Day-in-the-Life: South Africa Semester

For the OTS African Ecology and Conservation program in South Africa, one of the areas we get to stay at is the Nylsvley Nature Reserve. It is a spacious collection of buildings, three of which the students can use, which include a dormitory, dining hall, and lecture hall.

We are in the middle of a savanna-based environment, where we can go on runs and game drives further into the reserve to spot wildlife. There are no dangerous predators at Nylsvley, so we are able to have far more freedom than we will at some of the other locations we will be visiting.

The average day at Nylsvley begins at 7 am, when everyone meets to have breakfast. We then typically have lecture from 8 am-12:30 pm on ecology, conservation, statistics, or the history and culture of South Africa. We then have a lunch break for an hour, and then lecture resumes until typically around 4:30 pm. After lecture, we then have some free time before dinner, and this is usually when we can go running or do some other form of exercise, nap, or go on a game drive, which is my favorite. Afterwards, we have dinner together, and wrap up the evening with a group campfire, lecture, or movie.

This experience has already opened my eyes to many new people, cultures, places and lifestyles, and I have learned a lot about what it will take to become a field scientist. I cannot wait to learn, see, and experience more here in beautiful South Africa!