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.

Programs

semester

Wildlife Management Studies

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.
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15 Weeks
18 Credits

Spring 2023

Jan 27 - May 9

In The Field

Fall 2023

Sep 1 - Dec 12

Open

summer session I

Fundamentals of Wildlife Management

In this summer fundamentals course, the Serengeti becomes your classroom. Through safari drives and field excursions, the wildlife of Tanzania bring the critical challenges of wildlife management and conservation to life before your eyes.
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04 Weeks
04 Credits

Summer 2023

Jun 2 - Jul 2

Open

summer session II

Carnivores of the African Plains

Tanzania is home to more than 35 species of carnivores, including the African lion, cheetah, leopard, and wild dog – all of which are on the IUCN Red List. In this summer study abroad program, you'll look at the behavioral ecology and conservation challenges facing these incredible creatures, while observing some of Africa’s largest remaining carnivore guilds up close.
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04 Weeks
04 Credits

Summer 2023

Jul 7 - Aug 6

Filling Fast


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

Environmental Issues

Our Centers are strategically located in regions facing critical environmental issues. Students and faculty study these issues and collect data to help facilitate sustainable responses. In Tanzania, we’re currently investigating the following issues:

Climate Change
Biodiversity Conservation
Land Use Change
Community Resource Management
Environmental Policy
Natural Resource & Water Management
Learn More About the Issues

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
Tanzania Brenna Amundson Maasai community

Meet the Tanzania Team

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