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Cultural and Natural Environments of the World: Botswana, Okavango Delta
Cultural and Natural Environments of the World: Botswana, Okavango Delta
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure!
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure!
Winter Term 2024
Winter Term 2024
Fulfills the Environmental Perspective
~2 weeks: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe
Covid Vaccination may be required for travel to countries included in this trip as well as other medical requirements and/or recommendations. Recommended discuss travel and medical with personal physician and visit US CDC webpage for travel info and requirements.
Having led seven student trips to Africa, ranging from Morocco to Tanzania to South Africa, I asked every guide where they would recommend I lead the next trip…without hesitation all recommended the Okavango Delta in Botswana…touted as the last and most wild destination in Africa. The Okavango Delta is the largest in-land delta in the world. Consisting of isolated “islands”, it is rather difficult to travel (very few roads) and travel between camp sites is by bush plane. But these “islands” also tend to concentrate wildlife…leading to interesting and exciting confrontations. The trip will be safe…as long as everyone remembers we are no longer at the top of the food chain (not even close!)…and with the difficulty in travel/accommodations it is not inexpensive. I have led many adventurous student trips, including climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro… but I am convinced this will surpass them all… it is truly a once in a lifetime adventure! (GB)
Experiencing and observing the wilderness of Africa: Botswana, immersing in the wilderness of the Okavango Delta. Starting in the Kalahari Desert where during the rainy season, the area teems with zebra and wildebeest and these, in turn, attract hungry predators such as lion and cheetah. Mobile tent camping (classic safari with top guides/drivers and support staff) in 3 areas of the Okavango Delta with pristine wilderness, with various terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. The diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, antelope, elephants, prolific bird life, hyena, lion, leopard, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog, etc. etc. etc. Daily Safaris will be by truck, mokoro/canoe, and possibly walking safaris and night game drives. Ending in Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls.
This will be a rustic trip with majority of lodging in tent camps and travel by truck and plane. While on Safari we will be living in the wilderness with the potential to encounter wildlife at all times, including in the camps, and including predators. Therefore, rules and limitations will be absolutely necessary for safety, but students will be fully immersed in the environment and all the realities that this includes.
Course expectations include active participation activities, group projects dealing with aspects of environments and culture. Grades will be based on participation, a field journal, exams, and a written report/oral presentation on the group project. Open to experiencing new and different cultures and environments. Positive attitude and adaptation to changing and unfamiliar environments and activities. Physically active trip with full immersion in wilderness 24hrs a day (bush camps) with potential wildlife, including predators at all times.
Course Grading:
Participation…Be responsible for yourself, take care of each other… Positive Attitude
Journal
Paper/Presentation on return
Adapt to changes
Respect, others, environment
Immerse in Environment
Quiet: Observe Wildlife
Rules: Different World…no exceptions!
24hrs in “Bush”, wildlife at all times
Safety!
Draft Itinerary - Subject to Change
Travel: Tampa to Cape Town S. Africa
3 nights in Cape Town SA - Hostel (students in group lodging, 2 large dorm rooms)
Travel: Cape Town to Botswana
2 nights Kalahari Desert: Lodge
Bush Plane to Okavango Delta
7 nights Tent Camp Okavango Delta
Provider and Staff for Safari’s and mobile Camp
3 Nights –- Moremi Game Reserve
2 Nights - Kwai Community Area (private concession)
2 Nights – Savuti - Chobe National Park
Bush Plane to Victoria Falls
2 Nights Victoria Falls: Lodge
Travel: Victoria Falls to Tampa
At Eckerd: Classes on campus prior to travel
Please plan return to campus as soon as housing opens to attend classes on campus prior to travel.
Flights Tampa to Cape Town, South Africa
Departing from Eckerd campus, travel from Tampa to Cape Town, SA (all included in trip cost). These will be long flights and there may be long layovers. Students will be responsible for their meals for travel day(s) from EC to Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
3 Nights – Mojo Hotel: Hotel/Hostel with student lodging in 2 dorm rooms (no one outside our group).
Activities to be determined: Potential options may include Coastal Tour, Robben Island, VA Waterfront, Table Mountain, etc.
Flight Cape Town, South Africa to Maun Botswana
2 nights Planet Baobab (Gweta): Bakalanga Huts
Known as the gateway to the Makgadikgadi Pans, the Botswana village of Gweta is a pleasant place to stay while exploring the salt pans. During rainy season Gweta area teems with zebra and wildebeest that attract predators such as lion and cheetah.
Game Drives from Planet Baobab into the Ntwetwe Pan, the larger of the two Makgadikgadi Pans.
Bush Flight Maun to Moremi Game Reserve on fixed wing light aircraft (~30 min)
7 nights Golden Africa Mobile Safari: Tent Camps
Tent Camps, Botswana
7 Nights – Okavango Delta
Provider and Staff for Safari’s and mobile Camp
Set up and tear down camps and move between areas
Estimate 2 persons/tent
Beds, Rugs, Tables
Meal Tent with Chef
Drivers/Guides and Trackers; Wildlife
Tent Camps, Botswana
7 Nights – Okavango Delta
Early Wake up
Morning Game Drive
Mokoro/boat Safari
Lunch (in field?)
Afternoon break in heat of day
Evening Game Drive
Dinner
Camp Fire
Game Drives
Mokoro/Boat
Walking Safari
Night Safari
Wildlife Viewing
Animal Interactions
3 nights in Moremi Game Reserve: Pristine wilderness with varied terrain (savannah, waterways, dense forest) with diverse ecosystem of wildlife (buffalo herds, wildebeest, zebra, lion, cheetah, possibly wild dogs, etc. etc. as well as prolific bird life.
Land Transfer Moremi Game Reserve to Khwai Community Area (private concession)
2 nights Khwai Community Area: Northern border of Moremi Reserve. Private concession allows for walking safaris and night game drives.
Land Transfer Khwai Community Area to Savuti Reserve.
2 nights Savuti - Chobe National Park: Savannah with rock outcrops and dry channel landscapes. Wildlife include birds, elephants, antelope, lions, kudu, Hyena, cheetah, zebra, wild dogs, etc. etc. etc.
Bush Flight: Savuti airstrip to Kasane Airport Victoria Falls.
2 nights Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: Phezulu Guest Lodge. Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. Activities to be determined.
Flights, Kasane International Airport to Tampa FL: These will be long flights and there may be long layovers. Students will be responsible for their meals for travel day(s) from Zimbabwe to Eckerd.
Classes will resume on campus after travel portion of the course.
Photos from previous EC trips to Africa taken by Brooks or Larson.....
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