African Ecology & Conservation Field Program in South Africa

Be adventurous by taking every opportunity you can to explore the park and South Africa. Eat mopani worms, go on game drives, and do hikes when you can, because you're going to miss them when the 3 month program flies by and you find yourself on the flight home just like that. Our professors will tell you on the first few days of the program that as a student studying abroad with OTS, you are in a very privileged situation.

You will primarily be studying at Kruger National Park, the largest national park in South Africa, where many researchers dream to study. However, through OTS, you have the permits and permissions to do research, like studying in restricted areas of the park where rhinos are present.

The program does not really have a *set* schedule, but professors give detailed breakdowns of schedules in advance.

A typical field day has students waking up bright and early at 6AM to pack a lunch, eat breakfast, and prepare equipment and yourselves for fieldwork. Fieldwork can last up to 6-8 hours, but the company and research make it worthwhile. Instructional days usually have students wake up at 8AM with lectures until about 4PM (breaks included!).

Free days are offered, with students being able to organize activities with the help of professors outside national parks.

My biggest fear was being abroad so far away from home.

I've been to Costa Rica, but going across the globe was a bit terrifying, as the time zone difference was much more pronounced and I was away from friends and family. Also, not being able to communicate as readily with these people, as I was operating in places without internet at times. However, connecting with professors and other students that were in the same boat as me and immersing myself in being in some of the best places for ecological research was worth it.

I still miss the breathtaking views, the star-ladled skies where galaxies could be seen, and game drives even 3 months after the end of the program.

I enjoy witnessing the astounding transformations that take place during their time in South Africa. For many students, their semester abroad is their first extended period away from home, and they learn important things about themselves, and about the world around them.

I love the diversity of views and fresh ideas that arise during fieldwork and class discussions. We have interesting discussions around the fire about conservation, music, culture, philosophy and travel. Staying connected to the “hip” world of 20-somethings is also fun and invigorating. I often joke that I am a lecturer, doctor, driver, and parent all rolled into one person!

South Africa is amazing! And our course is a real opportunity to challenge yourself and experience true transformative learning. We visit a great variety of sites, from big oceans to big mountains, and of course, big-five country.

You will certainly be out of your comfort zone for at least some of the time – which is when the best kind of learning happens. However, you are always safe and accompanied by attentive staff – which makes this a uniquely great environment for personal and academic growth. We try to remove tension and competition from the learning space and encourage creativity and agency.

Kruger National Park is a great place to learn about conservation in Africa because it has an excellent track record of putting conservation science into practice.

Our research projects feed into the real-world management of the Park and we assist conservation authorities with wildlife monitoring and research throughout the 100-day programme. This means that our work is valuable, and we hold students to high standards.

This is an academically demanding program, which will challenge you at every level – but it is made easier by the fact that you are immersed in wild spaces – waking up to game-drives and elephants and falling asleep to the sounds of hyenas and bush-babies. You will never be bored!

I don’t think that we can “create” an experience for students – the effort they put in is what really makes a course great. We can facilitate learning and personal growth by providing a safe space that is conducive – through exposing students to other ways of life and to new experiences.

Accomplishing this is a collaboration with each new class.