Exploring Wildlife Conservation
in South Africa
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to be a FW Major?
No! You can be enrolled in any major.
Most of our students are majoring in Fisheries & Wildlife, Integrative Biology, Zoology, Pre-Vet, Animal Science,
Environmental Biology, or a related field, but we've had students from diverse majors complete and love the course!
How many credits is this worth?
Enroll in a total of 6-7 credits total:
FW 480: International Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife (2-6 credits)
LB 492: Senior Seminar (4 credits)
Satisfies experiential learning requirement!
How much does this cost?
Program fee ($1400/week for 3 weeks; approximately $4200 total)
Airfare (to and from Johannesburg, South Africa)
Tuition (6-7 credits)
What does my program fee include?
Your program fee includes all your meals in South Africa, lodging, transportation in-country, park and camping fees
in Kruger National Park, and all activities. (Everything in South Africa is covered except if you want to buy souvenirs or
extra snacks/drinks!) Your program fee also sponsors capturing and dehorning wild rhinos -- the fixed-wing plane,
helicopter, vehicles, staff (veterinarians, pilots, and scientists), equipment, and medications -- so your money actually
goes directly to save endangered wildlife, and you get to help hands-on too!
What are the accommodations like?
At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), you will stay in a dorm. Dorms include a bedroom and a private
bathroom and have electricity and running water. Most students are assigned a roommate. We will eat in a small
cafeteria. The College campus is fenced in to keep large wildlife out.
No! You can be enrolled in any major.
Most of our students are majoring in Fisheries & Wildlife, Integrative Biology, Zoology, Pre-Vet, Animal Science,
Environmental Biology, or a related field, but we've had students from diverse majors complete and love the course!
How many credits is this worth?
Enroll in a total of 6-7 credits total:
FW 480: International Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife (2-6 credits)
LB 492: Senior Seminar (4 credits)
Satisfies experiential learning requirement!
How much does this cost?
Program fee ($1400/week for 3 weeks; approximately $4200 total)
Airfare (to and from Johannesburg, South Africa)
Tuition (6-7 credits)
What does my program fee include?
Your program fee includes all your meals in South Africa, lodging, transportation in-country, park and camping fees
in Kruger National Park, and all activities. (Everything in South Africa is covered except if you want to buy souvenirs or
extra snacks/drinks!) Your program fee also sponsors capturing and dehorning wild rhinos -- the fixed-wing plane,
helicopter, vehicles, staff (veterinarians, pilots, and scientists), equipment, and medications -- so your money actually
goes directly to save endangered wildlife, and you get to help hands-on too!
What are the accommodations like?
At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), you will stay in a dorm. Dorms include a bedroom and a private
bathroom and have electricity and running water. Most students are assigned a roommate. We will eat in a small
cafeteria. The College campus is fenced in to keep large wildlife out.
Student tents at SAWC: Student dorms at SAWC:
For our multiple-day camping trip in Kruger National Park, you will stay in a tent and sleep on the ground. We provide
tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and pillows. As you see at many campgrounds in the U.S., communal bathrooms
are a short walk away and have running water. Showers are available at the communal bathrooms. We will eat our
meals outdoors. The campground is fenced in to keep large wildlife out.
tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and pillows. As you see at many campgrounds in the U.S., communal bathrooms
are a short walk away and have running water. Showers are available at the communal bathrooms. We will eat our
meals outdoors. The campground is fenced in to keep large wildlife out.
What is the Southern African Wildlife College?
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) is a highly renowned conservation institution, specializing in hands-on
training and education. They partner with conservation agencies, local communities, governments, and academic
institutions to provide onsite, field, and online courses in ecological conservation. They engage the local community
through outreach programs, such as providing onsite training -- complete with transportation and meals -- to local
K-12 students. They train conservation professionals onsite, including rangers, and conduct scientific research. They
have trained over 23,000 students from 60 countries around the world and over 15,000 rangers! Their alumni work in
130 parks across Africa. SAWC engages in many ongoing research and conservation projects. Staying at this hub of
conservation, research, and outreach is an amazing opportunity for students to learn from the many inspiring College
staff from all over the world!
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) is a highly renowned conservation institution, specializing in hands-on
training and education. They partner with conservation agencies, local communities, governments, and academic
institutions to provide onsite, field, and online courses in ecological conservation. They engage the local community
through outreach programs, such as providing onsite training -- complete with transportation and meals -- to local
K-12 students. They train conservation professionals onsite, including rangers, and conduct scientific research. They
have trained over 23,000 students from 60 countries around the world and over 15,000 rangers! Their alumni work in
130 parks across Africa. SAWC engages in many ongoing research and conservation projects. Staying at this hub of
conservation, research, and outreach is an amazing opportunity for students to learn from the many inspiring College
staff from all over the world!
Photo credit: Southern African Wildlife College
What vaccines/medications do I need?
You should have your routine vaccines up-to-date before departing for South Africa.
We recommend taking antimalarial medications during this trip. Several options are available, so you will need to
decide which is best for you. You will need to begin taking your antimalarial pills before leaving the U.S. and after
returning, so plan ahead accordingly.
You can find a full list of recommended vaccines and medications at this link.
What do I need to enter South Africa?
You must have a valid passport but, as of 2025, tourist VISAs were not required for visits under 90 days.
You can check the current travel requirements by navigating to this page and looking under "Travel requirements."
Are there any health or safety concerns I should know about?
You can find the most up-to-date information regarding safety, including current travel advisories, at this page.
We do not spend time in Johannesburg outside of the airport to minimize any safety risks. The Southern African
Wildlife College is near Kruger National Park and is surrounded by beautiful wilderness, but within a one-hour drive
of a hospital. The College campus itself is completely fenced in, keeping us separate from large wildlife. We do share
the campus with some small wildlife, such as genets and bushbabies, but students should also be cautious to avoid
venomous snakes, spiders, and scorpions. College staff and MSU faculty are available at all times. All traveling is done
in a group. MSU has International SOS membership and international health insurance provided by Chubb.
Students must advise the instructors of any medical conditions before departing the U.S. This will not affect your
position in the program; this information is only used to prepare to accommodate medical conditions.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We can accommodate many dietary restrictions, such as vegetarianism, veganism, and specific food allergies.
While in South Africa, our meals are prepared for us and we eat as a group. We will make arrangements with the
kitchen staff at the College to accommodate your needs. With that being said, some dietary restrictions are easier
to accommodate than others, and for some restrictions (e.g., gluten-free) there may be a risk of cross-
contamination. Please discuss your specific dietary restrictions with Dr. Sonja Christensen.
How heavy is the workload?
There are several assignments (essays and oral presentations) and a daily journal, but most of your time will be spent
engaging in hands-on activities and interfacing with local experts.
Will I be able to contact my family and friends from the field?
You will be able to use your phone to contact family and friends from the College. The College has WiFi available, but
you may want to consider purchasing an international plan for the duration of the trip. (We suggest using WhatsApp.)
Service is unreliable inside Kruger National Park, so you likely will not be able to check in with family during the five
days we spend camping.
What should I pack?
We will provide all students with a full packing list.
Tips:
‣ The most common mistake students make is not packing warm enough clothes! Bring a jacket, hat, and other layers.
It gets chilly at nighttime, and we have some game drives in open-top vehicles when it is dark out.
‣ You can bring your phone, but you do not need to bring your laptop! Assignments will be handwritten.
‣ A camera is not required, but if you decide to purchase or borrow a camera to bring with you, make sure you practice
using it at home and bring sufficient batteries/chargers and a memory card.
‣ Having a good pair of binoculars will help you fully enjoy the trip! If you don't own a pair, let us know before we depart
and we will arrange for you to borrow a pair.
How will this add to my resume/CV?
This class covers a wide breadth of hands-on activities, giving you lots of specific experiences to add to your CV! You
will get experience in animal handling (rhino capture and bird banding), data collection, camera trap setup, animal and
plant identification, conducting a field necropsy, and more!
What makes this program special?
This is an instructor-led course. Two Michigan State University faculty will be onsite with you at all times and faculty
attend all activities. Whether your are a seasoned traveler or brand new at it, this gives you the safest way to navigate
international travel and experience South Africa. These faculty are experts in ecology and will guide you in learning and
making the most out of your trip. This is also a great way to form relationships, and many students stay in touch with
their instructors once they return to the United States, sometimes even going on to one day work with them!
This course stands out from other MSU courses by offering the broadest overview of African wildlife conservation.
Conservation is a complex issue, especially given the ever-increasing pressure of human activity and climate change,
and saving wildlife requires a holistic approach. Rather than going on a deep dive into any one aspect of conservation,
this course allows students to explore its many diverse facets, such as research and wildlife monitoring, wildlife
veterinary medicine, community sustainability, investigating and apprehending poaching suspects, managing hunting
and tourism, and much more. This is a great fit for anyone who is curious about what types of jobs are available in
conservation and wildlife science, as well as anyone who wants to understand the real-world complexities of
conserving wildlife populations.
Finally, this course provides you with rare opportunities to get hands-on experience with wildlife and meet a huge
variety of local experts in wildlife conservation!
You should have your routine vaccines up-to-date before departing for South Africa.
We recommend taking antimalarial medications during this trip. Several options are available, so you will need to
decide which is best for you. You will need to begin taking your antimalarial pills before leaving the U.S. and after
returning, so plan ahead accordingly.
You can find a full list of recommended vaccines and medications at this link.
What do I need to enter South Africa?
You must have a valid passport but, as of 2025, tourist VISAs were not required for visits under 90 days.
You can check the current travel requirements by navigating to this page and looking under "Travel requirements."
Are there any health or safety concerns I should know about?
You can find the most up-to-date information regarding safety, including current travel advisories, at this page.
We do not spend time in Johannesburg outside of the airport to minimize any safety risks. The Southern African
Wildlife College is near Kruger National Park and is surrounded by beautiful wilderness, but within a one-hour drive
of a hospital. The College campus itself is completely fenced in, keeping us separate from large wildlife. We do share
the campus with some small wildlife, such as genets and bushbabies, but students should also be cautious to avoid
venomous snakes, spiders, and scorpions. College staff and MSU faculty are available at all times. All traveling is done
in a group. MSU has International SOS membership and international health insurance provided by Chubb.
Students must advise the instructors of any medical conditions before departing the U.S. This will not affect your
position in the program; this information is only used to prepare to accommodate medical conditions.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We can accommodate many dietary restrictions, such as vegetarianism, veganism, and specific food allergies.
While in South Africa, our meals are prepared for us and we eat as a group. We will make arrangements with the
kitchen staff at the College to accommodate your needs. With that being said, some dietary restrictions are easier
to accommodate than others, and for some restrictions (e.g., gluten-free) there may be a risk of cross-
contamination. Please discuss your specific dietary restrictions with Dr. Sonja Christensen.
How heavy is the workload?
There are several assignments (essays and oral presentations) and a daily journal, but most of your time will be spent
engaging in hands-on activities and interfacing with local experts.
Will I be able to contact my family and friends from the field?
You will be able to use your phone to contact family and friends from the College. The College has WiFi available, but
you may want to consider purchasing an international plan for the duration of the trip. (We suggest using WhatsApp.)
Service is unreliable inside Kruger National Park, so you likely will not be able to check in with family during the five
days we spend camping.
What should I pack?
We will provide all students with a full packing list.
Tips:
‣ The most common mistake students make is not packing warm enough clothes! Bring a jacket, hat, and other layers.
It gets chilly at nighttime, and we have some game drives in open-top vehicles when it is dark out.
‣ You can bring your phone, but you do not need to bring your laptop! Assignments will be handwritten.
‣ A camera is not required, but if you decide to purchase or borrow a camera to bring with you, make sure you practice
using it at home and bring sufficient batteries/chargers and a memory card.
‣ Having a good pair of binoculars will help you fully enjoy the trip! If you don't own a pair, let us know before we depart
and we will arrange for you to borrow a pair.
How will this add to my resume/CV?
This class covers a wide breadth of hands-on activities, giving you lots of specific experiences to add to your CV! You
will get experience in animal handling (rhino capture and bird banding), data collection, camera trap setup, animal and
plant identification, conducting a field necropsy, and more!
What makes this program special?
This is an instructor-led course. Two Michigan State University faculty will be onsite with you at all times and faculty
attend all activities. Whether your are a seasoned traveler or brand new at it, this gives you the safest way to navigate
international travel and experience South Africa. These faculty are experts in ecology and will guide you in learning and
making the most out of your trip. This is also a great way to form relationships, and many students stay in touch with
their instructors once they return to the United States, sometimes even going on to one day work with them!
This course stands out from other MSU courses by offering the broadest overview of African wildlife conservation.
Conservation is a complex issue, especially given the ever-increasing pressure of human activity and climate change,
and saving wildlife requires a holistic approach. Rather than going on a deep dive into any one aspect of conservation,
this course allows students to explore its many diverse facets, such as research and wildlife monitoring, wildlife
veterinary medicine, community sustainability, investigating and apprehending poaching suspects, managing hunting
and tourism, and much more. This is a great fit for anyone who is curious about what types of jobs are available in
conservation and wildlife science, as well as anyone who wants to understand the real-world complexities of
conserving wildlife populations.
Finally, this course provides you with rare opportunities to get hands-on experience with wildlife and meet a huge
variety of local experts in wildlife conservation!
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