Orientation Material Fall 2015 - Organization for Tropical Studies
! AFRICAN!ECOLOGY!AND!CONSERVATION! OTS!UNDERGRADUATE!! SEMESTER!ABROAD!PROGRAM! Kruger!Course! Participant!Information!and!Orientation!Packet! Spring!Semester:!AUGUST!to!NOVEMBER!2015! ! This program begins with travel to Johannesburg, South Africa starting on the 22nd of August and arriving on the 23rd of January by 12:00pm. The program concludes on the 29th of November after 6:00pm. Welcome “Isihambe!esithakazelwayo”! ! We!would!like!to!welcome!you!to!the!OTS!program!in!South!Africa.!We!are!confident!that!this!semester!will!be! one!of!the!highlights!of!your!college!career.!You!will!visit!great!places,!see!beautiful!animals!and!plants,!meet! wonderful!people!from!different!cultures,!and!have!lots!of!fun.!Our!group!consists!of!two!classes!of!18! students!each!from!the!United!States!and!South!Africa!and!six!staff!and!faculty!members.!During!the!semester,! invited!faculty!will!also!spend!time!with!the!group,!and!various!experts!will!visit!us!for!lectures!and!field! exercises.!You!will!have!the!opportunity!to!plan,!develop,!present,!and!write!your!own!independent!field! projects!and!participate!in!many!other!academic!and!cultural!activities.!Our!group!will!be!diverse!and!we! expect!that,!with!sensitivity!to!other!people’s!backgrounds!and!perspectives,!you!will!learn!a!tremendous! amount!and!develop!strong!and!lasting!friendships.! ! This!Orientation!Packet!contains!very!important!information!to!help!you!prepare!for!your!semester!in!South! Africa.!You!should!read!it!carefully!and!follow!the!recommendations!and!suggestions!we!provide.!If!you!have! any!questions,!please!contact!the!OTS!South!Africa!communications!manager!Colleen!Cluett! ([email protected])!or!the!course!director!Dr.!Laurence!Kruger!([email protected]).!Also,!feel! free!to!contact!Patty!Kustron!([email protected])!at!the!OTS!North!American!Office!on!the!Duke!University! campus.! ! We!are!extremely!excited!about!having!you!in!our!program!! ! ! ! ! OTS!African!Ecology!and!Conservation!Program!Overview! ! A.##OTS#program#focus#and#design# # The!OTS!program!in!South!Africa!was!launched!in!2004!in!Kruger!National!Park.!!Since!the!beginning,!we!have! focused!on!providing!students!with!a!handsUon!experience!in!field!ecology!culminating!in!independent! research.!!We!have!been!fortunate!to!be!based!at!Kruger!National!Park,!which!not!only!is!one!of!the!premier! wildlife!parks!in!Africa!but!also!has!an!excellent!biodiversity!management!and!planning!system.!!Our!research! projects!are!focused!on!addressing!data!needs!to!help!inform!the!management!issues!identified!by!the!park.!!! This!gives!students!the!opportunity!to!learn!how!to!conduct!field!research!that!has!the!potential!to!inform! critical!wildlife!and!ecosystem!management!decisions.! ! Starting!in!2015,!the!South!Africa!program!will!add!a!second!semester!class,!with!two!classes!running!in! parallel.!Each!of!the!two!classes!numbering!18,!will!visit!the!same!sites,!but!with!a!slightly!different!emphasis.!! The!classes!will!both!start!at!Nylsvley,!the!site!close!to!the!arrival!point!in!Johannesburg,!for!orientation!and! all!the!introductory!work!(introduction!to!South!African!ecosystems,!fieldUbased!biodiversity!assessment,! History!and!Culture!of!South!Africa)!before!the!two!classes!take!off!to!their!destinations!–!one!north!to!Kruger! and!the!other!south!to!the!Cape.!!The!course!material!will!be!similar,!but!the!South!course!will!spend!more! time!in!the!Cape!region!with!a!major!stay!at!several!sites!in!the!Western!Cape,!whilst!the!north!course!will! spend!more!time!in!Mpumalanga!and!Limpopo!Provinces!After!the!midterm!break,!the!classes!will!switch! sites.!!We!are!excited!to!be!able!to!take!students!to!additional!sites!in!the!Cape!to!be!able!to!add!a!new!suite!of! research!topics.!!A!brief!description!of!the!sites!and!potential!research!topics!follows.!! ! Note!well:!You!will!need!to!choose!which!class!you!wish!to!attend!before!you!arrive!in!South!Africa.! ! ! B.#Academic#and#Research#focus:## # Although!both!classes!travel!to!both!the!north!and!the!south,!visiting!the!same!sites,!dealing!with!the!same! Ecological/Conservation!Biology!theory,!but!the!subject!matter!might!differ!somewhat.!Both!courses!receive! the!same!instruction!for!the!Skills!and!History!and!Culture!courses.! ! South!Course:!Much!of!the!work!on!the!OTS!courses!in!the!South!class!focuses!on!key!conservation!issues!in! Fynbos!in!the!western!Cape,!the!hottest!of!the!world’s!Hotspots!(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1007;! http://www.conservation.org/global/ci_south_africa/whereUweUwork/capeUfloralUkingdom/Pages/capeU floralUkingdom.aspx).!!Topics!include!the!ecology!and!conservation!mesoUcarnivores!(Cape!Leopard!and! Caracal),!understanding!the!impact!of!invasive!fish!in!our!freshwater!systems,!pollination!ecology!of!many! Fynbos!plants!and!understanding!the!drivers!of!diversity!in!intertidal!rocky!marine!systems.! ! The!North!course!will!spend!more!time!in!the!savannas!of!the!north,!travelling!from!the!mesic!savannas!of! Nylsvley!through!to!the!more!arid!savannas!of!the!north!of!the!Kruger!Park.!!Despite!the!slight!difference!in! emphasis,!we!will!focus!on!ensuring!that!we!cover!key!ecological!concepts.!Each!site!is!selected!to!focus!on!key! research/ecological!reasons.!We!have!looked!at!the!impact!of!urbanisation!on!the!prevalence!of!avian!flu!in! bird!communities,!the!role!of!elephants!as!ecosystem!engineers!and!the!effect!of!changing!vegetation!density! on!faunal!communities.! ! ! ! ! Phase&1&Preparatory&workshops&& & ! Nylsvley!Reserve:!covering!the!basics!of!science,!history!and!culture!of!SA!and!savanna!ecology.! The!courses!start!in!the!same!place,!Nylsvley!Nature!Reserve.!All!students!receive!the!same!basic! teaching/workshop!driven!crash!course!in!the!basics!of!science:& ! o Science!Workshops:! What!is!science?;!the!scientific!method;!differing!approaches!to!science;!research!design;!the!role! of!scientists!in!society!i.e.!understanding!the!context!for!what!it!is!to!be!a!good!scientist!in!this!day! and!age.! o Introduction!to!the!ecology!of!South!Africa! Before!we!can!start!any!inUdepth!! o Conservation!issues!in!Africa! o Natural!history!workshops:! We!use!Natural!History!as!a!platform!for!teaching!ecological!concepts,!so!we!provide!workshops! on!identification,!capture!and!handling!of!small!mammals,!birds!and!insects.!Furthermore!we!also! provide!plant!identification!workshops.! o History!of!South!Africa!workshops!and!lectures!designed!to!provide!socioUeconomic!context!for! the!Ecology!and!Conservation!Courses.! ! ! Soetwater,!Cape!Point!Nature!Reserve:!ecological!dynamics!in!a!biodiverse!reserve!abutting! hard!urban!fringes:!The!site!is!located!within!the!Cape!Peninsula!National!Park,!a!conservation!area! surrounded!by!an!urban!fringe.!Research!will!focus!on!a!range!of!long!term!projects!relevant!to! SANParks,!including!! o Meso0carnivore&research:&Using!camera!traps!and!scat!analysis!for!assessing!the!population!size! and!dynamics!of!Caracal,!a!carnivore!much!like!the!north!American!Lynx;!! o o o ! ! Small&vertebrates&and&fire®imes:&Given!how!fire!regimes!vary!across!small!spatial!scales,!we!will! assess!how!fire!history!might!influence!small!vertebrates!population!and!ecology!e.g.!we!have! some!long!term!records!of!terrestrial!rodents,!snakes!and!frogs,!and,!using!both!active!and! passive!trapping!techniques,!we!will!monitor!the!change!in!these!communities;! Rocky&Intertidal&Ecology:&Cape!Point!has!two!coastlines!a!warm!and!a!cold!side!with!vastly! different!ecologies.!!We!will!conduct!a!range!of!intertidal!projects!in!order!to!understand!the! dynamics!of!these!systems.!! Human0Animal&conflict:!Cape!Point!is!home!to!a!large!population!of! baboons,!which!have!been!the!subject!of!extensive!research.!One! of!the!few!instances!of!primates!feeding!in!the!intertidal!zones,! these!baboons!also!capitalizes!on!the!availability!of!resources! associated!with!humans.!Consequently!they!often!come!into! conflict!with!the!communities!abutting!the!Cape!Point!Nature! Reserve.!Research!would!include!tracking!baboon!movements,! change!in!diet!and!assessing!the!effect!of!change!in!diet.! ! ! Cedarberg!Wilderness!Conservation!District:!!One!the!most!pristine!i.e.!untransformed!areas!in!the! western!Cape!Province,!the!Cedarberg!offers!the!opportunity!to!engage!in!a!very!broad!range!of! research.!However,!we!will!focus!our!research!on!topics!of!particular!importance!to!South!African! National!Parks.!The!two!major!themes!include:! o The!riverine!systems!in!the!western!Cape!are!under!threat!from!invasive!fish!species,! particularly!the!large!mouthed!Bass.!Firstly!we!will!need!to!characterize!the!problem!by! assessing!the!distribution!of!the!bass!populations!as!well!as!the!drivers!of!influence!their! distribution!(are!they!influenced!by!river!geomorphology,!water!chemistry!or!the!availability! of!food!resources?).!Thereafter!we!will!research!their!impact!into!freshwater!systems!(how! would!they!influence!invertebrate!and!vertebrate!communities?).! o The!Cape!Leopard!is!a!far!ranging!but!elusive!apex!predator!in!the!western!Cape!Mountains! and!is!hunted!extensively!as!they!are!perceived!to!be!a!threat!to!the!livestock!industry.!We! will!assist!the!Cape!Leopard!Trust!in!some!of!their!baseline!research,!trekking!into!the! backcountry!of!the!Cedarberg!to!install!camera!traps!and!assess!spoor!and!scat!to!identify! key!resource!areas!for!the!big!cats.! ! ! ! Tshulu!Bushcamp,!HaMakuya,!Limpopo!Province:!community!conservation!at!work:!HaMakuya,! Venda,!is!the!site!selected!where!you!will!engage!with!communities!abutting!the!Kruger!National! Park.!Apart!from!lectures!and!workshops!on!communityUbased!natural!resource!management!and!the! importance!of!ecosystem!integrity!for!public!health!support,!you!will!also!go!on!three!days!of! homestay!with!Venda!Families.!! o Typically!we!conduct!research!into!community!resource!use!and!how!rural!families!both! utilize!and!conserve!natural!resources!such!as!water,!fuelwood!and!medicinal!plants.!! ! Skukuza:!long!term!research!in!the!Kruger!Park.!Skukuza!is!the!nerve!center!of!SANParks.! Following!over!a!decade!of!research!experience,!we!have!focused!our!research!on!twelve!projects,!all! of!which!are!aligned!with!the!research!goals!of!the!KNP!researchers.!These!Kruger!Long!Term! Research!Initiative!projects!include!the!following:! o The!demography!and!dynamics!of!big!tree! species;! o The!loss!of!big!trees!as!a!consequence!of!fire! and!elephant!feeding,!and!the!consequent! impact!on!resident!faunal!communities;! o The!prevalence!and!drivers!of!bird!influenza! in!the!Kruger!Park!along!an!urbanization! gradient;! o Fluctuations!in!small!mammal!communities! as!a!result!of!variation!in!resource! availability!and!fire!history;! o The!dynamics!of!biodiversity!of!invertebrate! communities!in!ephemeral!water!bodies!in! the!savanna!landscapes;! o The!influence!of!termites!and!termitaria!on!soils,!vegetation!and!faunal!communities.! o The!use!of!chilli’s!and!bee!hives!as!a!means!to!deter!elephant!impact!on!natural!and!tourism! assets.! West!Coast!National!Park:!WCNP!is!the!largest!reserve!in!the!centre!of!the!West!Coast!Biosphere! reserve.!It!is!here!that!you!will!conduct!your!capstone!project!for!the!OTS!South!Course.!You!are! expected!to!come!up!with!your!own!project!ideas.!Projects!in!the!past!have!included!the!following:! o The!dynamics!and!ecology!of!seagrass!communities.!Seagrass!are!key!elements!of!estuarine! and!other!coastal!systems!globally,!for!example,!they!are!particularly!important!in!supporting! o o dugong!and!manatee!populations.!However,!these!ecosystems!are!fragmenting!and! diminishing,!and!scientists!are!unsure!why.!Your!research!will!provide!insight!into!the!local! drivers!of!seagrass!in!the!Langebaan!Lagoon.! The!LangebaanUSaldanha!Lagoon!is!home!to!a!high!diversity!of!fish!and!bird!communities.!It! is!a!key!breeding!and!feeding!ground!for!both,!and!students!have!explored!a!range!of! different!faunal!communities.!The!playing!field!for!research!topics!is!broad!and!varied!! We!encounter!a!huge!diversity!of!frogs!given!the!range!in!ecosystems!within!the!park.!From! the!permanent!water!in!the!lagoon!through!to!the!ephemeral!pans.!Little!is!known!about!the! anuran!communities,!so!there!is!scope!to!engage!in!plenty!of!novel!research.! ! Your!work!can!focus!on!a!range!of!different!subjects!and/or!techniques.!There!is!huge!diversity!in! plant,!bat,!rocky!intertidal!communities,!and!of!course!you!can!expand!your!work!to!extend!beyond! ecological!research.!In!the!past!we!have!also!had!student!conduct!education!and!outreach!work!with! local!schools.!Furthermore,!we!can!also!begin!to!engage!in!remote!sensing!work!e.g.!for!assessing!land! use!change!over!time.!! ! Student!movement!during!the!course:! North!Semester: ! South!Semester! ! Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Hamakuya Shingwedzi Skukuza JHB Nylsvley Cape Town West Coast National Park Cedarberg ! ! ! ! ! A. GET!WITH!THE!PROGRAM! ! 1. Sites!to!be!Visited! ! ! We!will!use!several!locations!as!our!major!research!sites!and!other!places!for!short!visits!of!special! biological!or!cultural!interest.!Major!research!sites!include!HaMakuya,!Skukuza,!and!West!Coast! National!Park.!These!locations!are!all!research!stations,!one!within!Kruger!National!Park!(Skukuza),! one!in!the!far!north!of!the!country!(HaMakuya),!and!one!in!the!Cape!Floristic!Region!(West!Cape! National!Park).!Detailed!descriptions!of!these!and!other!sites!are!found!in!the!next!section.!! ! From!the!main!sites,!we!make!additional!day/short!trips!for!cultural!and!research!activities!etc.!You! will!be!informed!about!these!brief!trips!as!the!semester!progresses.! ! Fall&semester:&The!course!starts!towards!the!end!of!the!South!African!winter.!Be!prepared!for!some! chilly!nights!and!mornings!for!the!first!4U6!weeks!of!the!course,!although!the!daytime!temperatures! should!be!high!enough!for!shorts!and!shortUsleeved!tops.!As!we!move!into!the!South!African!summer! temperatures!will!increase!and!you!will!have!less!need!for!warm!clothes.!It!is!still!important!to!have! these!for!the!start!of!the!course!and!for!the!weather!in!the!Western!Cape,!which!can!be! temperamental.!Our!savanna!stays!will!likely!be!quite!warm,!while!the!Cape!leg!of!the!program!has! the!potential!to!be!substantially!cooler!and,!potentially,!rainy. In!late!April!and!early!May!the!evenings!can!be!very!chilly,!whilst!the!days!remain!quite!warm.!It!is! certainly!worth!bringing!warm!items!of!clothing.!That!is!not!to!say!bring!down!jackets,!but!at!least! something!warm,!items!of!clothing!that!can!be!layered!always!work!well.!! ! 2. Description!of!Sites!to!be!Visited! Please!note:!Sites!vary!by!semester.!A!schedule!will!be!provided!to!you!at!the!start!of!your! semester.! ! Nylsvley! Nylsvley!Nature!Reserve!is!one!of!the!most!intensively!studied!savannas!in!the!world.!It!is!two!hours! north!of!Johannesburg!near!a!town!called!Nylstroom.!It!has!many!species!of!wild!animals!but!the! larger!more!dangerous!species!are!absent.!It!is!located!in!the!Highveld!so!even!though!we!are!visiting! Nylsvley!in!the!peak!of!summer!it!shouldn’t!be!too!hot.!Nylsvley!has!plenty!of!space!for!moving! around!and!you!can!explore!the!reserve!on!foot!so!this!is!an!ideal!site!to!adjust!to!the!time!and! weather!change,!to!stretch!your!legs!after!the!long!transatlantic!flight,!and!to!jump!into!the!program.! ! All!students!will!be!present!during!your!stay!at!Nylsvley.!Orientation!to!South!Africa!and!the!OTS! program!will!occur!at!Nylsvley.!You!will!spend!time!with!all!of!the!permanent!faculty!members!and! get!to!know!all!of!your!fellow!students.!It!is!from!here!that!the!basics!of!savanna!ecology!will!be! taught!as!well!as!the!core!of!your!History!and!Culture!course.! ! The!facilities!at!Nylsvley!have!been!built!to!accommodate!student!groups!and!you!will!be!living!in! dormitories.!There!is!no!town!or!shop!nearby!and!unfortunately!no!telephone!or!internet!service.!We! will!ensure!that!everyone!has!a!chance!to!contact!their!family!and!friends!in!the!US!before!we!leave! the!airport!in!Johannesburg.! U ! Skukuza! “All!roads!lead!to!Skukuza.”!Skukuza!is!the!main!camp!in!the!Kruger!National!Park.!Most!of!our!time! during!the!semester!will!be!spent!in!Kruger;!our!course!will!spend!approximately!six!weeks!at!the! Skukuza!site.!It!is!the!Park’s!headquarters!and!by!far!the!largest!camp!in!the!Kruger!National!Park.!! ! Our!main!OTS!offices!are!situated!in!Skukuza.!Here!you!will!have!access!to!computers,!a!scanner,! telephones,!and!email.!At!Skukuza!you!will!find!a!post!office,!a!fullUservice!bank!(including!an!ATM)! and!a!general!store!where!you!can!buy!books,!newspapers,!souvenirs,!snacks,!basic!drugstore!items,! and!film.!Skukuza!also!has!a!restaurants.!You!can!make!use!of!the!tourist!camp!in!your!free!time,!to! relax!and!get!out!of!the!dorms.!! ! Kruger!National!Park!sees!approximately!one!million!tourists!every!year,!many!of!whom!spend!time! at!Skukuza.!You!will!be!in!frequent!contact!with!tourists!who!will!probably!ask!you!what!you!are! studying.!Please!be!courteous!at!all!times!and!willing!to!explain!who!you!are!and!what!the!OTS! program!is!all!about.!The!continuation!of!the!OTS!program!in!South!Africa!depends!on!maintaining! good!relations!with!the!staff!and!guests!at!Kruger!National!Park.! ! Our!accommodations!at!Skukuza!are!School!Journeys!Hostel!that!is!situated!in!the!tourist!camp.!This! accommodation!consists!of!2!large!dormitories!and!a!kitchen,!dining,!lecture!area.!You!will!thus!have! access!to!the!tourist!camp!to!shop,!swim,!make!calls,!or!do!laundry.!During!the!day!you!can!walk!(in! groups!of!three!or!more)!to!our!offices!to!use!the!Internet.!Skukuza!is!in!a!malariaUarea.!As!the! mosquitoes!are!more!active!between!sunset!and!sunrise,!you!will!have!to!avoid!the!mosquito!problem! by!not!swimming!after!six!p.m.!At!night!you!should!be!covered!and!liberally!sprayed!with!repellent.! ! In!and!around!Skukuza!there!are!many!animals!and!plants!to!be!seen.!Inside!the!camp!you!might!spot! different!birds,!lizards,!and!thick!tailed!bush!babies.!Warthogs,!vervet!monkeys,!and!banded! mongooses!also!like!cruising!through!the!camp!during!the!day.!Unfortunately!without!a!game!guard! we!will!not!be!allowed!out!of!our!vehicles!anywhere!in!the!park.!Large!predators,!elephants,!hippos,! and!rhinos!are!too!dangerous!for!us!to!even!think!about!relaxing!this!rule.!There!will,!however,!be! frequent!opportunities!to!go!on!game!drives,!during!which!you!are!sure!to!see!many!of!the!animals! you!associate!with!African!savannas.! ! ! U! Shingwedzi!Rest!Camp! Shingwedzi!is!situated!in!the!north!of!the!Kruger!National!Park.!Shrouded!in!mopane!trees!and! located!along!the!banks!of!the!Shingwedzi!river.!While!here!you!will!conduct!research!with!guest! faculty.!Your!accommodation!will!be!in!cozy!3Ubed!bungalows!within!the!tourist!camp.! !! HaMakuya! The!next!leg!of!the!semester!forms!an!integral!component!of!the!History!through!Culture!program.! HaMakuya!lies!just!outside!Kruger!National!Park,!in!close!proximity!to!Punda!Maria,!a!northern!rest! camp!in!the!Park.!Situated!in!the!Vhembe!district!of!the!north!of!the!country,!HaMakuya!offers!the! opportunity!to!become!immersed!in!the!rich!culture!of!the!Venda!people.!During!this!period,!the! group!will!interact!closely!with!host!families!during!a!threeUday!homestay,!spend!time!experiencing! what!life!is!like!as!a!rural!person!in!South!Africa,!and!participate!in!research!with!a!focus!on! community!livelihoods!within!the!area.!! ! Semester!Break! Your!semester!break!will!be!organized!around!Cape!Town.!Cape!Town,!situated!in!the!Western!Cape,! in!one!of!South!Africa’s!premier!tourist!destinations!and!is!known!for!its!landmarks,!including!Cape! Point!and!Table!Mountain,!and!all!round!exquisite!coastlines.!Other!attractions!include!the!Victoria! and!Alfred!Waterfront,!the!Cape!Whale!Coast!and!wine!routes.!We!will!spend!five!nights!in!Cape!Town! at!a!charming!local!backpackers!lodge.!We!will!cover!the!cost!of!your!accommodation,!however!you! are!expected!to!cover!the!costs!of!your!meals!and!activities!during!your!semester!break.!Using!Cape! Town!as!our!base,!we!will!have!several!exciting!expeditions,!such!as!to!Robben!Island!(where!Nelson! Mandela!was!imprisoned!for!nearly!two!decades),!Kirstenbosch!Gardens,!Cape!Point,!Boulders!Beach! (home!of!the!threatened!African!Penguin),!and!the!University!of!Cape!Town!campus.! U ! ! Travellers!Rest,!Cedarderberg!Wilderness!District.!So!named!for!the!rare!cedar!tree!found!in!the! western!areas!of!the!spectacular!Cape!Fold!Mountain!range.!Whilst!in!the!Cedarberg!we!will!explore! funbos!ecology,!the!management!of!catchment!systems!and!monitoring!of!rare!mammals.!!An!area!of! cultural!and!historical!significance,!San!frequented!the!areas!and!so!we!will!also!explore!the!many! caves!in!the!area!looking!for!bushman!paintings.!We!will!stay!at!Travellers!Rest,!a!farm!near!the!world! famous!Rocklands!rock!climbing!district.! ! Cape!Peninsula! Soetwater!is!situated!between!the!sea!and!Slangkop,!close!to!the!town!of!Kommetjie!on!the!Atlantic! coastline.!!This!area!encompasses!a!large!number!of!vegetation!types!such!as!fynbos,!vegetated!dune! systems!and!mountain!scree!slopes,!as!well!as!a!coastline!that!includes!both!sandy!and!rocky!shores.! This!area!is!also!one!of!the!only!undeveloped!stretches!of!coastline!along!the!peninsula.!For!this! reason!it!forms!an!important!component!on!the!City!of!Cape!Town’s!Biodiversity!Network!and!is! included!in!the!Cape!Peninsula!Protected!Natural!Environment.! ! Geelbek,!West!Coast!National!Park! Your!chance!to!work!in!the!Cape!Fynbos!and!Strandveld,!one!of!the!world’s!great!biodiversity! hotspots,!will!come!with!our!stay!near!the!Langebaan!Lagoon,!a!world!renowned!birding!hotspot.!We! will!spend!time!working!on!intertidal!biology,!freshwater!ecology,!fynbos!ecology!and!alien!invasive! species!at!this!idyllic!site.!The!accommodation!comprises!small!dormitories!(2!–!6!people!per!room)! with!a!large!dining!hall.!There!are!plenty!of!walking!trails!in!the!area,!and!Geelbek!lies!close!to!the! coast,!we!will!endeavor!to!get!to!the!beach!as!often!as!possible,!and!students!often!take!time!out!for! long!walks,!swimming!and!playing!volleyball.! ! ! ! ! ! Site% Description% Nylsvley' Game'Reserve'and'RAMSAR'Site,' situated'2.5'hours'north'of' Johannesburg.'Amazing'bird' diversity'and'home'of'tsessebe' and'other'plain'ungulates.' Skukuza' Main'camp'of'the'KNP'situated'in' the'South.'All'facilities'available' including'Post'office'and' Banks/ATMs' Accommodation% - Shops% Phone% Email% Recreation% Staying'in'dormitories' Two'to'three'people'sharing' Two''showers'and'two'' toilets'for'everyone'–'Keep' clean'and'consider'others' None'close'by.' No'public'phone' No' - Free'to'wander'around' Game'drives' Running'and'bird/game' watching'at'bird'hides.' Large'group'accommodation' Large'shop'at'the'tourist' camp'and'in'staff'village'–' five'to'tenLminute'walk.' They'stock'everything:' drinks,'snacks,'toiletries,' curios'etc.' Restaurant'and'takeLaways' at'main'camp' Public'phones'in' the'tourist'camp,' cell'phone' reception.' Yes' ' - two'recreational'swimming' pools'in'camp' 25m'swimming'pool'in' village'' Soccer,'volleyball,'Frisbee,' game'drives' Exercise:'Can'run'around'the' village'in'groups,'before'dusk' ONLY' Swimming'pool' Running' - Shingwedzi' Situated'in'the'northern'Kruger' National'Park,'this'beautiful' camp'lies'on'the'banks'of'the' Shingwedzi'river.' - Staying'at'the'tourist'camp' Three'to'a'bungalow' Small'shop'in'tourist'camp' Public'phone'in' tourist'camp' Cape'Town'' Back'Packers' - Dorm'rooms' Yes' Yes' Yes' - HaMakuya' Located'in'the'North'near'the' northern'section'of'the'Kruger' National'Park.'Very'remote,'near' the'beautiful'and'friendly'village' of'HaMakuya.' - Homestays'for'three'nights,' four'people'to'a'household' sleeping'on'grass'mats...' prepare'to'challenge' yourselves!' Remaining'time'at'lovely' research'camp'situated'on' the'Mutale'river'in'very' comfortable'enLsuite'tents' (six'to'a'tent)' Staying'in'dormitories'and' wooden'bungalows' AllLweather'braai'area,'' dining'hall'and'lecture'room' LOnly'local'village'shops'but' we'will'stop'at'shops'on'the' way'to'HaMakuya' No' No,'also'no' electricity.' Power'via'a' generator.' - None'in'the'vicinity,'but'can' be'arranged.' Public'phone' 2L6'to'a'room' Plenty'of'room'to'roam' None'in'the'vicinity,'but'can' be'arranged.' No' - Cape' Peninsula' National'Park' A'coastal'conservancy'between' Kommetjie'and'Scarborough.'' Geelbek' Located'within'the'beautiful' West'Coast'National'Park,'a' haven'for'bird'lovers' - No' No' No' - Own'scheduled'activities.' Table'Mountain'hike,'VA' Waterfront'shopping,'Cape' Point,'Cape'Penguins'etc.' Soccer'with'the'locals' Running' Plenty'of'space'to'explore' and'go'for'long'walks'around' the'camp.' - Swim'in'the'tidal'pools' Go'for'a'walk/run'along'the' beach'front' - Lots'of'space'to'run,'water' sports'if'we'drive'up'to'the' beach' Great'birding!' - ! 3. Academic*and*Student*Life*on*the*Program* * You!will!no!doubt!have!many!questions!about!what!student!life!on!the!program!will!be!like.!We!will! endeavor!to!answer!most!of!your!questions!here.!But!please!do!also!check!out!the!FAQs!(Frequently! Asked!Questions)!and!if!you!still!seek!clarity!on!any!issues!please!feel!free!to!contact!our!South! African!office!([email protected]).!! ! For!most!of!the!program,!you!will!be!living!with!other!students!in!large!dormitory!rooms,!chalets!with! four!to!six!students,!or!smaller!bungalows!with!two!students!per!room.!Because!of!these!group!living! situations,!we!all!have!to!be!conscious!of!other!people’s!comfort!and!convenience.!We!must!keep!our! personal!space!organized!(so!keep!your!baggage!to!a!minimum)!and!make!sure!that!our!comings!and! goings!at!night!and!in!the!early!morning!disrupt!our!companions!as!little!as!possible.!We!will!try!to! schedule!short!periods!of!time!in!every!day!when!you!will!be!free!to!go!for!a!run,!play!soccer!or! Frisbee,!take!a!swim,!amble!over!to!the!grocery!store,!write!postcards,!or!catch!up!on!your!reading! and!studying.!The!intent,!when!possible,!is!to!give!you!one!free!day!every!week!to!10!days!with!no! scheduled!events.!You!may!use!this!time!to!catch!up!on!work!or!to!take!a!mental!break.! ! The!semester!will!be!an!intense!academic!and!social!experience!and!we!expect!everyone!will!have! ups!and!downs.!We!will!schedule!times!for!students!to!meet!individually!and!in!groups!with!the! faculty!in!order!to!receive!feedback!on!their!course!work!and!to!express!their!concerns.!Because!of! the!rigors!of!the!academic!schedule!and!the!constraints!of!group!living,!however,!we!will!not!be!able! to!tailor!this!program!to!meet!everyone’s!individual!needs!and!desires.! * 4. Meals*and*Special*Dietary*Requirements* * Meals!are!provided!by!our!caterers,!Shadreck!and!company!who!refer!to!themselves!as!AggyShadow! Catering!company.!The!food!is!fantastic,!regularly!cited!as!one!of!the!highlights!of!the!program,!and! we!warn!you!in!advance!about!the!possibility!of!expanding!waistlines!!!The!menu!is!highly!varied!and! usually!dinners!consist!of!a!variety!of!choices!of!side!dishes.!The!program!caters!for!those!of!you!with! special!dietary!requirements!(i.e.!vegetarians,!vegans)!or!some!food!allergies!but!please!let!us!know!in! advance!so!that!Shadreck!can!prepare!accordingly. ! ! B. PREPARING*FOR*THE*PROGRAM* U * As!you!are!aware,!this!program!is!designed!for!students!with!a!basic!background!in!ecology!and!biology.! Below!is!a!list!of!some!specific!topics!and/or!terms!we!think!are!particularly!important!for!you!to!know!or! review:! ! ! Natural!history! Major!groups!of!plants!and!animals! ! ! Ecology! Population!growth!and!regulation! Species!interactions!(coUevolution,!competition,!predation,!symbiosis,!herbivores,!seed!dispersal)! Community!organization!(trophic!levels,!food!webs,!niche,!guilds)! Nutrient!cycles! ! ! Landscape!Ecology!! Bottom!up!versus!top!down!controls!of!ecosystems! Disturbance!and!other!ecosystem!drivers,!! Hierarchical!patch!dynamics,!! Heterogeneity!! ! ! If!you!need!to!brush!up!on!these!topics,!we!highly!recommend!you!look!at!basic!textbooks!on!biology!and! ecology.! C.* PREPARATION*FOR*RESEARCH*PROJECTS* * During!the!semester!you!will!design,!implement,!analyze,!and!present!an!independent!project.!These! projects!are!a!great!opportunity!to!be!imaginative!and!develop!skills!in!research!design,!data!analysis,!and! presentation!(written!and!oral)!of!scientific!results.!! ! Prior!to!this!you!will!work!on!two!other!research!projects.!The!first!of!these!is!a!LongUTerm!Research! Project!during!which!staff!will!present!you!with!a!list!of!research!questions!that!are!of!particular!interest! to!scientists!in!the!system!you!are!working!in.!You!will!be!able!to!choose,!implement,!analyse!and!writeUup! results!to!answer!this!question.!This!can!be!a!memorable!experience!that!could!change!the!way!you!see! ecology!and!nature,!particularly!in!the!context!of!an!African!Savanna!or!Fynbos!system.!!Following!this! there!will!be!a!series!of!Faculty!Field!Projects!led!by!guest!faculty.!These!projects!will!explore!a!variety!of! topics!and!all!students!will!be!able!to!participate!in!all!of!them;!although!you!will!only!be!involved!in!the! analysis!and!write!up!of!one!topic.! ! The!second!independent!project!will!be!run!at!the!end!of!the!course,!this!is!an!opportunity!for!you!to! choose!your!topic!of!research.!These!independent!projects!will!test!a!valid,!justifiable,!and!interesting! hypothesis.!Whether!you!choose!to!test!this!hypothesis!through!manipulative!or!observational! experiments!will!depend!on!the!constraints!of!time!and!the!biological!system!with!which!you!decide!to! work.!While!it!is!challenging!to!choose!a!specific!project!without!knowing!the!specific!constraints,!the! more!you!think!about!“IPs”!ahead!of!time,!the!more!you!will!be!able!to!take!advantage!of!the!time!and! resources!available.!We!may!guide!you!away!from!studying!lion!hunting!behavior!in!order!to!ensure!that! you!have!enough!data!for!your!project.!But!be!assured!that!we!will!still!provide!frequent!opportunities!for! those!experiences.!! ! IPs!can!take!several!forms:! ! ! A"project"that"tests"an"idea"in"the"ecology"literature.! ! A"project"based"on"an"interesting"observation"in"the"field.! ! A"project"that"addresses"a"specific"environmental"concern"in"South"Africa.! " With!all!independent!projects!we!encourage!students!to!think!about!the!larger!picture!of!the!systems!they! are!studying.!We!have!a!large!and!growing!library!of!references.!However,!if!you!already!know!you!are! interested!in!certain!types!of!questions!it!would!be!a!good!idea!to!bring!down!a!few!of!your!own!reference! articles.! ! Some!of!the!IP!topics!from!students!on!the!previous!programs!include:!How!do!acacia!thorns!protect! against!herbivores?!Do!different!species!of!savanna!trees!recover!after!elephant!damage?!What!is!the! composition!of!savanna!grasses!near!artificial!waterholes?!What!is!the!composition!of!the!small!mammal! community!near!artificial!waterholes?!Is!there!a!relationship!between!wing!morphology!and!the! echolocation!calls!of!bats?!Do!individual!dung!beetles!have!a!preferred!orientation!for!rolling!their!dung! balls?! ! ADDITIONAL*READING* ! You!may!want!to!do!some!advance!reading!about!South!Africa.!For!quick,!easy!reference,!we!suggest!you! look! at! one! (or! more)! of! the! following! guide! books:! Lonely! Planet! Guide! to! South! Africa,! Lesotho,! and! Swaziland;!Let’s!Go!South!Africa;!or!Frommer’s!South!Africa.! ! For!current!literature!coming!out!of!South!Africa,!the!following!is!a!list!of!books!on!the!shelves!in!South! Africa!now!that!can!also!be!found!at!Amazon.com:! K.!Sello!Duiker!“The!Quiet!Violence!of!Dreams”! Pamela!Jooste!“Dance!with!a!Poor!Man’s!Daughter”!“Frieda!and!Min”!“People!Like!Us”! Antjie!Krog!“Country!of!My!Skull”! Zakes!Mda!“Ways!of!Dying”!“The!Heart!of!Redness”!“The!Sculptors!of!Mapungubwe! Phaswane!Mpe!“Welcome!to!Our!Hillbrow”! ! J.M.!Coetzee!won!the!Nobel!Prize!for!Literature!in!2005,!and!his!novels!are!widely!available!in!the!U.S.!and! South!Africa.! For!nonfiction!and!a!great!summary!of!the!rise!of!the!ANC!during!the!Apartheid!era,!Nelson!Mandela’s! “Long!Walk!to!Freedom”!is!highly!recommended.! A!couple!of!older!classics!are!Rian!Malan’s!“My!Traitor’s!Heart”!and!Alan!Paton’s!“Cry,!the!Beloved! Country.”! For!an!interesting!evaluation!of!different!regions!of!Africa!by!a!leading!U.S.!African!Studies!professor,!see! Louis!Henry!Gates,!Jr.’s!“Wonders!of!the!African!World”,!John!Readers!“Africa.!Biogeography!of!a! continent”!and!Martin!Merediths!“State!of!Africa! All!of!these!books!are!in!our!OTS!library,!so!if!one!or!more!of!them!look!interesting!but!you!do!not!have! the!time!to!read!them!now,!the!opportunity!will!arise!again.!You!will!have!full!access!to!this!library,!so!you! can!also!read!our!copies.! For!some!preparation!on!subUtropical!savannas!we!recommend!you!browse!through!recent!issues!of! ecological!journals!and!edited!volumes!on!conservation,!such!as!the!Journal!of!Ecology!or!Conservation! Biology.* ! ! D. LOGISTICS* U * 1. Tuition* ! * Checks!should!be!made!payable!to!Duke!University!and!sent!to!Duke!University!Payment!Processing! Center,!PO!Box!602538,!Charlotte,!NC!28260U2538.!Make!sure!to!include!the!following!information!on! check:!your!name,!social!security!number,!name!of!course!and!term!(OTS!South!Africa!Spring!2014).! 2. Passport*Information/Visitor’s*Visa*Information* * If!you!have!not!already!obtained!your!passport,!you!should!do!so!immediately.!You!will!be!asked!to! provide!this!information!to!both!OTS!and!Duke!University!in!several!Registration!Documents.!You* must*ensure*that*you*have*two*facing*blank*pages*in*your*passport.*This*is*really*important,*as* people*HAVE*been*turned*away*at*the*border*for*this*reason.!Also,!be!sure!that!your!passport!is! valid!for!at!least!six!months!after!the!end!date!of!the!program.!You"will"also"need"a"Visitor’s(Visa(to" enter"South"Africa"if"you"are"not"South"African.!Under!separate!cover,!OTS!will!provide!you!with! information!about!applying!to!the!South!African!Consulate!for!your!Visitor’s!Visa.!This!information! will!only!cover!the!time!period!in!which!you!will!be!with!the!OTS!program.!For!detailed!instructions! on!how!to!apply!and!the!documentation!you!will!need,!please!visit!the!South!African!Consulate! website!(http://www.southafricaUnewyork.net/homeaffairs/visitorsvisa.htm).!Note:!You!will!need!to! apply!to!the!Regional!South!African!Consulate!Office!for!your!home!state!which!you!will!find!on!the! website!listed!above.!If!you!plan!to!travel!elsewhere!in!South!Africa!after!the!semester,!you!must! check!with!the!South!African!Consulate!for!appropriate!Visitor’s!Visa!requirements.!If!you!intend!to! stay!and!travel!after!the!program!you!must!apply!for!a!longer!visa!than!just!the!duration!of!the!course.! Many!students!change!their!mind!about!staying!on!after!the!program!(i.e.!they!decide!to!stay!longer)! and!it!is!no!longer!possible!to!extend!your!visa!while!you!are!in!South!Africa.!Rather!you!will!have!to! return!to!your!home!country!before!returning!to!South!Africa.!Therefore!it!is!a!good!idea!to!apply!for! a!visa!that!enables!you!to!stay!in!the!country!at!least!two!or!three!weeks!past!the!course!end!date.!We! have!also!had!students!choose!to!stay!on!to!do!some!research!after!the!program!(IRES!or!internships).! So!if!you!think!you!might!be!interested!in!getting!involved!in!something!like!this,!do!not!hesitate!to! contact!Laurence!or!Colleen.!If!you!are!not!traveling!on!a!U.S.!passport,!please!contact!the!South! African!Consulate!immediately!to!learn!what!will!be!required!to!receive!your!Visitor’s!Visa.!Apply!as! soon!as!you!are!able!based!on!the!South!African!Consulate!guidelines.!!Requirements!can!change!so! we!strongly!encourage!you!to!stay!on!top!of!the!visa!process!and!pay!attention!to!the!details.!!If!you! have!questions,!please!ask!us.! !! 3. Airline*Reservations** ! * Students!are!responsible!for!making!their!own!flight!arrangements!to!and!from!Johannesburg,!South! Africa.!It!is!important!that!you!purchase!a!round!trip!ticket!to!enter!the!country.!Many*of*the*flights* coming*in*from*the*US*arrive*late*in*the*evening.*We*ask*that*students*book*flights*that*get* them*to*South*Africa*early*in*the*day.*This*allows*us*to*organize*our*logistics*efficiently*and* safely.**Please*get*a*flight*that*lands*before*or*around*noon*on*the*arrival*day,*and*leaves*later* than*6:00*p.m.*on*the*departure*day.*By!doing!so,!you!will!have!a!bit!of!time!to!recover!from!the! long!flight!before!starting!the!course,!and!it!also!means!we!can!arrive!at!our!first!site!at!a!reasonable! hour.!Please!note!that!if!you!choose!to!arrive!earlier!or!depart!later!than!the!scheduled!dates,!you! must!make!your!own!arrangements!for!transportation!and!lodging!For!those!students!arriving!a!day! early!we!recommend!staying!at!the!Emerald*Backpackers*(http://www.emerald\ backpackers.co.za/)!or!the!City*Lodge*Hotel*(http://www.citylodge.co.za/)!located!about!4!km! from!OR!Tambo!airport.!Many!students!choose!to!get!in!a!day!earlier!to!catch!up!on!sleep!and!start!to! get!over!jetlag.!!It!is!easy!stay!at!the!hotels!listed!above.!!Please!contact!OTS!at!Duke,!Colleen!Cluett!or! Laurence!Kruger!if!you!have!any!questions.! 4. Money* * Plan!to!have!enough!money!for!personal!expenses.!You!will!be!required!to!pay!for!health!care,!mail,! sodas,!and!souvenirs!and!other!personal!expenses.!It!is!hard!to!set!a!standard!here!for!you!to!follow,! but!keep!in!mind!the!following!(the!exchange!rate!recently!has!been!!around!R10.50!=!$1!US!Dollar):! ! A!can!of!soda!is!about!R8.00;! A!bottle!of!mineral!water!is!about!R!9.00;! A!500!ml!fruit!juice!is!R10.00! Phone!card:!R50!(you!can!call!the!US!for!15mins!or!so)! Average!meal!at!a!restaurant!is!between!R50UR80! ! Souvenirs!are!not!expensive!but!after!a!few!they!do!add!up!to!quite!a!bit.!A!nice,!midUsized!Zulu!basket! will!cost!about!$15!in!a!store.!Beautiful!wire!and!bead!key!chains!and!animals!can!be!purchased!from! the!craftspeople!directly!for!a!couple!of!dollars.!They!make!wonderful!gifts!and!their!purchase!also! helps!support!the!local!economy.! ! Please!Note!!!!During!the!midterm!break!in!Cape!Town!your!accommodation!is!paid!for!but!you*will* be*required*to*pay*for*your*own*meals*and*refreshments!as!well!as!your!activities!and!the! transport!to!and!from!them.!These!activities!can!include!skydiving,!cage!diving,!wine!tasting,!surf! lessons,!and!trips!up!Table!Mountain.!So!be!prepared!for!the!expenses!of!this!leg!of!the!program.! ! In!addition,!most!places!we!stay!have!cleaning!staff!who!make!beds,!clean!bathrooms!and!sweep!the! areas!we!live!in!on!a!daily!basis.!Often!these!hard!working!individuals!are!paid!a!very!meager!salary! and!it!is!customary!to!show!our!appreciation!by!leaving!tips!behind!at!the!end!of!our!stay!at!each!site.! Generally!we!encourage!students!to!leave!about!R5!per!day,!but!we!understand!that!not!everyone!can! afford!to!do!so.!Tipping!is!optional!but!whatever!you!can!contribute!will!go!a!long!way!for!these! people.! ! ! * 5. Health*Care* a) Medical*Services* If!you!do!not!already!have!health!insurance,!you!need!to!arrange!for!coverage!during!the! semester.!Make!sure!that!your!health!policy!covers!medical!expenses!while!you!are!here!in!South! Africa.!You!must!have!proof!of!health!insurance!to!participate!in!the!program.!!Please!be!aware! that!medical!service!providers!often!require!payment!immediately!so!you!should!be!prepared!to! make!a!credit!card!or!cash!payment!and!obtain!detailed!receipts!for!reimbursement!later.!!Check! with!your!insurance!company!as!some!may!require!timely!notice!of!emergency!treatment!to!be! eligible!for!reimbursement!of!expenses!later.!!You!are!responsible!for!all!of!your!medical! expenses.!! ! Before!coming!to!South!Africa!please!make!sure!that!you!are!up!to!date!with!all!your! immunizations.!Check!with!the!travel!health!consultant!at!your!college!or!university!for!current! recommendations.!During!the!program!you!will!also!be!visiting!malariaUrisk!areas,!please!also! check!with!your!travel!health!consultant!about!antiUmalarial!medication!for!this!period.!To!help! you!and!your!doctor!plan,!we!will!be!in!malarial!zones!for!about!61!days!of!the!North!program! and!22!days!of!the!South!program!(At!Kruger!and!surrounding!areas).!It!is!wise!to!use!insect! repellent!and!to!cover!your!feet,!ankles,!arms!and!legs!at!the!dawn!and!dusk!periods!while! mosquitos!are!most!active.! ! The!OTS!program!will!be!traveling!with!a!complete!first!aid!kit.!You!must,!however!bring! adequate!supplies!of!any!prescription!drugs!that!you!need.!If!your!doctor!advises!against!taking!a! large!supply!of!medication!with!you,!he/she!should!provide!a!diagnosis!and!the!suggested! prescription!to!facilitate!proper!prescription!by!a!South!African!doctor.!It!is!however!possible! that!the!same!drug!will!not!be!available!on!the!South!African!market,!and!then!a!similar!drug!will! be!administered!to!you!by!our!doctors.! ! Please*Note:*In!addition,!bring!supplies!of!pain!relievers,!or!medication!that!you!would!usually! use!if!you!are!prone!to!headaches,!ear!aches,!allergies,!cramps,!intestinal!disorders,!yeast! infections,!etc.!AntiUfungal/athletes!foot!cream!will!also!be!handy!as!well!as!hydrocortisone!(for! itchy!bites.)!Some!things!that!are!really!important!to!bring!to!South!Africa!are!mosquito!repellent! spray,!sun!block,!and!hats.!Other!useful!deterrents!are!candles!with!citronella!for!those!times!that! you!would!like!to!sit!outside!and!relax!after!sundown.!These!items!can!also!be!purchased!in!South! Africa!and!are!generally!available!at!all!of!the!Kruger!National!Park!camp!shops.!! ! Traveler’s!diarrhea!is!a!common!ailment.!If!you!are!susceptible!to!changes!in!gut!flora!you!should! bring!something!to!combat!diarrhea!or!relieve!discomfort.!This!ailment!is!quite!common!but!of! short!duration.!One!way!to!prevent!transmission!from!person!to!person!is!to!ensure!you!do!not! share!drinking!cups,!cans!of!soft!drinks,!or!water!bottles.!We!will!be!traveling!quite!a!lot!so!if!you! are!susceptible!to!motion!sickness!you!should!bring!appropriate!medication!such!as!Dramamine.! ! In!the!event!of!a!serious!illness!or!injury!good!medical!care!is!available.!There!are!two!doctors! that!are!based!at!Skukuza,!both!very!good!at!diagnosing!malaria!and!tick!bite!fever.!They!also! have!their!own!dispensary!and!therefore!we!do!not!need!to!go!to!town!for!medication.!In!the!case! of!medicine!not!being!available!from!the!doctors’!office,!they!can!either!order!the!medicine!or!one! of!the!OTS!staff!will!go!into!the!nearby!towns!of!Nelspruit!or!Hazyview!to!pick!up!the! prescription.!! ! If!you!are!not!feeling!well!or!have!suffered!an!injury,!be!sure!to!let!our!staff!know!so!we!can!be! sure!to!tend!to!your!health!needs.!!! !! b) Counseling*Services* Issues!in!emotional!health!may!arise!during!a!study!abroad!experience.!Being!new!to!a!country! and!a!program!can!expose!a!student!to!unexpected!stress!that!can!detract!from!the!overall! experience.!There!are!many!types!of!professionals!that!will!be!able!to!help!with!various!types!of! stressUrelated!problems.!Please!let!staff!know!if!you!are!struggling!so!that!they!are!in!a!position!to! assist!you.! * c) Immunizations* Check!with!your!personal!physician!immediately,!for!professional!advice!regarding! immunizations.!In!addition,!you!should!check!the!Centers!for!Disease!Control’s!Traveler’s!Health! Website!at!http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/southUafrica.htm!for!the!latest!updates!on! disease!and!vaccinations!in!South!Africa.!Please!consider!the!following:! •**Booster*shots:! Make!sure!you!are!up!to!date!on!all!your!immunizations.! •**Tetanus:! This!is!good!for!ten!years,!however!we!advise!you!to!consider!having!a! booster!shot!if!your!last!one!was!more!than!five!years!ago.! •**Diphtheria:! Boosters!should!be!taken!every!ten!years;!it!is!typically!administered! together!with!tetanus.!This!is!called!the!Td!vaccine.! •**Typhoid:! Please!make!sure!you!are!up!to!date!with!this!immunization.! •**Hepatitis*A: ! This!may!afford!protection!against!this!highly!infectious!disease.! •**Hepatitis*B :!! Highly!recommended!for!everyone.! U U ! Additional*recommended*medication:! Malaria !Malaria!is!quite!a!significant!risk!in!the!Kruger!National!Park!where!most!of!our!time!will! be!spent.!Please!bring!antiUmalarial!medication!with!you.!There!are!several!different!malarial! prophylactics!available;!consult!your!physician!or!travel!clinic!about!the!appropriate!prescription! for!the!areas!you!plan!to!visit!and!to!ensure!the!prophylactics!are!administered!correctly.! (According!to!the!physicians!in!Skukuza!who!deal!with!malaria!your!best!product!is!Malarone.)!! ! Optional*vaccination:* Rabies:!You!may!have!the!opportunity!to!work!on!small!mammal!studies!with!bats!and!rodents.! Students!who!are!interested!in!handling!bats!must!have!the!threeUshot!rabies!vaccination!series.! Note!that!this!is!an!optional!vaccination!but!please!check!with!your!doctor.! ! : !! E. COMMUNICATIONS* U ! 1. Important*Names*and*Numbers* * The!OTS!is!a!nonUprofit!consortium!of!over!60!institutions!in!the!U.S.,!Costa!Rica,!Australia,!Mexico,! Peru!and!South!Africa!that!has!been!involved!in!training!and!education!in!tropical!biology!and! resource!management!for!50!years.!OTS!has!two!administrative!centers!relevant!to!the!South!African! program:! ! NAO*(NORTH*AMERICAN*OFFICE)!is!located!at!Duke!University,!Durham,!N.C.! Organization!of!Tropical!Studies! Box!90633! Durham,!NC!27708U0633!USA! Tel.:!! (919)!684U5774! Fax:! (919)!684U5661! Email:! [email protected] ! Contact!Details!for!the!office!in!South!Africa:! ! The!Kruger*Office*(KO)!is!situated!in!the!Kruger!National!Park,!Mpumalanga.! Organization!for!Tropical!Studies! P.O.!Box!33! Skukuza,!1350! !! South!Africa! Tel.:! (+27)!13!735U5301! Mobile:! (+27)!82!422U6225! Email:! [email protected]! ! Both!incoming!and!outgoing!mail!will!pass!through!KO.!Persons!answering!OTS!numbers!at!KO!speak! English.! ! 2. Telephone* ! There!will!be!telephones!available!at!all!the!camps!in!the!Park.!These!are!pay!phones!and!both!local! and!international!phone!cards!can!be!bought!at!the!camp!shops.!Incoming!calls!to!students!will!have! to!be!made!to!the!OTS!office!at!Skukuza.!The!students!will!then!be!directed!to!phone!their!parents.!It! might!be!worth!acquiring!a!South!African!mobile!phone!upon!arrival!in!order!to!stay!in!touch!(ask!our! advice!when!you!arrive!),!although!generally!speaking!we!travel!in!areas!with!reasonable!landline! contact.! ! 3. Email*and*Internet* * You!will!have!email!and!internet!access!at!the!Skukuza!camp!and!at!internet!cafés!on!our!town!breaks.! Because!access!is!limited,!you!will!need!to!plan!for!it!e.g.!students!often!struggle!with!course! enrolment,!so!you!may!want!to!organize!this!via!the!registrar!office!before!you!come.!Students!may! also!struggle!when!it!comes!to!writing!up!projects!when!you!are!in!areas!with!limited!or!no!internet.! Staff!will!advise!you!of!what!you!should!be!preparing!for!while!you!are!in!areas!with!internet!access,! please!listen!to!and!make!use!of!their!advice.!!Please!refer!to!the!site!chart!in!this!document!that!lets! you!know!where!you!will!not!have!internet!or!cell!phone!contact.!!Share!the!information!with!your! family!and!friends!so!they!will!not!worry!when!they!don’t!hear!from!you!for!a!while.!!We!have! emergency!communication!capabilities!while!visiting!all!of!the!sites.! ! 4. Letters*and*Packages* * Letters!and!packages!can!be!mailed!directly!to!the!Kruger!Office!(KO).!Please!also!note!that!large! packages!require!a!post!office/customs!processing/handling!fee!of!anywhere!between!R25!and!R200.!! Letters!are!however!a!nice!way!to!stay!in!touch!during!the!time!where!you!will!be!too!busy!or!off! email!lines.!The!letters!can!be!handed!in!at!all!the!reception!areas!of!the!camps!and!they!will!be!put! into!the!mail!from!there! ! Your!address!while!you!are!in!the!Kruger!National!Park!will!be:! Your!Name! OTS!Undergraduate!Course! c/o!Laurence!Kruger!! P.O.!Box!33! Skukuza,!1350! South!Africa!! * F. GENERAL*INFORMATION*ABOUT*TRAVELING*IN*SOUTH*AFRICA* U ! 1. Safety* ! Your!safety!is!one!of!our!main!concerns.!We!will!do!everything!possible!to!make!you!aware!of!the! risks!and!appropriate!precautions!at!all!sites.!The!major!risks!within!the!Park!are!wild!animals!and! diseases.!To!minimize!the!risks!of!encounters!with!wild!animals,!we!will!travel!in!the!field!with!armed! game!guards!at!all!times!while!we!are!in!Kruger.!Students!must!not!leave!the!group!when!they!are!in! the!field!and!they!must!obey!the!instructions!of!the!program!staff!and!the!game!guards!at!all!times.! There!will!also!be!a!guard!on!duty!at!the!main!gate!of!each!camp.!The!camps!are!all!surrounded!by! electric!fencing!to!keep!the!big!animals!like!elephants,!hyenas,!and!leopards!out.!You!will!be!informed! of!all!relevant!rules!and!instructions!once!you!are!in!the!Park.!!Heed!them!closely!and!stay!alert!in!the! field!at!all!times.! ! Diseases!such!as!malaria!and!tick!bite!fever!are!treatable!but!it!is!much!better!to!prevent!the!disease! rather!than!to!treat!it.!We!have!strict!procedures!regarding!keeping!screens!on!windows!and!doors! closed,!using!mosquito!repellent,!and!covering!up!arms!and!legs!during!evening!and!night!hours.!It!is! also!extremely!important!for!students!to!report!any!unusual!symptoms!(especially!headaches!and! fevers)!to!the!instructors!immediately.!The!doctors!at!Skukuza!are!excellent!at!recognizing!and! treating!the!most!common!ailments!presented!by!the!1!million!tourists!that!pass!through!the!Kruger! Park!every!year.!Nearby!clinics!are!modern!and!wellUequipped.!Hundreds!of!game!rangers,!park!staff! members,!and!their!families!have!lived!for!years!in!Kruger!without!contracting!diseases!or!being! confronted!with!dangerous!animals.!Most!of!the!U.S.!students!will!be!unused!to!the!particular! challenge!presented!by!this!environment,!however,!and!we!strongly!urge!you!to!take!all! recommended!precautions.!!! ! As!you!all!know,!South!Africa!is!a!country!undergoing!a!transition!from!minority!white!rule!to!a! majority!political!system.!Many!issues!of!power,!wealth,!and!politics!are!in!a!state!of!flux.!In!part! because!of!this,!South!Africa!also!has!a!high!crime!rate,!especially!in!urban!centers.!To!minimize!the! risk!of!encountering!dangerous!crime!situations,!we!will!avoid!urban!areas!as!much!as!possible.! Violent!crime!is!not!considered!to!be!a!problem!within!Kruger!National!Park.! ! When!you!are!outside!the!Park,!you!should!take!precautions!similar!to!those!you!would!take!in!any! populated!area!in!an!unfamiliar!country.! ! • Always!carry!a!photocopy!of!your!passport!and!keep!the!original!in!a!safe!place!(they!can!be! stored!in!the!OTS!safe!in!Skukuza).! • Never!carry!more!cash!than!what!is!absolutely!necessary.! • Do!not!wear!expensive!jewelry!and!watches.! • Keep!a!tight!hold!on!your!belongings!at!all!times!in!public!areas.!! • ALWAYS !travel!in!groups.! • Always!carry!the!phone!numbers!of!the!faculty!with!you.!This!will!be!given!to!you!in!the! beginning!of!our!time!together.! • Do!not!engage!in!reckless!or!risky!behavior.! • Always!inform!the!faculty!where!you!will!be!and!where!we!can!find!you,!even!if!you!are!going! on!a!brief!jog!around!the!inside!perimeter!of!the!camp!fence.! • Inform!faculty!immediately!of!any!situation!or!person!that!causes!you!to!feel!in!any!way! uncomfortable!or!threatened.! • Do!not!drink!to!excess.!Stay!in!control!and!be!aware!of!your!surroundings.! • If!you!take!illegal!drugs!–!you!will!be!expelled.! U ! U The!phone!number!for!the!U.S.!Consulate!in!Pretoria!is!(+27)!12!342U1048.!We!also!advise!that!you! register!with!the!STEP!program!(https://step.state.gov/step/).! ! Please!check!out!the!following!website!before!coming!to!South!Africa:!http://travel.state.gov/.! Here!you!will!find!tips!on!safety!and!travel!before!you!make!your!move!here.!Your!safety!is!our!first! priority.! * 2. Special*Information*for*Women*Travelers* ! Many!of!the!cultures!in!Southern!Africa!do!not!believe!in!women’s!rights!from!a!first!world! perspective.!Sexual!harassment!and!rape!in!South!Africa!do!occur.!Here!are!a!few!guidelines!as!how!to! limit!your!exposure!to!this!kind!of!treatment.! ! • Never!go!out!alone.! • Always!try!to!make!sure!that!you!have!a!male!friend!with!you.! • Never!make!a!male!feel!unwanted!–!rather!just!move!on!without!provoking!him!into!anger.! • Never!accept!an!open!drink!from!a!stranger!or!even!someone!you!think!is!nice.! • Don’t!be!overly!friendly.!Your!intentions!might!be!mistaken.! • • * * If!you!feel!uncomfortable!at!any!time!make!sure!your!friends!realize!this!and!get!away!as! soon!as!possible.!Report!any!incidents!as!soon!as!possible!to!one!of!the!faculty.!Remember!we! are!here!to!help!you!make!your!stay!in!South!Africa!as!enjoyable!as!possible.! Remain!at!all!times!in!control!and!be!aware!of!your!surroundings.! 3. Sexual*Harassment* We!are!committed!to!maintaining!a!healthy!and!productive!work!environment.!OTS!has!a!strong! policy!regarding!sexual!harassment.!Sexual!harassment!is!defined!as!all!sexual!conduct!that!is! undesired!by!the!person(s)!to!whom!it!is!directed,!and!that!provokes!negative!effects!or!impacts!in! the!following!cases:! ! • Conditions!of!academic!standing.!These!are!actions!that!may!occur!in!the!context!of!the! studentUteacher!relationship,!such!as!grade!alteration,!dismissal!from!the!program!or! modifications!of!student!evaluations.! • Productivity.!These!are!actions!that!may!affect!the!normal!development!of!academic!and!field! activities,!resulting!in!lack!of!motivation,!low!efficiency,!absenteeism,!etc.! • General!personal!wellUbeing.!These!are!actions!that!negatively!affect!a!person’s!ability!to! confront!daily!activities!in!the!field!or!in!the!classroom.! ! Both!overt!and!subtle!forms!of!sexual!harassment!are!prohibited!at!all!OTS!facilities!and!during!all! OTSUsponsored!activities.!If!you!have!any!questions,!complaints,!or!find!yourself!in!need!of!any!other! assistance!in!this!regard!during!your!stay!in!South!Africa,!you!are!strongly!urged!to!contact!an!OTS! member!of!staff!with!whom!you!feel!comfortable!discussing!your!concerns.!If!for!any!reason!you!do! not!feel!comfortable!discussing!concerns!about!sexual!harassment!with!faculty,!we!ask!that!you! contact!the!ViceUPresident!of!Global!Programs!and!Partnerships,!Ed!Stashko,[email protected] .! U * G. WHAT*TO*BRING* U * This!section!includes!three!check!lists!to!help!you!in!packing!for!your!trip.!! ! • Clothing!and!Personal!items! • Essential!Field!Equipment! • Almost!Essential!Field!Equipment! ! As!a!general!rule,!travel!as!light!as!possible.!It!is!hard!to!dictate!the!optimal!numbers!and!kinds!of!bags! you!should!bring.!Here!are!some!useful!hints.!Avoid!bringing!large,!hard!suitcases.!Ideally,!bring!a!single! canvas!bag,!however!you!may!bring!two!smaller!bags!if!you!prefer.!In!your!baggage!you!should!definitely! bring!one!small!backpack!to!take!into!the!field.!You!will!be!able!to!put!water!or!thirst!quenchers!and!some! snacks!in!and!your!data!records!as!you!need!to!be!able!to!move!fast!and!have!your!hands!free.!Expect!any! bag!you!bring!to!get!dirty.! ! For!clothes,!leave!all!the!things!that!will!cause!you!to!overheat!at!home.!Try!cotton!or!cottonUblends.!Label! all!your!clothes,!as!this!will!make!it!easier!to!identify!your!own!things!if!clothes!do!get!mixed!up.!Except! for!your!town!clothes,!the!clothes!you!wear!in!the!field!are!in!for!a!rough!time.!This!is!thorn!bush!country.! Plan!on!keeping!some!clothes!for!relaxation!after!you!come!in!from!the!field.!This!is!a!wonderful!area!and! it!is!marvelous!to!sit!outside!at!night!–!just!make!sure!that!you!have!long!pants!and!long!sleeves!to!keep! the!mosquitoes!at!bay.!It!can!get!very!hot!here!in!summer!–!between!36!and!45!degrees!Celsius!–!so!please! ensure!that!the!clothes!you!bring!for!sleepwear!are!cool.! ! The!fully!equipped!OTS!student!brings!all!the!items!listed!on!the!following!three!check!lists.!Nonetheless! your!own!personal!habits,!whether!you!prefer!to!be!overUprepared!or!would!rather!“makeUdo”,!and! research!interests!should!be!considered!in!deciding!what!to!bring.!Students!on!our!programs!advise!us! that!they!might!not!have!packed!enough!of!the!following:!aspirin,!bandanas,!vitamins,!contact!lenses,! alarm!clocks,!comfortable!nonUfield!work!clothes!and!city*clothes.! ! If!you!have!any!questions!about!what!to!bring,!please!contact!Patty!Kustron,!Colleen!Cluett!or!Laurence! Kruger.! Check*List*#*1* * ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Clothes*and*Personal*Items* Valid*Passport.* Money*and/or*Travelers*Checks.!Please!note!that!Skukuza!is!the!only!camp! with!a!full!service!bank!(aside!from!Cape!Town!and!Johannesburg).!Most! other!camps!have!ATM!machines.!It!will!be!wise!to!always!have!some!cash! with!you.! Shirts.!Three!for!Town,!three!for!field,!a!few!TUshirts!for!normal!days.!Girls! may!want!to!consider!bringing!a!few!tankUtops!for!the!hot!days.! Pants.!Two!to!three!pairs!of!pants.!Sturdy,!loose!fitting!pants!are!best!for!the! field!because!of!the!thorns!and!thick!bushes!(many!students!prefer!a!pair!of! Nylon!pants!e.g.!North!Face!pants.!You!will!need!a!pair!of!Jeans!for!cooler! evenings!and!the!city!periods!and!a!pair!of!sweat!pants!has!been!described!as! a!mustUhave.!! Shorts.!Three!or!four!shorts,!girls!may!want!to!bring!a!few!skirts.!We!also! encourage!women!to!bring!a!belowUknee!length!skirt!for!use!during!the! homestays.! Warm*Clothing.*Although!most!areas!we!visit!will!be!warm,!the!weather!can! change!rapidly!and!it!can!be!quite!chilly!in!the!Cape,!so!at!least!one!warm! jacket!is!essential!(e.g.!a!Polarfleece!jacket).!One!or!two!sweaters!may!also!be! useful.!Warm!hats!would!be!useful.! Clothing*for*Towns.*Bring!a!few!sets!of!clothing!for!Cape!Town!and! Johannesburg!i.e.!going!out!in!the!city.!These!clothes!will!also!be!useful!for! your!final!presentations!and!final!dinner.! Rain*Jacket*or*Poncho.* Swim*Suit.* Wide*Brimmed*Hat.! Underwear.!Ten!pairs!should!be!enough.! Socks.!Five!to!seven!pairs.!Bring!a!few!that!can!be!pulled!up!to!your!knees!for! the!field!as!this!will!protect!you!from!ticks.!! Light*Hiking*Boots.!Heavy!boots!are!not!necessary!and!most!field!work!can! be!done!in!sneakers/running!shoes,!so!hiking!boots!are!optional.!Many! students!do!appreciate!having!a!pair!though!! Sneakers*or*Tennis*Shoes.** Comfortable*Shoes*to*Use*For*Leisure.! Teva/Chaco*type*Sandals*These!prove!to!be!very!useful!for!the!hotter!days! in!the!field.!If!you!wear!sandals!in!the!field,!they!MUST!be!strap!on.!If!charged! (by!rhinos!etc)!you!will!need!to!run!and!climb!trees!effectively.!You!will!not! be!allowed!to!wear!flipUflops!in!the!field.* Flip\flops*are!always!useful! Towels.!Towels!are!available!at!some!of!the!camps!but!it!is!still!advisable!to! bring!two!towels!along!for!those!places!that!do!not!provide!towels.!Perhaps! also!bring!an!easy!dry!towel.! Personal*Toiletries.!Most!items!are!available!at!the!camp!shops.!Women! should!note!that!tampons!and!sanitary!pads!are!mostly!available,!but!it!is! worth!stocking!up!when!you!pass!through!the!main!centers.!If!you!have!your! favorite!brands,!you!should!bring!a!supply!for!the!whole!semester!in!case!you! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! are!unable!to!find!the!appropriate!brands!in!South!Africa.! Personal*Medical*Supplies.*The!program!has!a!first!aid!kit,!but!you!should! bring!your!own!vitamins,!aspirin,!antiseptic,!hydrocortisone!cream,!Band! Aids,!etc.!You!will!be!able!to!purchase!most!of!these!things!once!we!get!to! Kruger!Park,!but!you!should!pack!enough!of!these!items!for!our!first!two! weeks!at!Nylsvley.!! Extra*Eyeglasses*or*Contact*Lenses*and*Prescription.!Bring!extras!in!case! yours!get!broken!or!lost.!You!should!also!bring!extra!lens!solution!(brands! might!differ!in!South!Africa).! Sunglasses.!A!must!for!those!who!want!to!prevent!headaches!and!eye! damage.! High\rated*Sunscreen.!! Sewing*Needles,*Strong*Thread,*Extra*Buttons,*Safety*Pins,*and* Shoe/Boot*Laces.* Insect*Sting*Kit.!If!you!are!allergic!to!bee!stings!please!bring!an!emergency! adrenalin!kit.!PLEASE(inform(the(faculty(of(your(allergy.! Paperback*Books*or*your*Kindle.!Mark!and!be!prepared!to!swap!with! classmates.! Photos.*Bring!photos!of!your!family,!college,!hometown,!etc.!This!is!so!we!can! all!get!to!know!each!other!better.! Sleeping*bags.*These!are!required!at!some!of!the!camps!we!visit!we!will! advise!you!of!which!ones!when!you!are!here.!Also!a!pillow!is!optional!as!some! sites!do!not!provide!pillows.! ! * * Check*List*#*2* * Essential*Field*Equipment ! Binoculars.!Even!if!you!are!not!a!bird!enthusiast,!these!are!essential!for! numerous!field!projects.!Most!leopards!and!cheetahs!are!also!only!detected! through!these.! ! Flash*Light.!These!are!essential,!especially!to!make!sure!there!are!no!night! time!encounters!with!snakes!and!scorpions.!Headlamps*are*essential.! ! Batteries.!These!should!either!be!alkaline!or!rechargeable.!If!you!use! rechargeable!please!bring!your!reUcharger!with!you,!as!none!are!available!at! the!camps.! ! Pocket\knife.*The!Swiss!Army!type!with!the!multiple!functions!is!best.!Pack! your!knife!in!your!luggage!and!not!in!your!carryUon!bag.!If!you!plan!on! bringing!a!knife,!you!are!only!allowed!to!bring!foldingUstyle!pocketknives!or! multiUtool!knives.!The!blade!of!the!knife!must!be!no!longer!than!the!width!of! your!palm,!and!must!either!have!a!singleUbutton!locking!mechanism!or!no! blade!lock!at!all.!Fixed!blades!and!switch!blades!are!not!allowed,!which! includes!Bowie!knives,!butterfly!knives,!hunting!knives,!etc.! ! Travel*Alarm*Clock.** ! Wristwatch.!! ! A!Daypack*for!daily!field!use.!This!must!be!big!enough!to!hold!a!water!bottle! and!notebooks!as!well!as!snacks!while!out!in!the!field.!Please!ensure!that!the! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! pack!can!be!carried!on!your!back,!as!you!need!to!have!your!hands!free.! A*smaller*travel*bag*for!sites!where!you!will!spend!shorter!amounts!of!time* Insect*Repellent*and*Good*Anti\Itch*Cream.* Tick*Repellent!Spray*or*Lotion.!! Lecture*and*Field*Notebooks.!!These!can!also!be!purchased!from!Hazyview! or!Nelspruit.!! Laptop*Computer.!It!is!advisable!that!you!bring!your!own!Laptop.!Check!to! see!whether!your!computer!and!camera!are!covered!on!your!(or!your! parents’)!homeowner’s!insurance!policy.!OTS!will!not!assume!responsibility! in!case!of!damage,!loss,!or!theft.!Safety!of!your!equipment!(from!theft!AND! damage)!is!of!our!highest!concern,!so!we!will!ensure!that!computers!are!safe! during!travel!periods.!Please!email!us!if!you!do!not!own!your!own!laptop* Several*Pencils*and*Ballpoint*Pens.!! Water*Bottle/Canteen.!YOUR!MOST!IMPORTANT!ITEM!! Plastic*Folder.!You!will!use!this!to!store!handouts.! Pocket*Calculator,*unless!you!are!comfortable!using!one!on!your!computer! or!phone.* Sense*of*Humor.*A!must!for!long!hot!days!in!the!field!when!nothing!is!going! as!you!planned!it!to!! Check*List*#*3* * Almost*Essential*Field*Equipment ! Camera.!It’s!a!good!idea!to!also!remember!a!UVUfilter!or!a!haze!filter!to! protect!your!lens.!If!you!bring!a!digital!camera,!make!sure!you!have!the!cable! to!download!your!photos!onto!a!computer.! ! Watertight,*Plastic*Bags.!You!need!something!watertight!to!store!camera,! flash,!film,!and!calculator.! ! iPod!or*an!iTrip.!These!are!helpful!for!the!long!trips!between!camps.! ! Musical*Instruments.!!If!you!can!play!–!Please"don’t"forget!! ! Field*Guides.!The!course!library!has!quite!a!few!guides!but!if!you!would!like! to!have!your!own!remember!to!bring!money!to!purchase!them.!Typical!field! guides!run!anywhere!from!R140!to!R300!($20U$40).!There!are!also!several! excellent!inexpensive!guides!published!by!Kruger!Park.! ! Flash*Drive*and/or*External*Drive.*Advisable!to!help!with!transfer!of! information.!External!drives!very!NB!if!you!take!a!great!deal!of!photographs.! ! Statistical*Software.*Such!as!Statistica,!R!or!whichever!you!are!comfortable! with.! ! Up\to\date*antivirus*software.*This!is!very!important!for!all!pc!users.! ! ! * H. OVERALL*EXPECTATIONS* ! The!OTS!experience!provides!you!with!a!fantastic!opportunity!to!learn!about!field!biology!in!a!way!that!is! not!likely!available!to!you!at!your!home!institutions.!You!will!have!the!chance!to!interact!with!resident! and!visiting!faculty!on!both!a!professional!and!personal!level!and!the!interactive!nature!of!the!program! provides!an!amazing!learning!experience.!However,!because!the!four!courses!are!run!simultaneously!and! deliverables!overlap,!the!course!is!very!intense!academically.!Unlike!the!structured!schedules!you!may!be! used!to!at!home,!this!course!relies!heavily!on!student!commitment!and!personal!time!management!skills.! We!hope!not!to!intimidate!you,!but!rather!to!excite!you!about!the!challenges!and!learning!opportunities! that!await!you.!Come!with!a!curious!and!motivated!attitude!and!you!will!be!well!rewarded;!much!of!the! success!of!the!semester!depends!upon!you!and!recognizing!that!the!more!you!put!into!it!the!more!you!will! get!out!of!it!! ! Many!students!who!have!participated!in!the!South!Africa!program!have!reported!that!it!is!a!life!changing! experience.!Not!only!do!we!hope!to!leave!you!with!a!greater!understanding!of!biological!systems!and! ecological!interactions,!but!you!will!have!numerous!cultural!and!personal!experiences!and!interactions! with!classmates!and!faculty!that!will!create!lasting!memories.!You!will!likely!gain!insights!into!who!you! are!as!a!person!and!will!make!friendships!that!will!last!a!lifetime.! ! It!is!best!that!you!come!with!little!in!the!way!of!expectations!bar!the!academic!ones.!The!best!way!to! prepare!yourselves!is!to!read,!and!reUread!all!the!material!we!send!you!and!then!open!your!mind!to!a! completely!unique!learning!experience.!Many!of!you!will!come!from!different!backgrounds!and!different! academic!experiences!and!it!is!difficult!to!design!a!program!that!tailors!to!everyone’s!needs.!However,!the! staff!on!OTS!South!Africa!are!committed!to!facilitating!both!your!academic!and!personal!experiences!and! we!are!sure!you!in!for!a!great!semester!!!!
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