Leaving for Moremi Game Reserve

Tomorrow morning we head out for safari into the Moremi Game Reserve for four nights. We will again be without cell phone service but will have our satellite phone turned on from 7-8 (Botswana time) for emergencies only.

The satellite phone number: 00881631627587

We are eager to experience a drastically different environment as we venture into the wetlands of the Okavango Delta. We will update the blog with pictures and details when we return to Maun, where we will be staying for the remainder of the program.

Student Presentations (Clinton and Jay)

While on safari in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, we had two student presentations on social and environmental interactions. Clinton presented on the dynamics of multiple variables in response to land use change in Botswana. He covered a range of topics including natural resources, environmental controls, population factors, and policy implementation.

Jay presented on the establishment of a decision support system for land owners in Botswana. His article looked at regional differences in the success of land management programs and discussed strategies for improving these programs.

Clinton with his presentation on social and environmental variability.

Jay presenting on the implementation of decision support systems for land managers in Botswana.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

After Modisa, we drove into Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which is the second largest game reserve in the world (52,800 square kilometers). The reserve is a true wild African savanna. We saw bat-eared foxes, honey badgers, jackals, giraffes, aardwolves, several cheetahs, and lots of antelopes. We were particularly lucky to watch three cheetahs hunt a herd of springbok and thereafter a herd of gemsbok.

Entering CKGR at one of the main entrances.

 Sunrise our first morning in CKGR.

Deception Valley.

Everyone using their binoculars to get a closer look of the three cheetahs.

 One of the three cheetahs.

Driving through Deception Valley.

Student Presentation (Leigh)

During our stay at Modisa Conservation Project, Leigh presented on the effects of veterinary fences on the wildlife of Botswana. These fences were erected to protect valuable grazing land for cattle ranching in Botswana from diseases spread by wildlife. Leigh explained the economic value of Botswana cattle export while discussing the impact of the fences on wildlife migrations.

Leigh presenting on the veterinary fences of Botswana.

Modisa Conservation Project

We left our camp at Thakadu on a cold morning last Saturday and drove to Modisa Conservation Project. Val and Mikkel started Modisa in 2010 on a 10,000 hectare wildlife farm located next to Central Kalahari Game Reserve. They take care of "problem" predators, including lions, leopards, and African wild dogs, which have been captured due to human-wildlife conflicts. Val also raised a lioness, called Sirga, by hand after she was abandoned by her mother. Sirga is now two and a half years old. Val and Mikkel establised Modisa in order to raise awareness about conservation and human-wildlife conflicts though a volunteer program in the African savanna.

Driving towards Modisa.

Leaving the paved road behind as we continue on dirt tracks until we got back to Maun yesterday.

Watching and taking photos as the lions get fed.

Val explaining how to behave while we watch him walk with Sirga.

Sirga excited to go for a walk, giving Val a hug.

Sirga and Val playing with melons and climbing a tree.

Leaving for Safari!

Tomorrow we are leaving our camp at Thakadu and heading out on safari for the next 12 days. We will not have cell phone coverage during this time (except for a refueling day in Maun on the 27th of June). We will, however, continue to turn our satellite phone on between 7-8 PM (Botswana time). This phone is still for emergencies only.

The satellite phone number: 00881631627587

Everyone is excited for the days to come as we explore Modisa Conservation Project, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and Moremi Game Reserve. We will post photos and details once back in town.

Aerial photo of our camp at Thakadu during a campfire lecture.

Student Presentations (Will and Sam)

Yesterday, Will spoke to the class about Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), an initiative which places local communities in charge of the management of natural resources. Due to differing views of how certain resources should be managed, the success of these initiatives has been brought into question in recent years.

Sam presented today on historical land tenure change in southern African savannas. His article examined the influences of past colonial regimes in Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa on environmental and social factors.

Will stands next to his creative presentation on Community Based Natural Resource Management.

Sam teaches the class about land tenure change in southern Africa.

San Bushman Walk

Yesterday evening we experienced a display from locals of the San Bushmen traditions and culture, including the medicinal uses of vegetation, fire making, and song and dance.

San Bushmen in traditional clothing explain the use of a young Catophractes alexandri, used for the rejuvenation of tired joints.

Jake tastes the bitter shrub.

Paige has a go at traditional fire making.

Clinton goes next.

Later that night we were invited to join around the fire and experience the song and dance of the San Bushmen. Here is Ben joining the circle.

Olivia dancing next to one of the Bushmen.

The whole group joins in.

Student Introductions (8/8)

Lastly, Melissa and Bianca will introduce themselves and express thanks to those who helped fund and support their experience here in Botswana.

Dumelang! Ke nna Melissa. I am double majoring in Geography and Russian, with a minor in Geology. My concentration is GIS, but I’m also very interested in environmental geography, especially the topic of climate change. I decided to study abroad in Africa because it’s a region I’ve always wanted to go to, and the classes offered match my interests. The main thing I wanted to get out of this trip is actual experience doing fieldwork and a better understanding of all it entails. I want to thank the College of Liberal Arts, my grandparents and my mother for the support to make this trip possible.

Dumelang. My name is Bianca Sicich, but I am known better around the camp as Bianca “The Bush Baby,” player for the series-leading bushball team, the Kalahari Killers. When I’m not travelling, I study Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Next semester will be my second at the University as a transfer student. I’m a native Austinite, and although I occasionally get a yearning for Torchy’s Tacos or Juiceland, I do love it here in Ghanzi. Biology is one of my major interests, so it has been wonderful to get hands-on field experience and learn about the vegetation, wildlife, people, and culture of the Kalahari and Botswana in general. I plan to continue travelling abroad throughout my life to familiarize myself with as many cultures as possible. This is very important to me. I thank my parents for their support of this trip. There is no way I could have reached this point in my education, moral consciousness, or life without their help. I also thank my grandma Sicich for helping out with funds, and all my friends in Austin and beyond for being excited for me. This is a baby step into the life I long to lead!!

Student Presentation (Ben)

Ben presented today on the influences of differing land use regimes on the abundance of livestock and wildlife in Southwestern Botswana. His article examined vegetation dynamics in response to four land management areas, including ranches, communal grazing areas, wildlife management areas, and national parks. 

Ben and his map of Southwestern Botswana land use areas.

Student Introductions (7/8)

Olivia and Aubrey of tent "Keeping up with the Kudus" will now give their student introductions and give thanks to those that made their trip possible!

Dumelang! Lenna lame ke Olivia Arena! I am a Plan II, Urban Studies, and International Relations triple major with a concentration in environmental studies and Latin America. I’ve always wanted to travel to Africa and this was a phenomenal opportunity to get technical experience in the field. Interested in sustainable and equitable urban planning and development, I was excited to learn about the evolving relationship between communities, resources, and climate change in a savanna ecosystem. International relations challenges learners to see cities as interconnected, and the UT Botswana trip offered me the opportunity to see a completely new continent, natural environment, and way of life. This wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the Plan II Honors Program, COLA Scholarship, and of course the ever-wary Arena familia. Besos de Botswana. 

Hi, my name is Aubrey LeBlanc. I’m a senior International Relations major, on the culture, media, and the arts track. I also have a minor in African Studies. My decision to come to Africa came from wanting a completely unique experience, and I thought Sub-Saharan Africa could provide me with that. The classes we’re taking, Climate Change and Environmental-Cultural Dynamics, are applicable problems we face today and will hopefully help me find solutions once I graduate. My dream is to start my own sustainable food business and be able to provide organic, sustainably-sourced food on a national and eventually global scale. I would like to thank my parents for providing me with this opportunity to learn about a completely different culture as well as gain hands on experience within the field. I hope to use this knowledge when starting my own sustainable business and wouldn’t be here without my parents’ support.

Student Introductions (6/8)

Continuing our student introductions we will now have Geoff and Jay, who have named their tent "The Edge Riders," introduce themselves and give thanks to those that helped support their trip to Botswana!

Hi everyone! I’m Geoff Jackson. I am a senior Geography and History double major. It’s super exciting to be out in Botswana, getting my hands dirty and taking part in fieldwork. I would like to thank Thoralf, Thomas, Dan, and the Geography Department for putting together this wonderful opportunity for me to learn more about ecosystems and how they interact. I would especially like to thank my parents for helping me achieve this. It would not have been possible without them. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip has in store.

My name is Jay Arredondo and I am a Geography major following the Sustainability track in the College of Liberal Arts. As of the fall semester of 2014, I will be a Junior at UT. I wanted to attend this study abroad program because it involved hands on fieldwork that will benefit me in the future. I will be able to further expand my knowledge in the effects of climate change in the Kalahari Desert, and therefore establish a foundation in research methods I can use to portray the changes that may be occurring in the United States. I would like to thank the College of Liberal Arts for providing me with a $500 scholarship to attend this program and I would also like to thank John and Irene Canedo, Amy Kramer, Richard Arredondo, Jimmy and Dolores Gonzales, Joe Canedo, Sylvia and Rudy Valdez, Lisa and James, Roberto Gonzales, Christina Zambrano, my parents, and the rest of my family for funding my trip here to Botswana.

Student Presentation (Paige)

Paige presented today on the impacts of human sprawl in wilderness buffer zones, regions that are established in the surrounding areas of national parks and game reserves. Her article focused on the Wildlife Management Areas associated with the Moremi Game Reserve, located in the Okavango Delta of Northern Botswana. An overall increase in population for this region has led to conflicts over resources between those who use this land as a source of livelihood, primarily the local communities and tourism companies.

Paige posing next to her map of the Moremi Game Reserve and its surrounding Wildlife Management Areas.

Ghanzi District AIDS Commission Visit

Yesterday we visited the office of the Ghanzi District AIDS Commission, an organization concerned with tackling issues associated with HIV/AIDS. Botswana has the second highest HIV infection rate world wide and the issue is on the forefront of governmental efforts. Significant amounts of manpower and other resources are spent on controlling the problem. Activities range from the prevention of mother to child transmission, the free distribution of ARV drugs, education of the general public, fighting stigmatism and many others.

The Botswana government has asked the United States to assist with its fight against HIV. The Peace Corps currently has around 250 staff members on the ground assisting in various capacities. The students were able to gain firsthand insight into the Peace Corps program through Peggy Flynn, a Peace Corps volunteer working with the Ghanzi District AIDS Commission.

Murumo lectures on the factors effecting HIV/AIDS infection rates within Botswana.

Keybonamora Marumo (ADAC-Assisstant District AIDS Coordinator), Peggy Flynn (Peace Corps volunteer), and Jay.

Student Presentations (Geoff and Preston)

Over the past several days, we've had two student presentations covering the distribution of vegetation within Botswana. On Saturday, Geoff presented on the various trends of woody vegetation along a precipitation gradient which cuts through Botswana northward into Zambia. This gradient, known as the Kalahari transect, provides researchers with an open-air laboratory, allowing them to predict how vegetation will respond to expected climatic changes.

Today, Preston spoke about observed changes in woody cover, soil type, and species assemblages along the Kalahari transect within Botswana. His article observed a positive relationship between the amount of precipitation within a region and the amount of vegetation. This relationship was however influenced by multiple factors, such as the local climate, geology, and land management regime.

 Geoff showing off his map of Southern Africa, with precipitation levels and associated vegetation.

Preston pointing out the research sites used in his article.

Student Presentation (Olivia)

This afternoon, Olivia presented on difficult issues involving the San culture (an indigenous minority group in Botswana), the preservation of cultural identity, land rights and nature conservation. Her article focused on multiple views and standpoints taken by the San, the Botswana government, non-governmental organizations, international human rights groups as well as economic interests and societal development. Her presentation followed yesterday's trip to the San cultural center in D'kar.

Teaching the class about the San's history in Botswana. 

Olivia proudly showing off her timeline of the San.

Analysis in Camp

Today we spent the first part of the day in camp analyzing soil and doing dendrochronology. We dug up a cubic square meters of soil in order to determine the below-ground biomass of one of our plots. We were particularly interested in the amount of roots present. We took the soil back to camp and used a sieve to separate the soil from the roots. We then weighed the below-ground biomass present. We will repeat this method for several of our plots. We also cut a tree trunk into disc in order to determine the age of the tree by sanding and counting tree rings. We determined the tree to be roughly 44 years old.

Geoff sieving soil.

Clinton sanding his tree disc.

Paige with her finished tree disc.

Working in camp. Our dining room tent, support truck / kitchen (in the back), and everyone sitting around our campfire working.