CIEE High School Summer Abroad in Gaborone, Botswana – Botswanan Wildlife Conservation

My experience was unique because of the people I had the pleasure of meeting and befriending. Some advice I'd have for future participants is to prepare for your host family experiences more. This has impacted my life post-program by giving me new connections across the country and across the globe and by influencing my choice in major (I've chosen Environmental Analysis) in college. My favorite memories are at the campsites with my friends. It was a really great group of people because everyone is passionate about the focus of the trip, conservation/ecology and are adventurous and excited. Some more specific memories are going to the mall with my host family, early morning safaris and exploring with my friends.

This trip was an amazing experience. Not only did I get to visit a unique, beautiful, new country but I made so many friends, with my group and locals fro Botswana. My leaders were incredibly supportive and made me feel comfortable and safe throughout my whole experience. They were very attentive everyones needs and were very knowledgable and experienced. The wildlife was by far the best part. All of the wonderful animals we saw continue to inspire and amaze me. I highly recommend this trip to someone who loves animals and adventure and has maybe already had some international travel experience. I also recommend investing in a nice camera, it doesn't have to be a DSLR but you will definitely want it to remember your trip.