Location
  • South Africa
Term
Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
African Studies Animal Science Anthropology Biology Botany Conservation and Preservation Earth Sciences Ecology Environmental Studies Field Studies Natural Sciences Wildlife Sciences +2

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Dormitory Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

Price Details
Visit our website for more details on program costs. Scholarships are available.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Some Activities Domestic Airfare Classes Meals Transportation Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Lodging during the mid-term break in Cape Town.

What's Not Included
Airfare Some Meals Travel Insurance Visa
Mar 09, 2023
Apr 28, 2025
31 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Immerse yourself in the Savannas of South Africa! This program travels through national parks and reserves and visits historical sites from the far north of the country, all the way to the Cape in the south. Students spend much of the semester in Kruger National Park, one of the largest conservation areas in Africa and home to healthy populations of megafauna like elephants, rhinos and lions.

Students are mentored by local and international academics, conservation managers, and experts in ecology and conservation. By designing research projects with their professors, students will contribute meaningful scientific data to critical issues faced by South African National Parks. A highlight of the course is a three-night homestay in a rural community; students leave touched by their time shared with the community and gain a deeper sense of cultural and social awareness. Open to all undergraduate students, transcripts provided by the University of Connecticut (UConn).

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Live and conduct meaningful independent research in Kruger National Park, South Africa's oldest and largest national park.
  • Immerse yourself in South African culture during a 3-night homestay in HaMakuya, experiencing many of the challenges and joys of rural life many South African's face every day.
  • Visit various important field-sites throughout South Africa, including the Cape Region, Cederberg, West Coast National Park, Fynbos, Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems, and numerous sites within Kruger National Park.
  • Gain valuable field experience through the mentorship of world-class researchers and faculty via ongoing long-term research, and an independent capstone research project.
  • Develop advanced understanding of South African history, culture, politics and conservation issues through lectures and field trips to historical sites like Robben Island, Mapungubwe, Thulamela & Cape Town.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.93 Rating
based on 14 reviews
  • 5 rating 92.86%
  • 4 rating 7.14%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.65
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.75
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 8 of 14 reviews
Default avatar
Julie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Field work, homestay, and game drives

Overall my experience on the African Ecology and Conservation program (AEC) for Spring 2025 has been absolutely amazing. I am so sad that the program ends in a few days. Going into this program, I was looking forward to expanding upon my current field work skills, connecting and forming friendships with others, and obviously seeing the Big 5. Thankfully, I can say that I got all that and more.

There's so much that happens in one OTS semester that it can be hard to unpack all of it and look back on it, especially when writing a review. But the professors and staff here have been so amazing and so supportive and so have my classmates. Field work was so fun but was definitely also challenging (mostly due to the hot weather) and our homestay definitely pushed me way outside of my comfort zone. However, it was so interesting and cool to see how the people in Guyuni village lived life and it was amazing how welcoming they were to us.

When not conducting field work, writing essays, practicing presentations, and more, our group tended to prefer to go on game drives. We would get up at 6am, sometimes earlier, and do our best to spot the animals first. It was always a good time, even on the days where we barely saw anything or when the wind chill in the back of the GDV made it feel way colder than it actually was.

The food was great and the accommodations were nice. Fair warning, there may be some locations where you have to share a room with 5 other people, if not more. Sometimes there would be as little as 2 total sharing a room. It can be challenging for some to navigate having that many roommates, but thankfully that wasn't as much of a problem for us.

Overall, I really do suggest going on this program. The sights, experiences, and the people absolutely make the program and I had fun working on all of our assignments, despite how stressful it could be. Myself and some other students are even planning on staying an extra week to go to Cape Town as our spring break location ended up being in St. Lucia (which was such a cute town).

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would say my main piece of advice is to really push yourself to be open and social the first 1-2 weeks. I myself am an introvert and find it hard to constantly socialize, especially when I don't know people that well. However, I found that it really helped to get to know everyone fast and to feel more comfortable living and working with these new people. Obviously, still take time to yourself and don't become burnt out too early in the semester!
Pros
  • Friendships
  • Life experience
  • Learning environment
Cons
  • Weather (hot)
  • Necessary early morning wake up!
7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lucia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A beautiful wild academic adventure

I thoroughly enjoyed being at OTS. It provided me an incredible opportunity to branch out academically, not only because it explored ecologically new and unique places, but also because I had the chance to explore various fields (from marine biology to fire ecology to entomology). It was incredibly fun and interactive. Everyday, the professors helped us carve our own paths, discover our interests, and support us into actualizing our academic dreams. It was truly a privilege and pleasure to be surrounded and guided by such a intellectually stimulating and ecologically exciting group of individuals, both instructor and student alike, who shared love of the incredible creatures and systems of this world and who loved to explore and undertake wild adventures.

What was your funniest moment?
The funniest moments we had on this trip were our encounters with elephants. Becoming notorious for these moments in time, the group would often come up against aggravated elephants and real and fake charges, both while in the ground and in the GDV. It made for crazy stories and fun nights of bonding together.
Pros
  • I discovered the academic field I wish to pursue in my future.
  • I have experienced the classroom in an incredibly unique and engaging way that taught me so much without my realizing it.
  • I have had some of the best instructors I have ever had before: every single person here is incredibly driven, thoughtful, supportive, interesting, and such a joy to spend time with.
Cons
  • There were times when I would have loved the chance to explore my own project and research question in my mind, which was at times difficult because even with our capstone we had to stand by specific topic themes.
  • At times, living at SSLI can feel like a fishbowl because you cannot leave or go for a walk or run without planning the cars and such due to the wild outside our doorstep (but this was also a pro because what a unique experience).
5 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Santiago
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Every day is an adventure

This program definitely pushed me to try new things, and I certainly struggled at times throughout the semester. But every day was a good day, and when in Kruger National Park there is no way of knowing what animal is waiting around the corner. I spent most the semester racing to finish my academics to explore South Africa. The staff was excellent, the assignments made sense and the other students were fantastic. Some visiting instructors were not as good, but they did not stay for more than a week. There is inherent risk when doing fieldwork in Kruger with all the animals, but the instructors and game guards worked with us to make sure everyone was safe. The food was good, but communicate with the chefs if you have dietary restrictions. I was disappointed in how they handled lactose free (very poorly) or made sure vegans/vegetarians had protein (oftentimes didn't). Lodging varied tremendously, but I always had a bed to sleep in and a working shower.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
There will be a lot of opportunities to go and see different parts of South Africa, or go on game drives. Always say yes. But plan ahead and make sure to keep up with sleep and taking care of yourself, because you will regret missing the game drive where everyone else sees a cheetah.
5 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Samantha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

OTS African Ecology and Conservation is Fantastic!

OTS's program is the epitome of "once in a lifetime." The access granted to the program by South African National Parks allows students to do research directly in Kruger National Park, walking through the savanna with zebras and giraffes watching from a few hundred feet away! The staff are all incredibly accommodating and do everything in their power to not only make you feel welcome and safe, but to push you to grow as a student and a scientist, fostering an environment where everyone feels comfortable asking questions. The views, both of the landscapes and animals, are indescribable. I wish I could retake this program every year.

A few things of interest: The food is FANTASTIC. I would do anything to eat that food again, the catering service staff are geniuses. There are only a few times (a week max) in which there is no phone service, and honestly the "forced" break from technology was pretty nice. The accommodations are super comfortable, with AC for those super hot days! I honestly have no big complaints.

Pros
  • Field Research Experience
  • Amazing Food
  • Dedicated Staff
92 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A semester of a lifetime

After nearly twenty-four hours of travel, I landed in the Johannesburg Airport. My excitement overcame my nerves while driving to the backpacker’s hotel to meet my twelve new classmates for the next three months. Recollecting on this moment, I could not have comprehended how these people, brought together from around the United States and South Africa would soon become so much more than my classmates. They are my collaborators, supporters, and incredible friends.

The Skukuza Science Leadership Initiative (SSLI) in Skukuza, Kruger National Park was our home and base location for the program. Though safely surrounded by a fence, we fell asleep and woke to the calls of hyenas and lions in the distance, showered in the presence of kudu and waterbuck, and consciously protected our bananas from the local vervet monkeys. Our lectures on savanna ecology, evolution, or statistical analyses supplemented the knowledge we gained while working in the field. In groups of three to four we completed long-term research projects with topics ranging from microplastic pollution in river systems to differences in the species richness of birds between sites of varying levels of controlled herbivory.

We left the park and drove to the village of Venda in the north east corner of South Africa. In groups of three we said goodbyes to our friends and departed for four days in rural homestays. Equipped with my camera, two pairs of clothes, and a toothbrush I walked through the gate into our homestay family’s yard in the Sanari village. For the next four days we learned to cook traditional meals of pap with spinach or mopane worms, collected and carried wood (on our heads) from the bush, and spent many hours each day playing with over fifty local kids. Each night we fell asleep on hand woven grass mats and woke to the rooster’s call and the chiming of goat bells. Even with a wonderful translator, language remained a barrier, but the human ability to connect over a smile or gesture became profound. Being surrounded by people filled with generosity, pride, joy, and an incredibly rich sense of community has touched me in ways I have yet to realize.

My time in South Africa with OTS was informative, fun, and truly life changing. I highly recommend this program for anyone with a sense of adventure, love for learning, and drive to connect to people and nature alike.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
You may think 3 months is a long time. It's not. Get up early, go on every game drive, take walks when you can, and get to deeply know your fellow classmates, instructors, and support staff. Make every day worthwhile! Push yourself to try new things (like rock climbing or eating mopane worms), engage fully, and learn all that you can because you are surrounded by incredible people and places.
112 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Benjamin
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

OTS student perspective

My study abroad experience in South Africa was an illuminative experience for me. During those two months, I was surrounded 24/7 by scientists interested in ecology and conservation. I was welcomed into OTS with open arms. South Africa made me learn more about the similarities that’s unites people together, and the problems going on in the world outside of my usual realm of living. Being surrounded by such like-minded people that cared about the environment re-solidified my dreams and hopes for my own future. OTS also handled the COVID-19 situation as appropriately as possible to manage our safety, and look out for our student group.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
My homestay experience was the definitely the biggest culture shock I've experienced.
Although I did have a feeling of disorientation, my homestay group was treated warmly and lovingly by our homestay family. Being suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture can be quite an experience, but the communal atmosphere we were able to experience made it absolutely worth it. My own understanding of the privilege I have was further expanded upon, and I left my homestay feeling very moved.
139 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Laura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Geek Out on Science

If you have a spirit of adventure and are passionate about conservation, if you want to get gritty in the field and think deeply about issues, and if you want an academic challenge--I definitely recommend this program! OTS is an incredible experience. The staff are all extremely knowledgeable and it's a privilege to learn from them. I was afraid that traveling so much around South Africa would make it hard to acclimate to any one place or get to know people, but OTS got the balance just right (although I would have liked to stay at any place longer). We really got to experience it all: from long days in the field to days in the lab. We learned constantly and still had the agency to devise our own projects for our capstones. I know my science writing skills in particular are drastically improved! The food was amazing and I always had options, even as a vegan. The program was really well organized and conceived to leave us with maximum impact, and then of course for fall break in Cape Town we were free to do whatever we wanted.

Just as a fair warning, OTS will keep you busy and there's very little free time. The good news is that what you learn is extremely interesting and includes game drives to appreciate the incredible animal diversity in Kruger (and beyond). There is a lot of stress that can come from high academic rigor and the unique situation of being inside a national park with the "Big 5"--and I think this is important to consider. This program can be tough due to compact group size (which is also one of its charms) and rural sites which make some amenities hard to reach. The focus on this program is also overwhelmingly science based!

Still, I honestly cannot imagine a better semester abroad and I'm so glad I chose this program! Now it's your turn :)

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Appreciate everything while you are there--I know it sounds cliche, but it's so true.
118 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Andrew
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

African Ecology and Conservation Rocks!

This program is superb. You will travel to many incredible places around the country, and see diverse landscapes. You will have the opportunities to hike, jump off cliffs, surf, and more. The wildlife is incredible, and you will have encounters ranging from massive elephants right next to you to catching gerbils in traps. The staff are amazing. They are friendly and helpful, and easy to talk to in both academic and social contexts. The people I interacted with on this trip come from many different backgrounds, and you will stay in touch with them for years to come as they become family. This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows you to see South Africa and its ecosystems as a scientist and not just a tourist. 10/10 recommend.

What was your funniest moment?
A baboon stole our Wifi router (we manage to get it back).
118 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers