Botswana Conservation Program

I saw, learned, and experianced so much more then I can put in a review. The landsacpe is breathtaking. So many of the people I met were so admirable, and learning from from the community partners, the teachers, and my fellow students felt like drinking from a interdisciplinary firehose! I miss everyone very much. I apreciate how the program is primarily a conservation research organisation; and the actual research is meaningful and empowering. As a student you learn on the job, and take clases during in the afternoons.

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I learned so much about the community and how conservation work within this region. This program made me think about the larger implications of effect community based natural resource management and how it offers a alternative method of conservation that focuses on the economics of the region.

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I do not exaggerate when I say that this program was the best experience I've had in my life. Round River proves that you do not need a traditional school setting to really learn about the world around you. I have never learned so much content in only three months without having to sit down and force myself to study. This is because you are applying your knowledge daily when conducting research out in the bush. Every day you wake up, you go out into the field and you practice identifying wildlife and plants, recognizing animal behavior, sexing animals, aging individuals, learning calls, and endless more information on the natural and life history of a species. This information is both for research as well as for your own advancement of knowledge. By the end of the trip, you are running through data collection like nothing, because you really know the elements around you. How cool is it to say that you know the name of that bird, or the mating call of that mammal! Most days you are engaging with locals who are super supportive and patient as you practice your Setswana. I cannot stress enough that you are learning by just living there and embracing your curiosity! Additionally, your instructors become some of your closest friends. When you are struggling with any course content, your instructors are there to guide you through it. The instructors in this program are so knowledgable about the landscape around them and I found myself posing question after question. Sometimes your curiosity just gets the best of you and you end up learning more than you ever thought you could. I was primarily concerned about safety before I went on this trip. That is so fair! You are in a new environment surrounded by new people and wild, dangerous animals. One huge take-away from this trip is that one, you have to trust your instructors. Some of the instructors and all of your escort guides have lived in Botswana their entire lives and they know what they are doing. Everything has inherent risk, however it is the same anywhere. Most animals are scared of humans and will not actively seek you out. While I was still on the lookout for the occasional black mamba (you rarely see them), after only a few days I felt super safe no matter where we went. Now, this program is definitely not for everybody. You will be camping for the entirety of your time there and this is a unique experience that is not for everyone. Showering is limited and there are some campsites where you dig your own toilet :). I will say, however, that I had never spent more than a week in a tent at a time before this program and I would have rather been in my tent than in a bed; I am serious! You can hear everything from a tent that you could not in a lodge. We could hear lions, elephants, hyenas! Every evening you go to bed to the sound of the bush. It is certainly something I missed when I left. If you are feeling burnout from traditional school and want to re-ignite your love of learning, then you should, without a doubt, do this program. I am an individual who has dealt with anxiety around school for my entire career as a student. I went on this trip fully expecting my anxiety to still be at play. I kid you not, I had the least anxiety I have ever had in my entire life! Learning was fun and I was surrounded by people who became my family. I say this genuinly: yes I miss the animals, but the people I miss the most. I can rave about this program for hours. If you want to hear more stories or if you have any questions, please get in touch with me. I would be more than happy to speak to you further! There are endless stories to share.

This program is amazing!!! I highly recommend it. Round River is a small and super personable organization, making you feel at home and supported through every step of the study abroad process. On top of this, it was definitely the best education of my life! I have retained so much information from my time in Botswana. It's real world experience, that's applicable to your everyday life. Every aspect of the program was educational. Had many events with villagers and locals, in addition to having local instructors and escort guides for our program. Weren't often in town with the locals, but always had people from Botswana with us! Round River Botswana is an unforgettable program. I learned so much about conservation, wildlife, coexistence efforts, etc. Plus, you get to camp for three months! Your home is your classroom-the breathtaking bush of Bots. They support all of your needs and provide the perfect environment for a one of a kind educational and research experience.

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Words cannot begin to describe how incredible this experience was. I learned so much about myself and developed many valuable skills from Round River’s Botswana program. I learned more on this three-month journey abroad than I could have learned in a year in a normal classroom setting at university. I made lifelong friends, becoming close with our program members and the many people we worked with and met along the way. The wildlife we observed and lived among were spectacular and surreal and even more amazing were the people in Botswana. There was such a warm and friendly atmosphere in Botswana and the people were so kind and welcoming to us. Round River as a study abroad program was organized, helpful, and provided an exceptional education experience and an unforgettable adventure. The program was academically challenging and was well rounded in addressing and improving research skills, field methods, knowledge of wildlife biology, natural history, conservation biology, environmental science, language, introducing a new culture, and so many other skills. The conservation work we accomplished and is continuing in Botswana is important. As an extra set of hands in helping Botswana monitor wildlife populations, we hope to serve and provide local people with data that can be used to make decisions for their communities. On top of the surveys and research we were a part of, our group had classes, projects, and so many hands-on learning opportunities throughout the trip. Although academics were impressive and central to this program, we had plenty of time and opportunities to eat incredible food, explore the Okavango Delta, see amazing animals and plants, sit around the fire and enjoy the outdoors, play cards, have meaningful conversations with people of all different backgrounds, and experience so many different things during the trip. I am thankful to have been a part of this Round River team and highly recommend Round River as a study abroad provider.

I'm incredibly thankful that I got to study with Round River in Botswana. This program allowed me to apply all of my classroom knowledge on wildlife biology and conservation to hands on field work practically every day. It also bolstered what I'd learned in the states through academically challenging class discussions and scientific articles. I now know what it's like to perform field work for an extended period and am equipped with the skills necessary to find jobs in conservation and wildlife biology in the U.S. Getting to work with local community members, be immersed in the culture, and enjoy Africa's incredible safari animals is an experience that I'll never forget and would do again in a heartbeat.

Round River had exactly what I was looking for in an abroad program. The focus on conservation biology from a community perspective in Botswana provided me with new ways of thinking about conservation work around the world. I was able to learn both from our instructors and readings, as well as from the local escort guides we worked with doing field surveys just about everyday. This program allowed me to get experience living and working in the field while building great friendships and connects with my peers, instructors and the community in which we worked. I will certainly be able to carry the skills I acquired in Botswana to a future career in wildlife conservation and I will never forget the great memories I made along the way.

The Round River Botswana program was one of the best decisions I have made during my college experience. The opportunity to be able to live in the bush and be apart of a real conservation effort was too good to pass up and it exceeded all of my expectations. We also got to complete our own research projects during the course of the semester and were able to present our findings to local scientists and government officials. Botswana is an incredible country and this field base experienced was one I'll never forget.

My time in Botswana with Round River was truly life-changing. Being out in the bush doing real, relevant conservation work not only changed my understanding of the discipline, but of myself as well. Our small, tight-knit group didn't let anybody fall through the cracks. I felt supported by my instructors while simultaneously challenged to grow outside of my comfort zone. Since coming back to the US, I miss the sounds of lions at night, the surprise adventures in my day-to-day life, and the close relationships I made in Botswana. Thank you, Round River, for the chance of a lifetime.

This program will immerse you into a country whose natural landscapes, wildlife and people are both extraordinary and incredibly unique. For three months me and my 4 classmates camped out in the Botswana bush, living amongst lions, elephants, hyenas and leopards. Each day began with the excitement of never knowing what might happen that day and ended with the nightly calls of close by hyenas and lions. The best part about this program was that your classroom was your home. We had lectures around the campfire and did our readings in our tents, only to be able to experience what we learned the next day. Our research directly influenced and helped the local communities as well as the Botswana government. If you are looking for the most unique, unbelievable and authentic field experience than this program is the right one for you.

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The Okavango is an unbelievably biodiverse area. Living in the midst of all of the wildlife that I had dreamed of seeing since a little kid was surreal. Going to sleep listening to lion roars and waking up to elephant rumbles was more than I could have ever asked for. The research that we did while moving around northern Botswana was also extremely helpful for my personal growth and future career. I learned all about different research methods and also had the opportunity to design and carry out my own research project. The classes taught during the program were relevant and the conversations we had during class (usually under a big tree, often interrupted by wildlife walking by) were stimulating and also helped broaden my perspectives on conservation globally. I genuinely felt like I was helping the areas that I was in by being a part of conservation efforts that were involved with the communities that they work in.

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The program was amazing--we had the opportunity to conduct wildlife monitoring of some sort almost every day, whether going out to survey birds or herbivores or carnivore spoor. It was so cool to get to see the wildlife up close, and even though we saw elephants almost daily, it never got any less exciting. Engaging with communities gave us a unique perspective of the wildlife and it was really neat to learn about the people and cultures of Botswana. On top of all that, our instructors were invaluable. Their wealth of knowledge and experiences taught us so much beyond the coursework (which was also super relevant and much more interesting than many of the lectures I’d been going to for the last three years) and they will surely continue to be important mentors in the future. The students were great! The time we spent together allowed us to get to know each other and really become a family. I loved the opportunity to camp for the semester and learn through experience outside a traditional classroom setting. 10/10, would recommend! I'd go back in a heartbeat.

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Round River was a fantastic experience. As students, we participated in actual research projects. Nature's classroom is the best kind! As a group, we got to live in tents and know each other so well! It is a unique bonding experience that I highly recommend. The wildlife was incredible, as were the group, our leaders and the local guides.

Imagine spending every day outside, observing elephants bathing at sundown, huge herds of zebra migrating, and wild dogs running by camp hunting in a pack. Envision immersing yourself in local ecosystems and getting to learn how to recognize nearly every plant, animal, and bird that surrounds you. Then picture yourself falling asleep every night in your tent to the sounds of hyenas and hippos, and maybe even the call of a lion. After deciding I wanted to a do a field based study abroad program, I found Round River Conservation Studies and their Botswana semester program. Myself, 5 other students, and four instructors spent the 90+ day program living in a tents and conducting field research. What was extremely unique about this program was that all the work we were doing was actually aiding in local conservation efforts. Not only did I get a full semester of credits and learned an incredible amount myself, I got to make a real difference in this place I had become very attached too. Studying abroad with Round River gave me a completely unique opportunity that no other students or tourists will get. Every program is unique depending on the season and work that needs to be done. On my program we split our time in 5 different concessions areas through the Okavango Delta and Chobe Enclaves. We got to experience different local management strategies and habitats. One of the best parts of my semester abroad was how untraditional it was. We didn't spend endless hours working on essays in the library and if something exciting was happening around us, we could drop what we were doing and go see the lion rumored to be just down the river. For anyone who is looking for a hands on experience, this is the program for you. Round River is great at making you feel comfortable traveling to a foreign country and they set you up with everything you will need. I strongly recommend checking out the student blogs from active programs.

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