summer session II

Tanzania

Carnivores of the African Plains

At A Glance

04 Weeks | 04 Credits
Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Closed

Summer 2021

Jul 5 - Aug 4

Open

Prerequisites

None

Sample Itinerary
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Carnivores of the African Plains

Rhotia, Maasai Steppe

SUMMER 2020 UPDATE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, SFS has cancelled this and all other programs for Summer 2020. Students are welcome to apply now for next year’s Summer 2021 program.

 
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. Study the behavioral ecology and conservation challenges facing these incredible creatures, while observing some of Africa’s largest remaining carnivore guilds up close.

  • Visit the Tarangire Lion Project to learn from leading lion researchers and analyze pride population dynamics and individual behavior using radio telemetry and camera trapping data

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Program Costs & Financial Aid

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‌Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Tanzania.

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

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.

Resources

A summer with SFS!

Take back-to-back summer sessions and get the hands-on learning and skill-building experiences of an internship, while also going off the beaten path and exploring the world. Each summer session focuses on a different topic, and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions. Receive a $1,000 discount on your second session (effective for Summer 2020).

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM COMBO
Fundamentals of Wildlife Management (Kenya/Tanzania Summer I)

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All program components are subject to change.

‌Life in the Field

Learn to live the pole pole lifestyle at SFS’ Moyo Hill Camp. Surrounded by Tanzania’s world-famous national parks and wildlife, it’s the perfect base camp 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 a short walk away.

  • Dorm living in 4-person bandas (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
  • Fleet of safari cruisers

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