Botswana

By Amanda Ramsing-Lund (University of Vermont) If you visit Africa or Madagascar, you have a chance of seeing a bird called the Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), which is the Afrikaans name meaning “hammer head.” Before coming to Africa, I thought the…

Written December 4, 2015 By Sierra Moen (Middlebury College)   In Maghoto, it was the hippos. Mababe, lions; and Sankuyo, the notorious honey badger. Each of our research sites has had a different variety of animals, and nocturnal visitors are…

Written November 28, 2015 By Amanda Ramsing-Lund (University of Vermont)   If you’re like our group of dedicated Disney fans, you might have just started singing the uplifting chorus of the opening song in the Lion King. Although we will…

Written November 18, 2015 By Drew Stazesky (University of New Hampshire) I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to celebrate my 22nd birthday (on November 18th) in the African bush, at our amazing campsite located in Mababe,…

Written November 15, 2015 By Louise Bishop (University of Alaska, Fairbanks)   Today marks one month left until the end of our time in Botswana and one month until we will all attempt to integrate ourselves into society again. I,…

Written November 11, 2015 By Forrest Rosenbower (Northland College)   Yesterday we went to Victoria Falls in Zambia. Our day began with a morning full of sleep, waking up at 6:00a.m. to gather our gear for the trip. When 7:30am…

By Fen Bowen (Colby College)   Which animal is the largest of the antelope family, and is found patchily in East and Southern Africa? Which animal relies on dense thicket for evasion from predators, and when running will lift its…

By Drew Stazesky (University of New Hampshire)   Hey everyone! We’ve started our final week conducting research in the Chobe Enclave of northern Botswana, and I’ll give some brief updates before continuing onto the main subject of my first blog…

By Louise Bishop (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) A week ago we moved to the very northeast corner of Botswana where four countries (Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) come together at a river oasis. We drove 12 hours from our previous camp…

By Louise Bishop (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) Dwarf mongoose are an intriguing and social species. They are similar in size to the tree squirrel, but much more elusive. So far, I have seen dwarf mongoose a total of three times….

Written October 13, 2015 By Louise Bishop (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) Dumela! Yesterday marked three weeks since we arrived in Botswana. We are currently staying at Banoka camp, in the Khwai concession area. Although it’s cliché to say, time really…

By Annie Foxen (Carleton College) Dumela from Botswana! Another day in Africa, can’t complain. After waking up at 5:30am, we got to watch another brilliant orange sun rise over our breakfast of oatmeal and rooibos tea, looking forward to another…

By Sierra Moen (Middlebury College)   To echo previous blogs, Africa is a free place beyond imagination. Wild animals dot the landscape, with Cape buffalo, impala, giraffe, ostrich, and zebra a stone’s throw from camp. Contrary to popular belief (hi…

Written October 6, 2015 By Forrest Rosenbower (Northland College)   The last two weeks have been some of the best times of my life. This is both because of the amazing location we are in as well as the incredible…

Written October 3, 2015 By Lauren Sadowski (University of Vermont)   In an attempt to sleep later than usual in the beautifully wild Khwai bush of Botswana, I was pleasantly awoken by several repetitive and piercing howls of some very…

By Fenwick Bowen (Colby College)   It’s hard to believe we have already been a week here in Botswana, but it has, and my, does time fly by when you’re just having so much fun. It is amazing. We’ve already gotten…

Written May 9, 2015 By Lindsay Cotnoir (University of Vermont)   With final exams crushed and only a few days remaining in our Botswana adventure, my fellow students and I are beginning to face the reality of leaving this warm…

By Eda Reed (Colby College)   What am I?   My unique pattern separates me from the rest When it comes to food, I like Acacias the best   I eat up to 34kg of plants each day Then spend…