Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Nichols

I knew I wanted to to go to South Africa and learn about wildlife, but wanted to do a range of activities, and Askari seemed to be the best program available to do this. I not only learned loads about the wildlife, but also the environment, and how a conservation reserve is run.

In the mornings, we would get up really early and would often drive to count large mammals or check up on the collared cheetahs. Afterwards, we would have breakfast and then take part in various activities such as invasive species removal, road clearing, river pick up, cleaning out the nyala camp, and more. At lunch, we shared rota so someone different would take care of it each day. In the afternoons, we usually went for another drive, often to follow up on a sighting or to check a camera trap. At dinner, we shared rota again and then we would have time to chill before bed. On Saturdays, we have half days and then Sundays were our day offs. In the first week, most activities are taken up by lectures so we can learn about how things are done, how to identify animals, first aid training, and about the conservation taking place on the reserve.

That you never knew what was going to happen or what you were going to see that day. On a cheetah drive you could come across a herd of elephants and stay with them until they disappeared, or if you heard a lion roar you would drive in that direction hoping to see it, the weekly plan was just a guideline since so much happens on a daily basis that you just go with the flow out there!

Askari gave me a real taste for traveling and for Africa. It has made me a much more independent person and really helped guide me in what I want to do as a career.