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Eko Tracks

Why choose Eko Tracks?

Eko Tracks offers quality projects including study abroad programs, internships and volunteer opportunities for people who are looking for an educational and practical experience.

We are passionate about Africa's nature, wildlife, and cultural diversity unique to this continent. But above all, we are dedicated to conservation through education.

Founded
2006

Reviews

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Amelia
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

4 weeks in rural Namibia

I have just come back from 4 weeks on the project in Namibia. My first week was spent at Naankuse sanctuary. This includes a variety of different tasks such as enclosure cleaning, animal feeding, a research day (with a talk on human/wildlife conflict and the chance to try radio tracking), walking with baboons and footprint ID skills. Accommodation ranges from dorm rooms to tents. Food includes hot meals cooked for you. Next I chose to go to the Neuras Wildlife Estate (although you can choose to do the sites in any order). This was one of my favourite weeks where we went on hikes, learned to track wild animals, went to neighbouring farms to help solve a human/wildlife conflict situation and assisted with the practical work of an actual research study. During this week you will also get to go to the famous Dunes in the Namib, have the chance to go to the Namib Naukluft National park and even do an afternoon wine tasting (all for a small extra fee). Accomodation here is tented and all meals are cooked for you. I then went to the research site in Kanaan where there is the opportunity to go horse riding, mongoose walking, sand boarding and sleep out under the stars. You will also look at camera trap images and search for wild animal tracks. I found that this week did not have the same amount of research work as other weeks and included lots of 'project work' (building/destroying fencing, buildings etc) however. My final week was in the North of Namibia at the Mangetti wild dog and elephant research project. The landscape here was completely different and was a whole new experience. We were lucky enough to see kudu, steinbok, warthog, mongoose and were one of the only volunteer groups to see a wild elephant! We also got to visit the MANGETTI National Park where we also saw wildebeest and eland. Living in this project is more simple and you help to cook your own meals. Overall I have had a great time abroad with my favourite sites being Neuras and the Mangetti. Eko Tracks were a good company to book with as emails were answered promptly and my Visa was dealt with as part of the service. I also found the project was good value for money. I would recommend this project for anyone who enjoys wildlife

What would you improve about this program?
More research work in Kanaan. Perhaps a different transport service than the overnight bus back from Mangetti
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Kelsi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience of my life!

I went on the Vet's in the wild field study, and it was by far the best experience of my life. I'm so happy I got to be apart of this once in a lifetime adventure! Thank you so much for letting me experience this!
I got to learn so much about conservation and the animals native to South Africa. I also was very lucky to be able to meet some lifelong friends along the journey. I would recommend this to anyone who asked!

What would you improve about this program?
I would make it more oriented towards learning tasks that veterinarians do, instead of all conservation. I did love all the conservation talk, however, I did expect to do more hands on things. It was also hard to do things with 13 people. So, smaller class sizes would be ideal.
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Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Veterinary Field Study Experience

This was hands down one of the most amazing experiences of my life! It was so amazing to be able to see the beautiful animals of Africa without having a glass wall between us - seeing them in the wild like they should be. One of my favorite parts of this adventure was Kruger National Park, where we got to observe the animals doing what they do everyday - from a leopard lounging under a tree, to an elephant bathing in the watering hole, to a lioness going after a water buffalo! These are things that I will never forget. All of the places we stayed in were very nice and unique, and our guide (Mike) always made sure that we had unique meals to try (they were all delicious)! Every place we stayed was different from the last, and we got to meet so many amazing people who taught us valuable lessons about wildlife conservation. I honestly have a completely different outlook on some topics than I did on my first day! The lectures were always interesting it was cool to be able to apply what we were learning when we did hands on work - such as doing a necropsy on an impala or capturing a giraffe! I loved working directly with the animals, especially at Cornells when I got to feed Haley the Wildabeast her breakfast and dinner. I'll never forget this experience and all of the amazing people I met along the way. If you have the chance to go on this trip, do it!!

What would you improve about this program?
There were some things that I thought we were going to to but the we didn't (which was a huge bummer) such as playing with baby lions or riding an elephant. Although I know that the Elephant ride was taken out of the program it still would've been really cool to have a little bit of an interaction with them.

I also felt sort of unprepared for the essay, without knowing the grading criteria or anything like that.
Read my full story

Programs

Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Rachel LeMont

Rachel is a Pre-Veterinary / biology student at Portland State University. Some of her favorite things are hiking around the Pacific Northwest, traveling, rainy movie days, trying new foods, and (last but definitely not least) animals! Although being a veterinarian is a huge goal of hers, traveling the world and experiencing as many different cultures as possible is her main one!
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Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I have a passion for both animals and travel. Traveling to Africa to be able to work directly with animals is just not an opportunity you get everyday! I loved the idea of learning more about wildlife conservation, meeting new people, and immersing myself into a culture that is so different from my own.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The program provider let me know what documents I needed to have ready, and they helped me make sure that I was packed appropriately for the activities we were doing. They also gave me tips on what I should and shouldn't do in an unknown country.

All of the activities were already organized which was great! Basically all I had to do was book my flight for the right dates, make sure that I had all of the right equipment packed, and fly on over!

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Don't spend a bunch of money on medications like anti-diarrhea pills or re-hydration salts - all of the food that we ate was fresh and all of the water was good! Also, leave room in your duffel bag for souvenirs.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Everyday we did something new and exciting and fun! One day we were hanging out with cheetahs, the next we were on a night safari in Kruger National Park, and the next we were walking around in a giraffe sanctuary with them walking right up to us - you will never be bored!

Even the lectures were so interesting, and you were able to apply what you learned right then and there. Every night we had campfire talks that brought the group closer and closer together.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?

Oh, where do I start... This was my first time traveling abroad by myself - with no friends or family. I was really nervous that it would not be what I expected and I would have no way to get home, maybe I wouldn't like my group or my guide. But as you can tell, that was not the case.

The trip was even more amazing than I expected and I am now really close friends with the whole group!

Just try to open up with the group so you can really connect - they are obviously all interested in the same things as you!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Werner Dörgeloh

Job Title
Director
Werner Dörgeloh has studied wildlife management in South Africa, and has many years of experience in teaching, research and field work in wildlife ecology, conservation, and African savannas, as well as leading study abroad programs to Namibia. His extensive travels in southern Africa, United States, Europe and Australia brings this unique combination of experience to Eko Tracks providing clients with the best advice.
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What is your favorite travel memory?

I have many good memories from all the wonderful places I have visited. Most of them are wildlife experiences in southern Africa, too many to list, but snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia was very special.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have learned more about business and client service which is very different from teaching and research.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

On one of the wildlife conservation study abroad programs, the group visited the Kruger N.P. in South Africa when they came across a herd of impala. Suddenly a leopard dashed over the road and disappeared in the bush.

The nearby impala herd scattered in all directions and soon after the leopard dragged an impala, which it had just caught back over the road. And this happened right in front of their vehicle. This is a once in a lifetime experience.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

As a wildlife ecologist I would choose the wildlife conservation study abroad program or one of the wildlife internships. All of these are awesome programs and a very unique and different from each other, so I don’t have a particular preference.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Eko Tracks offers quality products with timely service and the best advice you can expect. This is based on the fact that all destinations have been visited and all programs have been carefully selected to give clients the experience they are looking for.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Hard work, offering quality programs, and efficient, reliable service are keys to success.