Environmental Studies Study Abroad Programs in Botswana

CIEE Study Abroad did a great job making a home away from home. The love, kindness, and continuous support allowed me to become vulnerable and open myself to find new waves and personalities of myself that I never thought I could become.

I loved this program. It gave a great mix of opportunities where you will not only be learning in the classroom, but also within the community. I appreciated that I had the opportunity to talk with community members and give back whenever possible. Additionally, the staff and excursions really made me feel at home in Gabs.

Everybody needs to do this, this is an amazing opportunity! Also the staff and student volunteers which run this program are such great people and friends!! I am extremely likely and WILL be recommending this program to anyone and everyone!!

This program is a once-in-a-lifetime oppurnity to experience Botswana in a way that nothing else allows you to. I did not feel like I was doing a study abroad program I felt like i was with my friends in a new country learning and experiencing the culture in a way like none other.

CIEE makes sure to not only give students an immersive study abroad experience through their program and activities but also go above and beyond to connect and support their students! I feel that the directors of my CIEE program are not just faculty, they are family.

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.

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.

I would recommend the program to anyone because it is an incredible way to immerse yourself in healthcare systems, learn a n ew culture, and live in a new culture. It has been the best summer of my life.

CIEE has the best support system. The staff and volunteers are beyond tremendous in making sure you have an amazing experience and feel like home while abroad. The activities, excursions, and program was very well thought out. I had an experience that will last me a lifetime.

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.

The crew at CIEE is very helpful getting you situated in a new country. The excursions being part of the program are very nice. It's more than just studying abroad, you get a deeper experience culturally and socially.

I would recommend this CIEE program in Botswana to anyone and everyone in an instant. It has been a lifechanging experience that I wouldn't trade for the world and that I wish I could do all over again.

I would be likely to recommend this program to a friend because of the multifaceted educational and cultural experiences offered through CIEE. The opportunity to observe in clinics and room with a local student were highlights of this program for me and I think those experiences are both unique to and well executed by CIEE.

CIEE Study Abroad has been the perfect balance of structure and freedom to make my time abroad feel successful. While I was given the opportunity to explore on my own and make my own friends, it was comforting knowing that I could turn to CIEE for local student friends (volunteers) and structured trips and activities.

I would recommend it specifically to anyone interested in public health, but also to anyone who wishes to put themselves a little out of their comfort zone while having a great semester and having the chance to explore a beautiful country and the rest of Southern Africa.

It was a great opportunity that allowed for personal growth and provided a lot of knowledge and experiences about a foreign culture and country. It also served as an opportunity to gain a different perspective in regards to public health issues and how they are approached and dealt with.

Base, our CIEE director, and… Base, our CIEE director, and all of the student volunteers were amazing and helped create such a wonderful experience. The way Base designed this program allowed me to get the most out of this experience, something I don't think I could get from somewhere else.

I enjoyed how there was a good mix of planned excursions/volunteering/shadowing and also times when I could plan to do what I wanted to do throughout my semester.

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.

They offer a tremendous amount of support, as well as provide many different trips for us to go on. However, being in the CIEE "bubble" made it more difficult for many of us to branch out, but that is not exclusive to CIEE.