Cape Verde · CV

Shark Bay

Shark Bay — also known locally as Feijoal Bay — is a stretch of shallow, crystal-clear water on the northeast coast of Sal Island, Cape Verde, where juvenile lemon sharks glide calmly between the legs of wading visitors. It is one of the few places on Earth where you can stand knee-deep in the Atlantic and watch these sand-colored predators move through their natural nursery habitat, only metres away. The bay's exceptionally shallow, sandy seabed extends far from shore, rarely deeper than waist height. This protected environment makes it a critical breeding and nursery site where young lemon sharks spend their first years safe from open-ocean predators. For travellers, it means an intimate wildlife encounter that feels almost otherworldly — sharks circling your ankles in warm, sun-dappled water with white sand beneath your feet.