This is an 11 night, 12 day safari course and is designed as an introductory guide to African ecology and conservation. The safari is composed of informal lectures and workshops, given by expert wildlife researchers and local conservationists. Every afternoon is spent walking, driving or boating through the surrounding wilderness, with practical biological field skills taught whilst working within the African bush. The course is based out of our exclusive camp on the banks of the Okavango River, where we have excellent access to the channels and floodplains of the Delta and to unspoilt Acacia woodlands that cover the surrounding area. You will also spend time in Moremi Game Reserve or a private concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta, famous for its high densities of herbivores and carnivores and stunning scenery.
The course is ideal for GAP year and undergraduate students who wish to increase their understanding, in-depth knowledge and appreciation of African ecology.
This 11 night course costs $1680. This price includes all tuition and activities, transport within Botswana and 3 hearty meals a day with unlimited tea, coffee and water. A pay bar is available for soft and alcoholic drinks. Travel to and from Botswana, insurance and other personal costs are not included.
For full details of the course syllabus and itinerary, please see the bottom of this page. Further details of the destinations visited during the course are also available on our safari courses page.
The course can be taken as part of a specially designed and booked safari or as one of our set date departures.
Ecosystem Dynamics - 12 day Safari Course
Course Objectives
·To define ecology.
·To identify what comprises an ecological system.
·To understand how an ecosystem works.
·To understand why ecosystems are so diverse.
·To learn the role that landscape ecology plays in developing strategies for a sustainable future.
·To learn how the knowledge we uncover about ecosystems is used to help develop adaptive management and conservation
strategies.
·To associate these topics with the local setting, i.e. the Okavango Delta.
Course Destinations
·Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
·Moremi Game Reserve or a private concession
Itinerary - Day / Destination / Activities / lectures
1Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
pm: arrive in camp after drive from Maun,
2 Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
am: introductory lectures to the Okavango Delta, the surrounding environment and the rest of the course.
pm: general ecology lectures
3 Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
am: community ecology lectures
pm: bush & bird walk
4 Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
am: terrestrial ecology lectures
pm: practical experience in terrestrial surveys - game counts - insects / birds / large and small mammals - carnivores / herbivores
5 Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
am: aquatic ecology lectures
pm: practical aquatic ecology and afternoon mokoro ride - testing water quality, species markers etc
6 Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
am: all day boat ride on Okavango River discussing fish and crocodile biology and learning about crocodile research by ESA director and crocodile researcher Vince Shacks
pm: all day boat ride on Okavango River continued
7 Pan Handle Wilderness Camp
am: lectures about wildlife management issues within the Delta
pm: lectures on current conservation projects within the Delta
8 Tsodilo Hills
am: all day excursion to Tsodilo Hills, climbing the female hill in the morning to see and learn about the prehistoric bushman cave paintings
pm: Tsodilo Hills walk continued then camp next to the Female hill for the night.
9 Moremi Game Reserve
am: return to the Panhandle Camp to pack and then travel to Maun for lunch and to re-supply
pm: introductory drive into Moremi Game Reserve to set up camp.
10 Moremi Game Reserve
am: morning game drive - discuss different ecological topics from predator / prey relationships - herd social structure - resource competition for both herbivores and carnivores - immigration/ emigration and density distribution patterns - sexual strategies and social structure. All topics of conversation and discussion are inspired by what we see on each game drive, but the focus of each drive is to learn more about the specifics of the Delta's ecology.
pm: after lunch talk by local PhD wildlife researcher Harriet Bartlam, about herbivore ecology and conservation in the Delta, followed by afternoon game drive and continuation of mornings discussions
11 Moremi Game Reserve
am: morning game drive - continuation of the general ecology discussions
pm: after lunch talk by local wildlife researcher Dr Casper Bonyongo, about Buffalo ecology and conservation in the Delta, followed by afternoon game drive and continuation of mornings discussions
12Moremi Game Reserve
dep. Moremi and return to Maun
Summary: 11 night / 12 day safari
8 nights in pan handle wilderness camp
3 nights in Moremi Game Reserve or a private concession in the Delta
