Academic News
The Tanzanian portion of the East African program is now in its third week and the enthusiasm of the students shows no signs of slowing.  We’ve packed in an amazing array of experiences already and our expedition to the Serengeti is still a couple of weeks away.

We’ve already explored two of Tanzania’s most beautiful national parks.  As I write this, we’re still resting up from a day-long trip to Tarangire National Park for one of several field exercises required for wildlife management and wildlife ecology. During the first week, we visited nearby Lake Manyara National Park.  Lake Manyara provides an outstanding location for students to learn about wildlife and their habitats; the diverse mosaic of ecosystems (grassland, forest, open woodland, and lakeshore) allows students to see first-hand the ecological principles we discuss in class. 

There’s something very special about this group of students. They arrived as strangers and have already formed bonds that will likely last a lifetime. Their level of camaraderie is palpable; whether in class exercises, camp chores, or recreational sports, their cooperation and teamwork shine through. Each student seems to tackle every event with a mix of energy and eagerness to learn, topped off with healthy senses of both adventure and humor.

Mid-way during the semester, these students will switch places with their counterparts in the Kenyan program, and the faculty and staff have already lamented the thought of relinquishing this cohort at mid-semester. However, we are confident that the staff in Kenya will take good care of them and send us an equally enthusiastic group for the second phase of our semester!
- Dr. Janette Wallis, Temporary Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology

Student Reflections
As I sat amidst a massive pile of clothing and gear spread across my living room floor, two days before venturing off to Tanzania and Kenya for three and a half months, I thought I had a good idea of what to expect from my study abroad experience through SFS. Laying in my tent now, on the outskirts of Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, reflecting on the last week or so of my adventure, I am simply overwhelmed by everything around me. There is the amazing warmth and generosity of the people I have met, the opportunity to be taught by professors who are undertaking incredible research projects relevant to the issues of this area, and the chance to stand in a safari truck just feet away from a group of elephants and have this experience actually count towards college credit.

I am so incredibly excited at the thought of every opportunity we have this semester to experience the issues and policies of Kenya and Tanzania first hand, be it our home stay with the Maasai, our camping excursion in Serengeti National Park, our visit to Ngorongoro Crater (one of the eight wonders of the world), or so many of the unexpected opportunities to be enriched by the local culture and traditions. I guess I thought I knew what I was getting myself into before I left for Africa, but what I have found so far is so much more than anything I could have ever expected. I look forward to thirteen more weeks of truly once in a lifetime experiences.
- Molly DuVall, Moravian College

This trip has been everything I was hoping for, times one hundred. In my head, I had a totally different image of what Africa would look like.  Originally, I imagined miles of dusty land with an occasional tree. When we first stepped foot into Tanzania, I was shocked. It’s absolutely gorgeous here, and green everywhere! If I’m not surrounded by trees and shrubs, there is at least grass under my feet. Every time I turn, it seems like I’m on a different cliff overlooking a mountain that’s backed by a bright blue sky. At night when I look up, millions of stars shine brighter than I’ve ever seen.

By far my favorite experience that I have had so far in Tanzania was the first time I saw African elephants. It was such an awesome moment, knowing that I was watching my favorite animal in their natural habitat! On our way back to camp, it finally hit all of us that we were in Africa, doing something that we would never forget.

I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to study abroad with SFS in Tanzania.  Thankfully I’m only a week in- I can’t wait for more!
- Katie Henley, Muhlenberg College

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