Giant tortoises reach sexual maturity between 20 and 25 years old, and the mating season lasts from January to May (during the hot season). Mating rituals take several hours, after which females migrate to sandy nesting areas to lay 2 to 16 eggs in a buried clutch. After 130 days of incubation, the hatchlings dig their way to the surface and find their way to the sea. They never receive direct care from their parents. Interestingly, the temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings, with warmer nests yielding more female tortoises.