GVI Karongwe

My time at GVI Karongwe was by far the most rewarding experience I could have asked for. When I first arrived I was terrified as this had been the furthest from home I had gone alone. By the end of my first hour on base I was laughing among strangers turned friends while we played volleyball. The people I was lucky enough to meet truly made my time there phenomenal. I now have friends from around the globe who share in my passion for conservation and other animal related sciences. The work we did while on Karongwe was engaging and exciting. I participated in the intern program in which we would set camera traps every week and receive lectures both on and off base about different conservation efforts in practice around us. The breadth of knowledge I left with was far greater than I could have ever wished for. The staff each had an infectious appetite for learning which made their teaching engaging and productive. Every day there were two drives on the reserve during which time we would take data on our sightings as well as the sightings called in by the surrounding lodges. The information we acquired was later transformed into maps showing the movement of species throughout the reserve and it also helped us to ensure the safety and well being of all of the animals. Having your work turned into a product you can see and appreciate made participating in the research rewarding. Even the drives on which we saw few mammals we were kept engaged as the staff encouraged us to become birders, tree-identifiers, and avid trackers. No time was wasted time with GVI. I was always learning and loving my opportunity to do so.

After having completed my time with GVI I am now in the process of applying to programs in which I can continue to satiate my appetite for knowledge surrounding conservation in the bush. The staff and program have left me with a new sense of excitement surrounding learning and working for a greater cause. I am forever thankful for how my time with GVI has so positively impacted my life.