This will be an immersive course in three parts, initially a series of lectures and tutorials about the biology of the African Savannah that occurs during the fall, secondly a field course in the Masai Mara where students will undertake projects and learn about presentation and outreach, thirdly a lecture course in the spring semester where the field work and outreach projects are revised, contextualized, completed, and presented as culminating experiences. The aim is to integrate the pieces of knowledge you have been taught in previous classes and place these in the broad ecological context of the African Savannah. Where better than to do this than the cradle of humanity? and the one place where wildlife can be observed and recorded relatively easily? East Africa, in the northern part of the Serengeti is known as the Masai Mara.

Indigenous people have a major role to play in determining the future of wildlands and how their knowledge and ownership shape the preservation and management of these lands. A fundamental component of understanding biology in the wild is to appreciate how people, in particular indigenous people interact with nature, so in addition to Masai camp staff and guides at the camp where we will be staying, we plan to bring a group of local Masai students on the course for them to provide a different and contrasting perspective to our own students. These students will come from The Maasai Mara University.

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Eligibility