Category

Botswana

Botswana, Patagonia

Spring 2026 Student Research Projects

This past spring, students in our Patagonia and Botswana cohorts joined ongoing research initiatives with our partner organizations, contributing to fieldwork and data collection on topics ranging from elephant habitat preference to guanaco population trends.

Explore their capstone research projects here!

Botswana

Reflecting on Khwai

By: Sebastian Janowitz, University of Vermont

Our time in Botswana is beginning to wind down, but we have still been treated to some incredible new sights and experiences. Close encounters with a pride of lions, playing wiffleball at sunset with a bat hand-carved from Mopane, and catching a glimpse of the elusive and almost mythical Sable Antelope are just a few things that made Khwai a magical place to spend some of our last days in the field.

Botswana

Noises of the Bush

By: Ansel Spitler, Montana State University

I was about to go to bed, when I heard a growl behind my tent. Not a tame growl, not a small growl, but a full-bodied, rumbling growl. I was already halfway out of my tent, and as soon as I heard that, I sped walked away towards the rest of camp. That was totally a lion.

Botswana

My Shoes!

By: Nora Ferguson, Montana State University

A looming shadow stood outside our tent, sniffing intensely with glowing green eyes… we made eye contact and I froze in my sleeping bag. The moonlight was the only thing illuminating its silhouette as it ducked its head down and carefully picked up my left shoe before slowly walking off with its prize.

Botswana

Trip to Makgadikgadi Pans

By: Henrick Rahr, Colorado College

This moment not only motivated me to come back, but it gave me inspiration to continue to travel as much as I can to meet more incredible people with entirely different life experiences… and to see more sunsets.