Tanzania

Center for Wildlife Management Studies

Tanzania

Few places in the world are more iconic than the African savanna. In Tanzania, baobabs and acacia trees dot the horizon, while wildebeest stampede through the Serengeti on their Great Migration. The Big Five – lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos – are all found here. Tanzania is also home to the pastoralist Maasai, agro-pastoral Iraqw, and the hunter-gatherer Hadzabe tribes, all of whom have rich cultural traditions and strong ties to the land.



semester

15 Weeks

|

18 Credits


Spring 2024

 Jan 30 - May 10

In The Field

Fall 2024

 Sep 1 - Dec 12

Open

Spring 2025

 Jan 30 - May 10

Open


PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition:

$19,600

Room & Board:

$5,750

Total Cost:

$25,350


Sample Itinerary


Sample Itinerary:

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semester PROGRAM

Wildlife Management Studies

Rhotia, Maasai Steppe


Step beyond a tourist experience in East Africa. Explore the iconic landscapes of Tanzania. Meet the country’s charismatic wildlife – from magnificent lions and elephants to thunderous herds of wildebeest and zebras – as you learn about their ecology and behavior. Experience the rich culture and traditions of Tanzania’s Maasai, Iraqw, and Hadzabe tribal communities while collaborating on issues of human-wildlife conflict and climate change. Finish the semester with an in-depth field research project. 

  • Embark on a multi-day camping expedition in Serengeti National Park, attending field lectures on the ecology and migratory patterns of the ecosystem’s teeming wildlife. 
  • Learn the behavioral ecology of the African elephant and African lion within the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem. 
  • While camping in the Tarangire area, visit the community-managed wildlife management areas of Burunge and Randilen. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of natural resource conservation towards rural community livelihood and development. 
  • Experience Iraqw traditions and modern lifestyles during a short home stay with a nearby family and visit a Maasai boma to learn how cultural tourism is shaping local culture and traditions 
  • Live and study surrounded by Tanzania’s world-famous protected areas and the magnificent fauna and flora of the African savannah. Spend free time at the Center’s campus, known locally as “Moyo Hill Camp”, relaxing in hammocks, catching a pickup game of volleyball or soccer, or taking an art class in the nearby friendly communities. 
  • Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question and write a proposal, collect and analyze data, write a paper, and present your findings. Read more about SFS Directed Research projects. 

Application deadlines:
Spring – November 15
Fall – May 15

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Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. Each program combines theory learned during classroom sessions with field-based applications. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Tanzania. Read more about the SFS program model. Major academic themes include:

  • Wildlife conservation
  • Climate change impacts
  • African large mammal behavior and ecology
  • Field ornithology
  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Habitat assessments
  • Community-based conservation
  • Reptile ecology and conservation

Courses

On the Wildlife Management Studies program, you will take three 4-credit disciplinary courses, one 2-credit language and culture course, and a 4-credit capstone Directed Research course. Courses are participatory in nature and are designed to foster inquiry and active learning. Each course combines lectures, field exercises, assignments, tests, and research. All courses are taught in English. Click on each course to view a description and download the syllabus

SFS 2060
Introduction to Swahili Language and East African Culture
2 credits
SFS 3023
Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values
4 credits
SFS 3710
Techniques in Wildlife Management
4 credits
SFS 3720
Wildlife Ecology
4 credits
SFS 4910
Directed Research
4 credits

SFS 2060 Introduction to Swahili Language and East African Culture (2 credits)

This course contains two distinct but integrated modules. The Swahili language module offers listening, oral, and written practice of the Swahili language, at a basic level of proficiency, to increase students’ communication and comprehension skills. Much of the Maasai population does not speak Swahili, but it is the national language in Tanzania; this phenomenon will be explained in the second course module. The sociocultural aspects of Tanzanian tribes module emphasizes understanding of, and direct contact and interaction with, the native communities with which SFS works, primarily the Maasai. This exposure to culture and language is reviewed and processed through lectures, field exercises, and classroom discussion. The sociocultural module is designed to help students engage in the culture and be therefore more adept at working effectively in their Directed Research efforts.

 

View Syllabus

SFS 3023 Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values (4 credits)

This course provides insight into the broad social context surrounding natural resources to determine effective approaches to resource management. Students explore the sociocultural context of resource management including: hierarchies and power structures; formal and informal decision-making processes; value systems relevant to natural resources, including religious factors and environmental ethics; past and present uses of natural resources; economic factors (local, regional, external); ownership patterns; attitudes and other factors that effect change and their historical basis; and legal basis for enforcement of environmental policy. Students are also introduced to major constituencies that effect conservation (NGO conservation groups, economic interests, etc.) and their underlying philosophies.

 

View Syllabus

SFS 3710 Techniques in Wildlife Management (4 credits)

This course introduces students to the questions, principles, and tools used by resource managers in Tanzania’s savanna ecosystem. Students study habitat assessment, plant and animal identification, associations and distributions, and other approaches to evaluating ecosystems. Students examine the behavioral, physiological, and social responses of animals to a changing environment. The course introduces field and laboratory techniques for monitoring ungulate populations and optimizing management practices, as well as addressing decision-making processes on which wildlife management programs are based.

 

View Syllabus

SFS 3720 Wildlife Ecology (4 credits)

This course presents students with the information and conceptual background necessary to understand the underlying ecological principles of Tanzania’s savanna ecosystem. We focus on the fundamental processes and interrelationships between the biotic and abiotic environment. We begin with basic ecological principles, setting them against the background of Tanzania. Students examine the factors underlying distributions, population biology, and behavioral ecology, along with competition and predation, using African examples. Students discuss theoretical models of different basic ecological principles and then debate their applicability or constraints based on observations made in the field.

 

View Syllabus

SFS 4910 Directed Research (4 credits)

This course prepares students to distinguish hidden assumptions in scientific approaches and separate fact from interpretation, cause from correlation, and advocacy from objectivity. Students learn specific tools including: experimental design; field techniques; basic descriptive statistics; and parametric and non-parametric quantitative analysis. Emphasis is placed on succinct scientific writing, graphic and tabular presentation of results, and effective delivery of oral presentations.

 

View Syllabus

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS use and applications, habitat and biodiversity assessment, natural resource valuation, species identification and wildlife census techniques, animal behavior observation skills, radio telemetry, bird species identification, basic Swahili language skills, research design and implementation, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and research presentation.

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include national parks and wildlife management areas, the plains of the Serengeti, rural villages, Indigenous Iraqw, Hadzabe, and Maasai communities, freshwater wetlands around Lake Manyara, wildlife migratory corridors, the volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro, ranches and farms, and Olduvai Gorge – one of the most important paleo-anthropological sites in the world.

summer session I

04 Weeks

|

04 Credits


Summer 2024

 Jun 3 - Jul 2

Filling Fast


PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition:

$5,555

Room & Board:

$2,395

Total Cost:

$7,950


Sample Itinerary


Sample Itinerary:

APPLY NOW

summer session I PROGRAM

Fundamentals of Wildlife Management

Maasai Steppe, Tanzania


In this summer fundamentals course, the complex human-dominated landscape of the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem, with diverse and competing land use types, becomes your classroom. Through field-based excursions, interactions with local communities, and discussions with wildlife conservation and management experts, watch the critical issues surrounding wildlife management and conservation come to life before your eyes. 

 

  • Embark on a multi-day camping expedition in Serengeti National Park, attending field lectures on the behavior and migratory patterns of the park’s magnificent wildlife. 
  • While camping in the Tarangire area, visit the community-managed wildlife management areas of Burunge and Randilen. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of natural resource conservation towards rural community livelihood and development. 

Application deadlines:
Summer 1 – April 1
follow sfs tanzania on instagram




Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. Each program combines theory learned during classroom sessions with field-based applications. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Tanzania. Read more about the SFS program model. Major academic themes include:

  • Behavioral ecology
  • Field ornithology
  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Community conservation approaches
  • Wildlife and natural resource management policies

Courses

On the Fundamentals of Wildlife Management program, you will take one 4-credit course. This course is participatory in nature and is designed to foster inquiry and active learning combining lectures, field exercises, assignments, and tests. This course is taught in English. Click on each course to view a description and download the syllabus

SFS 3500
Wildlife Management and Conservation
4 credits

SFS 3500 Wildlife Management and Conservation (4 credits)

This course exposes students to wildlife management practices and the complex issues surrounding sustainable wildlife conservation in the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem of Tanzania. Students explore a vast array of concepts and principles in ecology, natural resource management, and socioeconomics, which are central to effective and sustainable wildlife conservation.

 

View Syllabus

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: animal behavior observation, environmental impacts assessment, species identification, wildlife census techniques, natural resource management planning, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, tourism impact assessment methods, and basic Swahili language skills.

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Manyara National Park, Maasai and other Indigenous communities, rural villages, freshwater wetlands, acacia forests, wildlife migratory corridors, and ranches and farms.

summer session II

04 Weeks

|

04 Credits


Summer 2024

 Jul 8 - Aug 6

Filling Fast


PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition:

$5,555

Room & Board:

$2,395

Total Cost:

$7,950


Sample Itinerary


Sample Itinerary:

APPLY NOW

summer session II PROGRAM

Carnivores of the African Plains

Rhotia, Maasai Steppe


Tanzania is home to more than 35 species of carnivores, including the African lion, cheetah, leopard, spotted hyena, and wild dog – all of which are on the IUCN Red List. Study the behavioral ecology and conservation challenges facing these incredible creatures, while observing some of Africa’s largest remaining carnivore guilds up close. 

  • Embark on a multi-day camping expedition in Serengeti National Park, participating in field lectures and exercises to learn the dynamics of the carnivore guilds of the Serengeti 
  • On a second camping expedition, visit Tarangire and learn the behavioral ecology of the African lion at the Tarangire Lion Project field research station. Here you will interact with leading lion experts and experience first-hand the crucial role of field techniques such as radio telemetry in carnivore research and conservation in Africa. 
  • Deepen your understanding of policy and legal frameworks’ influence on environmental conservation and wildlife management paradigms over time. 

Application deadlines:
Summer 2 – May 15
follow sfs tanzania on instagram




Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. Each program combines theory learned during classroom sessions with field-based applications. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Tanzania. Read more about the SFS program model. Major academic themes include:

  • Carnivore behavioral ecology
  • Predator-prey interactions
  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Wildlife and natural resource management

Courses

On the Carnivores of the African Plains program, you will take one 4-credit course. This course is participatory in nature and is designed to foster inquiry and active learning combining lectures, field exercises, assignments, and tests. This course is taught in English. Click on the course to view a description and download the syllabus

SFS 3121
African Large Carnivores: Ecology and Conservation
4 credits

SFS 3121 African Large Carnivores: Ecology and Conservation (4 credits)

This four-week course will focus on the behavioral ecology and conservation of large carnivores in Africa using northern Tanzania as a case study. SFS Center for wildlife management studies in Tanzania is an ideal location to explore the ecological and human dimensions of large carnivore conservation. The center is located between the Ngorongoro-Serengeti (NSE) and Tarangire-Manyara (TME) ecosystems in northern Tanzania. Both ecosystems have largely intact carnivore guilds that occur within and outside the protected areas. Large carnivores are one of the main attractions in the vibrant photographic tourism industry. In addition, large carnivores attract high premiums among the trophy hunters in the area. Despite the high economic values, carnivores in northern Tanzania are under immense threats from human-related effects such as habitat loss, and conflicts with pastoralists. To address these challenges, large carnivores have attracted high interest among conservationists, researchers, and scientists in northern Tanzania. African wild dogs, African lions, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards have received high attention due to their charismatic appeal and the manifold threats facing them. Among those species, lions, and leopards are among the big five and are highly sought after by trophy hunters. To address the conservation threats and better understand the ecology of these large carnivore species in northern Tanzania, several conservation and research projects have been initiated. These include the Tarangire Lion Research Project in Tarangire/Manyara National Parks and the surrounding areas, the Kope Lion Project in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and species-specific projects in Serengeti National Park focusing on the lion, cheetah, spotted hyena, and African wild dog.

 

View Syllabus

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: animal behavior observation, radio telemetry and camera trapping, species identification, wildlife census techniques, basic Swahili language skills, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include national parks and wildlife management areas, the vast plains of the Serengeti, Tarangire Lion Project, rural villages, Indigenous Iraqw, Hadzabe, and Maasai communities, freshwater wetlands around Lake Manyara, wildlife migratory corridors, the volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro, and ranches and farms.

What Students Are Saying:


 
“SFS was the first step on my career journey and I feel an enormous amount of gratitude to the program. There is no way I would be where I am today without SFS, and I am still in touch with my professors from the program.”
 
– Arjun, University of Maryland


 
“Choosing this study abroad program was hands down the best decision I made during my college career. It was such a unique experience and one that I felt perfectly encompassed what studying abroad is all about. The safari drives and overnight expeditions in and near the national parks were always something I looked forward to and will surely never forget… I mean how often do you get to ride around in open-top Jeeps collecting data on African wildlife?!”
 
– Emily, Lafayette College


 
“I absolutely loved SFS Tanzania. The staff and faculty are all amazing, and you are able to have so many unique experiences that you can’t get anywhere else! Also, you really feel like you’re making a difference in conservation, because the community really takes into account what your DR research shows at the end of the semester. I would absolutely recommend this program to any and all who are interested in wildlife, conservation, or both!”
 
– Hannah, Iowa State University

 

Where You'll Be Living

Learn to live the pole pole lifestyle at the SFS Center in Tanzania. Surrounded by world-famous national parks and wildlife, it’s the perfect home base for expeditions into the field. Campus is reminiscent of summer camp, with plenty of outdoor and communal spaces, while the small, friendly community of Rhotia is just a short walk away.

  • Dorm living in four-person cabins
  • Classroom, library, and computer lab
  • Kitchen and dining hall, and on-site cooking staff
  • Volleyball, gazebo, fire pit, and lounge areas
  • Community soccer games and local running routes
  • Markets in nearby towns of Rhotia, Karatu, and Mto Wa Mbu
Click here to read stories from students, staff, and faculty on our blog

 
 
 

Program Costs

Study abroad is an investment in yourself – you’ll return home with new experiences, skills, knowledge, and friendships that will stay with you for the rest of your life. SFS program costs cover a variety of expenses, including:
 

  • Pre-program advising and on-site orientation
  • Tuition and research fees
  • Housing at the field station and on excursions
  • Daily meals and snacks
  • Airport transfers (for arrival/departure)
  • Field excursions and cultural activities
  • Student success and wellness team on site
  • 24/7 mental health and well-being support
  • Emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance
  • Official transcript processing

View Tanzania Program Costs

Financial Aid

We know cost can be one of the biggest barriers to studying abroad. At SFS, we’re committed to making our programs accessible to students which is why we award more than $650,000 in need-based financial aid each year. Our Admissions Team has worked with thousands of students and are here to answer your questions about the SFS aid process, aid available through your home school, and funding from external sources.
 
SFS Financial Aid: Need-based aid packages typically consist of a combination of scholarships, grants, and zero- and low-interest loans. SFS matches Federal Pell Grant funding for students applying to an SFS semester program.

Home School Aid: Be sure to ask your home school study abroad office or financial aid office what financial aid resources might be available to support your study abroad experience.

External Funding Opportunities: Organizations such as the Fund for Education Abroad or the Gilman International Scholarship Program award scholarships to students going abroad. These can be a great opportunity to reduce the cost of your program even more.
 
Learn More about Financial Aid


 
 
 

 

Research

Research at the SFS Center for Wildlife Management Studies focuses on wildlife management, natural resource conservation, community socioeconomics and development, and human-wildlife conflict and conflict mitigation. Students use national parks, community conservation areas, and critical migratory corridors as field laboratories to study the behavioral ecology of Tanzania’s wildlife populations firsthand. We also work with local communities including Maasai, Iraqw, and Hadzabe tribal communities to examine current socioeconomic issues and environmental conservation challenges.
 
Our research focuses primarily on the following themes:

  • Wildlife management & conservation
  • Climate change impacts and adaptations
  • African large mammal ecology and behavior
  • Behavioral ecology of carnivores
  • Reptile ecology and conservation
  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Community-based conservation approaches
  • Natural resource management
  • Rural livelihoods and land use

Community

Rhotia, Tanzania

 
SFS is an active part of the Rhotia community, where we have been based for over a decade.

We have built long-term, collaborative relationships in the communities around the Center, and developed our research plans based on the environmental issues they and the surrounding ecosystems face. Throughout the program, students spend the day with a local family, attend cultural festivals and other community events, visit village markets, and enjoy soccer and volleyball games with community members.

At the end of each semester program, we host a Community Research Night where select students will present their research findings to the community. SFS research data is shared with the community, national parks and conservation areas, local NGOs, and the Tanzanian government.
 

Read stories about our community in Tanzania

Meet the Tanzania Team

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