All roads lead to... Maun.

   Our second safari of the trip is over and so many memories were made. We arrived back in Maun on Thursday after spending four nights in Khwai. We started off our safari with a bang and on our first morning drive we were able to see a pack of African wild dogs feasting on the remains of an impala kill. On the very first night in Khwai, we had two elephants walk right through our camp while we were all sitting around the campfire. The elephants were plentiful and often walked right in front of our vehicles. We lost a juice box and a salad dressing to the monkeys that inhabited the trees surrounding our camp, but for the most part, they were welcome entertainment. Our nights were filled with noises from the hippos grunting, lions roaring, monkeys screaming, birds screeching, and hyenas howling. The game cameras we had set up in camp were able to confirm that hyenas were strolling through our camp during the night. Some other highlights of the trip were seeing a lioness, a leopard (for some of us, two!), and having a pack of wild dogs swarm around our cars, and then watching them (this time unsuccessfully) hunt an impala. This trip was also a bonanza for our lovingly deemed “Bird Nerds” of the group, who spent the trip spotting and identifying a variety of birds in the area.

   Now we are getting settled back in Maun, finishing up presentations and lectures. Last night, we set up a projector in the main tent and had a movie night. Madagascar was the movie of choice featuring all of our friends we had just seen on safari.

   This morning, we had the pleasure of meeting Milton, a man from Zimbabwe that now lives in Botswana, and makes a living selling his bead artwork and other handmade crafts. Milton patiently taught us how to string the beads on the wire and then how to wrap them into simple flowers and keychains. Our work was nothing compared to the impressive pieces he has created, but they were made with love and a good bit of laughter. 

Sitting in a circle with Milton learning how to bead.

One of the friends we made while in Safari.

Splish-splash, I was taking a bath.

Wild dogs being wild.

The all seeing eye.

Snuggled up for movie night. 

Meet the researcher (student)!

Hi, my name is Shawn Evenson I’m a senor at the University of Texas at Austin. Fall of 2018 I’ll graduate with a degree in geography with a minor in geology. I would like to thank the COLA Bernard and Audre Rapoport Endowment for helping found my study abroad in Botswana. Triumph motorcycles should be mentioned as I had to sell mine to finance the rest of the trip. With my last semester at UT approaching, I’m looking forward to spending the summer with the bright minds of my classmates and the instruction of Dr Meyer. This will be a great opportunity to get boots-on-the -ground research that will help distinguish my resume and deepen my understanding of vegetation and climate.

Meet the researcher (student)!

   Hello all! The name’s Kelsey. I am a rising junior studying Environmental Science with a focus in Geography. I am also minoring in Sociology and earning a certificate through my honors program, Polymathic Scholars. After college, I hope to either join the Peace Corps for a few years, or go to grad school. Some things you should know about me are that I love cats (sorry, they’re better than dogs), my favorite biome is the temperate rainforest (it has the best weather—cold and rainy), I want to live in a tiny house, and I am an introvert. I am very excited for this trip. I love to travel and learn about new cultures, so studying abroad was always something I wanted to do. Since I have never before been to Africa, this program seems like a unique experience that I could not pass on. I can’t wait for the safaris that we will be going on and all the photos I am going to take. I would like to thank my parents, Carrie and Dewey, for supporting me and allowing me to come on this trip. I know that they were a bit hesitant at first with me travelling to Africa. I also wanted to say ‘happy graduation!’ to my little brother, Garrett. I am sorry I had to miss your graduation, but I am so proud of you. I know that my older sisters would not like it if I did not mention them, so here it is: Lindsay and Hannah, you’re really cool sisters. Also, tell Turbo and Teddy I say ‘hi’ and give them a pet for me. I love all of you guys and I’ll see you in six weeks. Peace (*peace emoji*).

Meet the researcher (student)!

Hi! I am Virginia Preiss, a senior Sustainability Studies major and also a 4^th year Track and Field athlete. I am very excited to explore Botswana and analyze the impact climate change is having on the ecosystems and local people. I am most looking forward to learning about the culture and history of the San People and how they have adapted to this changing land and the evolution of their livelihoods. I would like to thank Dr. Rapoport for funding generations of young scholars finding different ways to change the world. I would also like to thank my loving church and family and friends who graciously contributed to making this dream a reality. My final thanks go to my parents for doing all they can to make this wonderful experience happen for me and for always supporting my endeavours no matter how far away they take me. Cheers to Botswana!