Sex

While the exact timing of the rainy season varies from one part of Africa to another, it is generally believed that breeding season is when African helmeted turtles lay their eggs. Mating behaviors are triggered and nesting and egg incubation are facilitated during this time of increasing rainfall. When weather factors like temperature and precipitation are just right, breeding may take place at any time of year in some regions.

To entice females, male African helmeted turtles will frequently put on elaborate displays as part of their courting rituals. Head bobbing, chin-stroking, mild biting, vocalisations, and visual displays are all part of a courtship ritual. Another way that males show that they are ready to mate is by swimming in front of a female, revealing their colourful undersides.

The dominance of the male is a feature shared by many turtle species, including the African helmeted turtle. Males compete with one another for the chance to mate. A dominant male may show his authority by demonstrating his size and strength via vocalisations and violent behaviours like pursuing or butting competing males. Larger, older men tend to have better reproductive success, which may lead to the formation of dominance hierarchies within populations.

While male rivalry does influence mating success, females do have some say in the matter. When evaluating a potential mate, females may look at their size, health, and the effectiveness of their courting displays. Indicators of genetic fitness or compatibility, such as vigour and symmetry, may influence a female's mate selection process, according to studies.

After a female has chosen a partner, the next step is copulation, which may take place on land or in water, depending on the circumstances. It is common practice for the male to mount the female from behind and use his forelimbs to grasp onto her shell or rear limbs during mating. After that, to facilitate the transfer of sperm, the male holds out his tail to align his cloaca with the female's cloaca.

The male turtle uses his cloaca to deposit sperm into the female turtle's reproductive system, resulting in an internal fertilisation process. Fertilisation occurs when sperm enter the egg and make their way through the female reproductive system. To fertilise several clutches of eggs during the mating season without having to copulate multiple times, females may retain sperm for long periods.

After mating, the mother will look for a good place to build her nest and deposit her eggs. The ideal nesting grounds are areas with sandy, loose soil or substrate that are close to sources of water. The females lay their eggs in small, shallow nests that they dig with their rear limbs. Several to a dozen eggs or more are often deposited in each clutch; however, this may vary greatly depending on variables like the size and age of the mother.