belek base engage in authentic, science-driven field routines rather than passive sightseeing. The principal way to experience the site is through the structured Gönüllü Programı (Deniz Kaplumbağaları İzleme ve Koruma Projesi Katılımı), which operates each season from 1 May to 30 September with a participation fee of 2000 TL. Under this program, participants become functional members of the field crew, undertaking daily operational tasks across the coastal dunes.

A typical day begins before dawn along the shores of Belek and neighboring Kızılot. Participants conduct morning patrols to detect tracks left by female loggerheads that emerged during the night. Key field activities include:

• Nest Identification and Mapping: Locating fresh clutches laid in the sand, verifying egg chambers, and recording spatial data for scientific evaluation.
• Protective Nest Caging: Installing dedicated metal protective grids over verified nests to shield developing clutches from predatory wildlife and beach disturbances.
• Hatchling Rescue and Release: Monitoring nests nearing maturity and ensuring emergent hatchlings successfully reach the Mediterranean waters without disorientation.

Beyond daily nesting patrols, the base conducts research under several targeted programs. The comprehensive Deniz Kaplumbağaları Araştırma, İzleme ve Koruma initiative coordinates continuous population surveys. Through the Deniz Kaplumbağaları Uydu İzleme project, researchers attach satellite transmitters to selected turtles to gather movement and telemetry data across Mediterranean migratory corridors. Environmental stewardship also extends to the Plastiksiz Kıyılar, Plastiksiz Sular project, which addresses marine pollution through systematic shoreline cleanups and waste categorization.

Daily work is directed by experienced field coordinators, including Cansu Ulusoy in Belek and biologist Fatih Polat in Kızılot, who is widely known among teams as Caretta’ların Ebesi. Under their practical supervision, participants learn standardized biological recording techniques, handling protocols, and nest preservation methods on the open beach.

The Visit and Who It Suits

The atmosphere at EKAD - Caretta Camp is fundamentally defined by its natural setting, scientific discipline, and unpretentious communal lifestyle. Rather than operating as a conventional tourist destination, the camp functions as a working biological research station where daily existence revolves around the tides, nesting schedules, and conservation targets. The visual environment is dominated by the sweeping expanse of the Mediterranean Sea and the 29.5-kilometer sandy coastline of Belek, characterized by open dunes, salty breezes, and undisturbed coastal stretches that extend eastward toward Kızılot.

Life at the camp carries a distinct volunteer spirit that combines educational learning with physically demanding outdoor labor. Participants reside and collaborate in modest camp facilities designed to support practical field research. Academic guidance permeates daily operations, reflecting the diverse scientific council backing EKAD. Field teams benefit from the direct expertise of board members such as wildlife ecologist Dr. Şafak Bulut of Gazi University, green turtle specialist Prof. Dr. Onur Candan of Ordu University, botanist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Özüdoğru from Hacettepe University, and technical lead Dr. Haydar Metin, who directs coastal mapping and environmental data analysis alongside education coordinator Deniz Candaş.

This environment is specifically suited for:

• Biology and Environmental Science Students: Undergraduate and graduate researchers seeking firsthand field experience in population tracking, vertebrate conservation, and wildlife ecology.
• Dedicated Volunteers: Local and international volunteers looking to contribute labor toward safeguarding endangered marine species in an international camp setting.
• Nature Lovers and Conservationists: Individuals committed to environmental protection who value scientific methodology over holiday leisure.

Conversely, the venue is not appropriate for leisure travelers searching for typical resort comforts, hotel amenities, or recreational beach entertainment. Days require waking well before sunrise, walking kilometers across loose sand in warm weather, and adhering strictly to non-intrusive wildlife observation guidelines.

Location and Visiting Details

EKAD - Caretta Camp is situated in the Belek district of Antalya, along a 29.5-kilometer beachfront recognized as the most significant Caretta caretta nesting habitat in the Mediterranean basin. The society conducts its coastal monitoring throughout Belek while managing affiliated research branches in Kızılot, Dalyan, and Yumurtalık.

Because the camp operates directly on the coastal sand dunes as an active field station, there is no formal urban street address or dedicated municipal door number registered for this Belek facility. Visitors should note that while the official administrative headquarters of Ekolojik Araştırmalar Derneği is located in Ankara at the Tepe Prime center in Çankaya, the actual field operations, biological surveys, and seasonal volunteer accommodations take place entirely on the sands of Belek, Antalya. Similarly, there is no separate branch telephone line registered for the beach camp. Official correspondence, application inquiries, and logistics are handled centrally via email at [email protected] or through the dernek’s official online portal.

Operational schedules are strictly aligned with marine biological cycles:

• Field Season: Active field operations and the official volunteer program take place between 1 May and 30 September.
• Volunteer Hosting Window: On-site accommodation and volunteer reception run specifically throughout the peak summer and early autumn months from June to October.

Participation requires mandatory advance registration. Spontaneous visits and walk-in arrivals are strictly prohibited, as the beach zones are sensitive wildlife reserves subject to environmental protection laws. Those intending to join the project must complete an application on the official website or communicate with the organization via email in advance to secure an approved placement on the field roster under the institutional oversight of the board and audit president Kurtuluş Özgişi.

The Mio Angle: As a Discovery Spot

On Mio, where members search for authentic, purpose-driven alternatives to mass tourism, EKAD - Caretta Camp serves as an exceptional discovery spot along the Antalya coastline. Rather than gathering at commercial beach clubs or luxury hotels, community members recommend this preserve to travelers asking where they can participate in genuine, hands-on conservation. It transforms a trip to Belek from passive coastal relaxation into an immersive ecological contribution alongside an international peer group.

From a budget perspective, the venue fits firmly into the economic tier. With the official participation fee established at 2000 TL for the seasonal volunteer program, the experience is exceptionally accessible. For university researchers, ecology students, and budget-conscious travelers, this provides structured field work, team accommodation, and scientific training at a fraction of standard Mediterranean travel costs.

For content creators and visual storytellers on Mio, the camp delivers compelling, unscripted imagery grounded in real conservation work. Photographs and shared stories capture:

• First Light on the Dunes: Early morning patrols bathed in soft dawn light across the 29.5-kilometer expanse of Belek's open beach.
• Scientific Milestones: Protective wire mesh cages installed over fresh turtle clutches to defend against coastal predators.
• The First Journey to Water: Tiny loggerhead hatchlings emerging from the sand and making their maiden dash into the Mediterranean surf.
• Environmental Impact: Tangible results from the Plastiksiz Kıyılar, Plastiksiz Sular campaign, showing cleaner shorelines free of plastic debris.

As dernek president Dr. Ali Fuat Canbolat and the founding academics articulate in their motto, visiting this camp connects participants with the ancient spirit that has navigated Mediterranean waters for millions of years. Recommending this spot on Mio offers travelers a rare opportunity to exchange resort consumerism for lasting environmental impact.