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ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES
DUKE UNIVERSITY
SEMESTER IN SOUTH AFRICA
AFRICAN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE ORGANIZATION FOR TROPICAL STUDIES?
The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is a nonprofit consortium of more than 55
universities and research institutions in the United States, South Africa, Costa Rica, Peru,
Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Founded in 1963, OTS’s mission is to provide leadership in
education, research, and the responsible use of natural resources. To this end, field courses for
undergraduates, graduates, and professionals are offered in the pure and applied areas of the
natural sciences in South Africa, Costa Rica, Peru, and the Andes. In addition, OTS operates
three research stations in varied ecosystems in Costa Rica. OTS also coordinates and facilitates
research, provides environmental education programs, and works with local agencies on issues of
conservation, natural resource management, and land use practices.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OTS AND DUKE UNIVERSITY?
The OTS / Duke Undergraduate study abroad program has been developed jointly by OTS and
the Duke Global Education Office. All OTS undergraduate course offerings are monitored by
the Department of Biology, the Nicholas School of the Environment, and the appropriate history
and language departments for each undergraduate program at Duke University. Through close
cooperation with Duke University, OTS has been able to apply its long history of excellence in
graduate education to create a truly exciting and rigorous program for undergraduate students
interested in field ecology and conservation.
HOW CAN THE OTS / DUKE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO MY
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
OTS is internationally known as the premier organization for training in field biology and many
of the best known field scientists today received some part of their training with OTS. The OTS
/ Duke partnership offers a comprehensive introduction to field biology and conservation policy
through field trips and exercises in a tremendous diversity of habitats. The core of the semester
program is the completion of two independent field projects. You will identify questions and
then design and perform field experiments to test your hypotheses. Few experiences will give
you better insight to the complexity, challenge, and excitement of applying the scientific process
to the understanding of real ecosystems and their components.
In addition to a thorough introduction to hypothesis-based science, OTS students also have the
opportunity to gain direct exposure to pressing modern day problems in resource management
and conservation. South African environmental legislation is ground breaking and setting new
trends internationally. You will be exposed to many issues, problems and novel solutions that
face both developed and developing nations. Students will have the opportunity to see the
practical and ethical implications of field research and conservation/resource management. You
will also have the chance to gain insight into contemporary South Africa culture both by sharing
all aspects of the course experience with South African undergraduate students and also through
various cultural activities and excursions.
With its well-rounded introduction to the scientific process as well as conservation policy and
development, the OTS / Duke semester program in South Africa provides an appropriate
springboard to further professional development. Whatever your final professional destination,
the OTS / Duke study abroad experience is bound to have a lasting impact on the way you see
the interplay among issues in ecology, conservation, and culture in the developing world.
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE COURSES AND ACCREDITATION?
Duke University recognizes 4 course hours, or 1 course credit, for each of the following courses:
South African Ecosystems and Diversity
Field Research in Savanna Ecology
Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in South Africa
History and Culture of South Africa
For the semester program, students enroll in a total of 4 courses, for 16 credit hours. At the
discretion of the home institution, these credits may be transferred and used in fulfillment of the
requirements for the Bachelor’s degree.
Check the OTS website for detailed course syllabi.
IS THERE A LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR THIS PROGRAM?
No, all coursework is in English. However, it is important to note that there are eleven official
languages in South Africa. In the History and Culture course, students examine linguistic
diversity and its effects on the country’s history and politics.
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE FIELD WORK ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM?
The program emphasizes lots of “hand-on” experiences. In fact, you will head directly to a
nature reserve upon arrival in South Africa. The great thing about this program is that OTS is
partnered with Kruger National Park, a vast expanse of two million hectares straddling the
Tropic of Capricorn, host to nearly a million visitors a year, and home to thousands of large
game animals. Students will spend the majority of the semester in the park .We aim to spend the
majority of our time in the field in order to provide you with as much in-field experience as
possible.
THE PROGRAMS ARE MOBILE? WE MOVE AROUND FROM SITE TO SITE?
The OTS program in South Africa is very mobile. Although the exact travel plan varies from
semester to semester, the proposed itinerary includes several stays at rest camps of
approximately 2-3 weeks with travel days and short trips in between the longer stays. Travel
within the Park is accomplished with students traveling in open game drive vehicles and with
course gear and student luggage packed in minivans and pick-up trucks. Major roads within the
Park are paved, patrolled, and in excellent condition with rest stops for snack and bathroom
breaks every hour or two of driving.
The following is a description some of the major sites you’ll be visiting:
Skukuza
Situated in the southernmost region of the park, Skukuza is the largest camp and
houses the Park’s headquarters. The Sabie River flows by Skukuza Camp, and
the region is excellent for viewing many species of birds and mammals.
HaMakuya
Located just outside the Kruger Park in the north of the country, HaMakuya is
the village where you will immerse yourself in South African rural culture. Here
you will participate in rural homestays as well as get involved in some research
on natural resource management.
Potberg
We stay in spacious group accommodation close to De Hoop Nature reserve for
the Cape Leg of the journey. Here we’re take a break from savannas and spend
time in the highly diverse Fynbos, whilst spending as much time as possible at
the beach.
More information is available about each of these sites visit the following websites:
www.krugerpark.co.za, http://www.tshulutrust.org/, http://www.capenature.org.za/)
WHAT ARE THE REST CAMPS LIKE? DO THEY HAVE ELECTRICITY? IS THERE
RUNNING WATER?
Although the camps vary in their size and degree of development, they all have electricity and
running water. Water in all indoor facilities is potable. In Skukuza, students sleep in large
dorms and eat cafeteria-style in a common dining room. Skukuza is the Park headquarters and
has a bank, a post office, a clinic, a library, a public auditorium, an extensive grocery store and
souvenir shop, and several restaurants. There are also swimming pools in the rest camp. In other
rest camps, students will stay in small cottages/safari tents or bungalows with 2-4 students per
room. Classes and lectures are held in rest camp facilities. Occasionally, you may visit more
remote sites for short periods, and here you might stay in buildings lacking electricity. At all of
our sites, access to e-mail is limited and sometimes non-existent. However, telephone access is
available at most sites through public phones that require phone cards to operate. Cards can be
bought on site. Coin-operated laundry facilities are located in the major sites within Kruger
Park.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO LIVE AND STUDY IN A NATIONAL PARK? WHO ELSE WILL BE
THERE?
Kruger’s rest camps vary greatly in overall research and tourism activity but at each of them you
will have the opportunity to meet senior researchers or graduate students conducting dissertation
research.
The rest camps provide direct access to exciting natural environments, but they are by definition
isolated from surrounding communities. While you are staying at the rest camps, you will have
direct contact with South Africans who are your fellow students, naturalists, resource people, and
support staff. Contact with South Africans from surrounding communities will be mostly
through structured workshops and projects in locations such as the Venda community in
HaMakuya. You will also, of course, be meeting people in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Living at a rest camp is definitely different from living in a college dormitory, and you will have
less privacy and personal space than you are used to. In addition, OTS students are expected to
conform to camp rules on noise and conduct so as not to interfere with tourists and the ongoing
work of other residents and staff. Finally, for your own safety, you will generally not be allowed
to leave rest camps unless you are with the group and/or accompanied by a game guard. But if
you are flexible and adventurous, you will find that few experiences match watching a pack of
wild dogs hunting, an elephant cooling itself in the mud, or a yellow-billed hornbill in flight.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE? DO WE HAVE LECTURES IN ADDITION TO THE
FIELD WORK?
A typical field based weekday might go something like this:
7.00 am
8.00 – 12.00
12.00
1.00 – 4.00
4.00 – 6.30
6.30
7.30 – 8.30
Breakfast
Field exercise (e.g. orientation walk, game drive, plant/animal ID,
data collection)
Lunch in the field
Further field work
Rest/personal time
Supper
Occasionally a lecture/night drive/student presentation
There are days, however, where we will need to give our lectures. We will try to give these in the
field as much as possible, but if we have a day of lectures e.g. when the Kruger Park staff lecture
us on their various fields of expertise, we will try to schedule some down-time or at least some
time in the field for the same day to ensure that you don’t only see the inside of the classroom.
WHAT WILL THE FOOD BE LIKE?
Three meals per day are provided, with vegetarian options at all meals, and healthy snacks will
be available between meals (fruit juice, biscuits, fresh fruit). Snacks such as candy, Cokes, ice
cream, and potato chips can be purchased at the shops in the Park but will not be provided by the
program.
Students will be asked to indicate any other dietary restrictions on the application forms for the
program.
WILL THERE BE ANY FREE DAYS?
No day with OTS / Duke in South Africa is really totally free. Even if we have no formal
activities scheduled, there is always something to do, whether it is hiking to a look-out point to
watch the sunset, going for a game drive, getting a head start on your independent project, or
catching up on reading and letter writing. The semester program in South Africa will generally
have one day with no scheduled activities for every six days. Also, there should be time to rest
during the visit to Cape Town. We recognize the need for students to relax and gather their
thoughts, and we encourage students to make sure that they take time out regularly. If you keep
up with your work during the week, there should be time to relax a bit over the weekend.
A four day mid-term break has also been scheduled for the middle of the program
WILL I NEED MY OWN MONEY? WHAT WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR? HOW CAN I
GET MONEY?
Each student will need some spending money to cover the costs of snacks, postcards, souvenirs,
laundry and tips for support staff. If special excursions are planned outside of the program (for
example, an optional one-day hike in a nature reserve outside of Kruger that requires an entrance
fee), students may be asked to cover such costs.
ATM machines are available in all the major Kruger sites and in most towns throughout South
Africa. The daily limit is usually R1,000 (approximately $140). The current exchange rate is
about R8 to the dollar, but this rate fluctuates.
Students find the two biggest surprise expenses on the course to be mid-term break and leaving
tips for cleaning staff at our accommodations. Please see the orientation packet for more
information on these costs.
CAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS VISIT ME DURING THE PROGRAM?
It will be best if you plan to have family and friends visit either before or after the program.
South Africa is currently a major tourist destination and there are many opportunities for travel
and sight-seeing within South Africa and neighboring countries. We would urge you to contact a
knowledgeable travel agent in the U.S. to plan any special expeditions before or after the
semester.
ARE THERE TEXTBOOKS FOR THE PROGRAM?
Yes, there are required text books. Generally each course has at least one formal text associated
with it. However, the bulk of your reading will consist of original research and review articles
and chapters from books in our library. Two books that you should plan on bringing with you to
South Africa are the following:
Fowler, J., L. Cohen, and P. Jarvis. 1998. Practical Statistics for Field Biology. New York:
John Wiley & Sons. Available from Amazon.com $37.28 (New) or $24.97 (Used)
DuToit, J. Rogers K and Biggs H 2003. The Kruger Experience: Ecology and Management of
Savanna Heterogeneity. Island Press. Available from Amazon.com for $33.60
Please contact us if you have any trouble finding these books.
Other books that you will use are listed below. You do not need to buy your own copy of these
books as several copies will be available for general use.
Cowling, R.M. Richardson, D.M., & Pierce, S.M. 1997 Vegetation of Southern Africa.
Cambridge Univ. Press.
Carruthers, Jane. 1995. Kruger National Park: A Social and Political History. International
Specialized Book Service.
Dennis, N.J., and R.J. Scholes. 1995. The Kruger National Park: Wonders of an African Eden.
London: New Holland Publishers.
Krebs, C.J. 1999. Ecological Methodology. Second Edition. Menlo Park, CA USA: Addison,
Wesley, Longman, Inc.
Scholes, R.J., and B.H. Walker. 1993. An African Savanna: Synthesis of the Nylsvley Study.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Van Dyke, F. 2010. Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications. 2nd Edition. Springer.
WHAT WILL GRADES BE BASED ON?
Although the details of grading vary somewhat from course to course and semester to semester,
your grades will generally be based on written assignments, oral presentations, exams, and
participation. Class participation is based on positive contributions to discussions and lectures,
ability to work well with your fellow students, maintenance of field equipment, and
demonstration of academic initiative and enthusiasm in the field as well as in the classroom.
Grades for independent projects are based on field effort, analysis of data, and the written and
oral presentations for proposals and final reports.
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT PROJECTS?
As part of the course, you will design, implement, analyze, and make an oral presentation of two
independent projects (IPs). These require you to collaborate with other students in the
completion of the IP. IPs are great opportunities to be imaginative and to develop skills in
experimental design, data analysis, and presentation of scientific results. This is a memorable
experience that could change the way you see ecology and nature, particularly in the context of
the African savanna. Furthermore, students often work on subject matter that contributes to
furthering Kruger National Parks scientific and management goals, in so doing making a
meaningful contribution to conservation and management.
Independent projects must test a valid, justifiable, and interesting hypothesis. You will have
from three to seven days to complete each IP. Whether you choose to test your hypothesis
through manipulative or observational work will depend on the constraints of time and the
biological system with which you choose to work.
WHO WILL MY INSTRUCTORS BE?
The OTS Undergraduate Program prides itself on bringing together a highly diverse and dynamic
group of resident and visiting faculty. Few other field study programs give undergraduate
students such open access to such a broad array of academic and applied expertise.
The Director of the South Africa program is Dr. Laurence Kruger. Laurence is a botanist with an
interest in plant functional ecology and plant animal interactions. He will coordinate the work of
several permanent teaching staff, along with three other South African resident professors.
Visiting faculty members will include internationally-known professors at South African
institutions such as the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, University of
South Africa (UNISA) and the University of Natal. In addition, members of the scientific staff in
Kruger Park will guide students in research projects at the Kruger sites. We also have a number
of visiting faculty that deal exclusively with the History and Culture aspects of the course.
WHAT IS THE STUDENT:FACULTY RATIO IN THE OTS / DUKE COURSES?
The student to resident faculty ratio on the South Africa Program is approximately 8:1. Add to
this the visiting faculty and guest lecturers, and you will have a tremendous opportunity to
interact and establish mentoring relationships with a wide range of professionals from the fields
of biology, ecology, rural development, conservation management, history, and African culture.
HOW SAFE IS SOUTH AFRICA?
Upon arrival, students receive a full orientation from the OTS faculty regarding important
measures they should take to insure their safety while in the country. Moreover, Kruger National
Park has been chosen not only for the educational resources offered, but also for its safety. In
addition to the regular contact with OTS staff and faculty, all rest camps have guards on duty 24hours a day.
Unfortunately there is violent crime in South Africa. In Johannesburg and Cape Town, you will
be exposed to large urban environments with all the attendant crime that exists in such cities.
We are therefore keeping to a minimum the amount of time we spend in the major cities. Our
hope is that you will always avoid situations that make you an easy target for crime by closely
adhering to the safety guidelines set by the program and discussed during orientation.
Pickpockets and petty theft are common, especially outside of the Park. As a foreigner, you may
be a target for this type of activity and should always take common sense measures to protect
yourself and your belongings. We will have a bank safe in which to keep your passports, plane
tickets, and extra cash. It will be your responsibility to keep track of your cameras, binoculars,
and other valuables in daily use.
For updated information on travel and safety in South Africa, OTS encourages prospective
students and their parents to visit the State Department web site at
http://travel.state.gov/safrica.html
WHAT ABOUT TERRORISM? IS SOUTH AFRICA A SAFE PLACE FOR U.S. CITIZENS
ABROAD? IS THERE ANY ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT?
South Africa currently has positive diplomatic relations with the United States. The U.S.
Embassy in South Africa provides a variety of services for U.S. citizens living, working, and
studying in the country. In cooperation with recommendations from the U.S. State Department
and the Duke Global Education Office, OTS has implemented a series of measures to insure the
safety of all its students in the event of a national or international emergency. Before arrival in
South Africa, all OTS students are registered at the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg. The
process permits the U.S. Embassy to contact OTS students and staff directly in the case of an
emergency. In addition, OTS has contingency plans for evacuation from all its major field sites.
These plans designate procedures for evacuation of students and faculty to safe sites in the event
of an emergency or a health crisis.
The State Department web site maintains up-to-date, accurate information for all U.S. Citizens
traveling abroad, including those going to South Africa, at http://travel.state.gov. OTS strongly
encourages you to visit this site if you have any questions or concerns about international travel
during your semester abroad.
You will find that the majority of South Africans are enthusiastically receptive and welcoming
toward U.S. students, travelers, and foreign residents. They are proud of their country and its
natural wonders and will be eager for students to have positive experiences throughout their stay.
They also recognize the value of promoting international programs that bring in foreign currency
and provide much-needed jobs for South Africans.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL ADVICE FOR WOMEN TRAVELERS?
More serious threats for women travelers do exist in South Africa. Although foreigners are not
necessarily targeted, there have been sexual assaults directed at women travelers. To ensure your
personal safety as a woman, we advise that you travel in groups, preferably of mixed gender, and
that you do not go out alone at night.
If you as a woman at any time feel uncomfortable about a particular person or situation while
you are in South Africa, please bring this to the immediate attention of a member of the OTS
staff. Duke University and OTS have strong policies against sexual harassment, and all
complaints are handled in a serious and confidential manner.
WHAT ABOUT MINORITY TRAVELERS? ARE PEOPLE HARASSED ON THE BASIS OF
RACE OF ETHNIC ORIGIN IN SOUTH AFRICA?
South Africa has a power hierarchy established along the lines of class and race that has deep
roots in its apartheid history. In the past, the top-ranks of this hierarchy were occupied mostly by
white males and only white adults had the vote. People of African, Asian, and mixed descent, as
well as white women, have been variously excluded from participation in political processes and
economic growth. This institutionalized situation, although not legally the current system, can
still be reflected on the streets of South Africa. This dynamic may be little different from the
challenges faced in the United States, but can be surprising and distressing for visitors to the
country.
The good news is that power divisions between class, race, and gender have improved
dramatically in the last 20 years since the dismantling of apartheid. Also, South Africa prides
itself on having one of the most progressive state constitutions in the world, and many sectors in
South African society are working hard to eliminate traditions of racism and sexism. People of
colour, as well as white women, are breaking the proverbial “glass ceiling” and have assumed
important roles in business, politics, and industry. South Africans, on the whole, rejoice in their
ethic and cultural diversity and do not try to homogenize society as do many western first world
societies. Nonetheless, aspects of racism and racial stereotyping persist in South African society,
and it is likely that you will confront these issues during your study abroad experience.
At OTS, we encourage you to be frank and open about your experiences with and perceptions
regarding race during your stay in South Africa. Within OTS, harassment on the basis of race or
gender is strictly forbidden, and should you feel uncomfortable or run into any problems with
any OTS employee, we request that you report this either to the OTS Program Director on site or
to the Vice President for Global Programs, who is based at OTS headquarters in Durham, North
Carolina. Again, please remember that we are deeply committed to making your stay as
enjoyable and productive as possible.
WHAT ABOUT HIV / AIDS? DOES SOUTH AFRICA HAVE A SAFE BLOOD SUPPLY?
The good news is that South Africa does have a safe blood supply, as reported by the South
Africa National Blood Service (SANBS) of the Department of Health. In addition, the U.S.
Consulate here reports that hospital care (including the safety of the blood supply) is particularly
good in the major cities in South Africa and that medical evacuation groups from all over
Southern Africa bring their patients to South Africa. However, the rate of HIV/AIDS infection
from other sources remains high, with the adult prevalence rate report at over 20%. Therefore, it
is extremely important that you take the same precautions to avoid infection that you would in
the United States. If you have questions about HIV/AIDS prevention, visit the website of the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at www.cdc.gov.
HOW ABOUT MALARIA?
Malaria is present in certain areas of South Africa, including Kruger National Park. You will be
strongly encouraged to take a malaria prophylaxis during the program. For more information,
consult with the CDC or visit a travel clinic in your area. There are newly approved malaria
drugs (such as Malarone) that do not seem to have the negative side effects reported for some of
the other standard malaria prophylaxis drugs.
When we are in malaria areas, we will use insect repellent, wear long pants and socks between
dusk and dawn when we are outside, keep all screen doors shut, and take other reasonable
precautions against contact with mosquitoes.
DO I NEED A SOUTH AFRICAN VISA TO GO ON THE PROGRAM?
Yes. While U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel South Africa for short periods as tourists,
you must apply for a Visitor’s Visa to the appropriate South African consulate office in the U.S.
We will send you instructions on how and where to apply for your Visitor’s Visa. You should
apply early and follow the instructions very carefully to ensure that you receive your passport
with the South African Visitor’s Visa stamp in plenty of time before you leave for South Africa.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, contact your regional South African consulate immediately for
direction.
WHAT ABOUT POTENTIAL THREATS FROM ANIMALS? ARE THERE ANY
DANGEROUS ANIMALS I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT WHILE I’M IN THE FIELD?
Students receive a thorough safety orientation at every site. To protect students from wild
animals in Kruger National Park, they will be accompanied by experienced game guards. One of
the most important rules of the program is that students must not walk outside designated areas
in Kruger National Park unless accompanied by a game guard.
WHAT ABOUT MEDICAL CARE?
In the event of a serious illness or injury, excellent medical care is readily available in South
Africa. Kruger National Park also has its own clinics and physicians, as well as large airstrips
near all the major rest camps should medical evacuation be required. Any student requiring
major or minor medical care will be accompanied to the doctor’s office or hospital by an OTS
staff member.
HOW ABOUT FINANCIAL AID AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES?
OTS is committed to providing opportunities in field biology to students from racial and ethnic
groups underrepresented in the discipline. At the same time, limited partial scholarships based
on need are available to all students who are U.S. citizens.
Scholarship applications are included with the general program registration materials.
Please note that payment of fees is the responsibility of the students and his/her home institution.
In previous semesters, most students have been able to apply all or part of their financial aid
packages to the OTS program.
WHAT ABOUT EXTRA COSTS LIKE CAMPING GEAR?
You will not need to spend much (or any) money on camping gear. A complete list of required
and recommended gear and supplies will be provided to students well in advance of their travels.
HOW CAN I TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE PROGRAM?
Please send email messages to the Enrollment Management staff at [email protected] or
contact the communications manager, Colleen Cluett ([email protected]/
[email protected]).We will get back to you with answers to your questions or refer you
to the appropriate source of information.