African Ecology & Conservation Field Program in South Africa

I was interested in the OTS South Africa program since my freshman year in college, and then finally chose to apply for my junior spring and could not have been happier about it. I wanted a program that would challenge me academically, as well as not be in a traditional classroom setting. The mobile classroom style of OTS was so engaging, and it was a really great learning experience for me personally to be having lectures out in the field, visiting museums and historical sites, and gathering all of our own data directly for analysis. On top of the ecology and conservation aspects, the incorporation of history and culture in the curriculum made me understand more of the socioeconomic dynamics of South Africa, and how these dynamics affect conservation of wildlife and wild spaces now and in the future.

This program provided an involved and dynamic look into what constitutes a career as an ecologist. We traveled all over South Africa, gaining experience in many different settings and ecosystems. The program takes advantage of the expertise and wildlife located in Kruger National Park, research facilities, and other academic institutions to give rounded understanding of the country's ecology. It allows students the independence to develop their own style of research and writing, while still providing enough guidance. The academics involved are clearly passionate about their work and are enthusiastic to share this with the students. We were also given an in-depth view of the history and culture of South Africa, which was a unique and integral part of our education. My experience with OTS was formative and unforgettable. I am grateful to have attended this program and would highly recommend it to anyone.

My experience in OTS African Ecology & Conservation in South Africa was amazing, and I am very glad that I chose to apply. I am grateful for the research experiences in a variety of ecosystems, the amazing people, and adventures around the country.
I appreciated how the academics were mainly focused on field research projects, which was very different from a usual semester for me. It was a great experience to apply some of what I had learned in lecture courses to field research, and I enjoyed learning from the OTS faculty and visiting faculty from around the world. While I was there, I also realized what a once-in-a-lifetime privilege it was to experience the parks in such a hands-on way.
One of my favorite parts of the program was becoming friends with the other students and faculty. Although at first I was worried about meeting a new group of people, it was fun to work with other students from a variety of backgrounds, and we quickly grew close through all of our shared experiences. I especially enjoyed going on game drives and doing activities (such as surfing, snorkeling, and hiking) with them.
I recommend this program to students interested in field research, South Africa, and ecology and conservation, and anyone looking for an experience that is quite different from a standard university setting.

I had a wonderful time in South Africa last spring. While I was initially apprehensive about spending the semester away from my friends and in a new country, I knew it would be fine as soon as I met two of the students in the airport for the flight to Johannesburg. I loved becoming friends with all of the other students in the group, the professors, and the catering team as we traveled around South Africa in Kruger National Park, the Cape region, and more places. I appreciated the catering team's flexibility in providing tasty vegetarian and vegan meals and the willingness of the staff to work hard to provide students with enjoyable experiences.
A highlight was going on game drives in the mornings to see the animals. We would drive from 6-8 many mornings in Kruger, and it was always fun to start the day by visiting elephants and giraffes. Another highlight was learning to speak some Venda, Shangan, and Afrikaans. A third highlight was doing field research and learning about the savanna and fynbos ecosystems by exploring them. I did research projects on wildflowers, forbs and pollination, landscape ecology, and rhinos, and I helped with classmates' projects on frogs, springtails, and seed dispersal. Other research projects were on a variety of topics, including landscape of fear in small mammals, raptors, riparian ecology, termite mounds, road edge effects, and weaver nests.
I would strongly recommend this program to anyone interested in ecology, conservation, or savanna wildlife.

Sitting in my ecology class, I was fascinated by the stories my professor would tell while doing fieldwork in Brazil. He would show us pictures and talk animatedly about his work on turtle ants, all while defining what ecology is. However, I felt a bit dejected since I thought I wouldn't be able to experience these locations for myself - there aren't any tropical locations in the US, and I was only a student in DC. That's where OTS comes in. It's a program that aims to get students like me out to tropical locations in Costa Rica, or, in this case, South Africa.

And what an experience it was. As a student studying abroad, you travel with professors and other students in the same boat as you to different locations in South Africa, going from Kruger National Park to Capetown. The professors genuinely care for you not only as a student, but also as a person, all while teaching you all about tropical savanna ecology. You will be shocked at just how much this program packs in a semester, as you see elephants up close during game drives, go into restricted areas of the park to conduct a research project on rhinos (yes, that was my capstone!), or climb Table Mountain during spring break. I heartily recommend this program to anyone who is either debating going into ecology, or who wants to develop their scientific prowess.

The Organization of Tropical Studies in South Africa was a fantastic program and I am very lucky I had the chance to attend! The small cohort of students made the program very unique and allowed everyone to feel like a part of the “family”. The academic and support staff were wonderful and could not have cared more for our wellbeing or success. The meals provided for you are decent, and very accommodating to all dietary preferences. The housing accommodations were varied and wonderful in themselves, from air conditioned homes to tents in the cape. It was a great privilege to be able to research in the Kruger National Park. Add all of this on top of being in the beautiful country of South Africa and it makes for an unforgettable experience.