Summer Wildlife Ecology + Conservation
Unique Experiences
Learn New Skills
Acquire skills in field techniques used in wildlife conservation.
Explore Botswana Wildlife
Travel to one of the most renowned game reserves in Africa to enjoy a fully integrated STEM experience combining life sciences, conservation, and environmental sciences into a holistic wildlife management curriculum.
Gain First-Hand Experience
Interact with the local community to learn about human-wildlife conflict and its impact on sustainable wildlife conservation efforts.
40 %
Botswana’s Territory Reserved for Conservation
130 K
Botswana’s Population of African Elephants, Biggest in the World
70 %
Ercentage of Botswana’s Total Area That Is a Desert
The Destination
A multiparty democracy, Botswana is one of Africa’s most stable countries. Most of its people belong to a single ethnic group, the Tswana, and the country is well known for its rich biodiversity and diverse landscapes. The capital Gaborone is one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, located in the south, close to the South African border. Gaborone hosts the headquarters of the Southern African Development Community, which focuses on regional development, economic growth, and poverty relief.
CIEE Gaborone has its offices at the University of Botswana, one of the main and oldest universities in the country. The University is located in the center of the city, within walking distance to major shopping centers and government offices.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Travel to Okavango Delta and engage in face-to-face discussions with villagers on issues of human-wildlife conflict and conservation.
- Interview stakeholders engaged in wildlife conservation in Botswana to understand challenges and success.
- Discover Botswana’s rich history during excursions to Cultural Village.
Program Blogs
What I Packed to Study Abroad in Gaborone, Botswana
A master list of the items you should bring to study abroad in Gaborone, Botswana - including tips and tricks from my student perspective at the University of Botswana campus.
Arthur Pounds Join UB Marathon: Persevering through the finish line
Authored by: Ruby Pitinyane On October 13, 2024, Arthur Pounds (AJ) took part in the University of Botswana (UB) marathon at the UB Stadium, marking a significant milestone for him... keep reading
Study Abroad in Botswana Africa
For my study abroad, I chose the Community Public Health Program in Gaborone Botswana during the Fall 2024 semester. I am a public health major on a pre-PA track and... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Gaborone offers diverse housing options to ensure you’re comfortable in your home away from home. From homestays to on-campus shared apartments, your accommodation preferences will be met.
Standard Housing: Includes a single room at a homestay or in a shared residence apartment. Homestays boast a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family and are located under 60 minutes from CIEE Gaborone. Shared apartments feature a shared kitchen, bathroom, and living room and are situated on campus, roughly 10 minutes (on foot) to CIEE Gaborone. Students living on campus will be provided with basic cooking utensils and a stove to prepare their own meals.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
Homestays: Students have breakfast and dinner with their host families and are responsible for lunch.
Shared Apartments: Meals are not included. There are cooking facilities in the apartments. Additionally, there are dining halls on campus, as well as local restaurants and cafés nearby.
Academics
The program explores Botswana’s amazing wildlife as a compelling example for sustainable wildlife management, species protection, ecology, and behavior. At the same time, students consider human well-being and how wildlife support conflicts with their human neighbors. To do so, students take a suite of coordinated biology, conservation, and environmental studies courses in English with CIEE instructors. The 8-week program is based in Gaborone with extensive travel and field study in Botswana’s multiple ecological habitats, including world-renowned wildlife and game reserves, including the Kalahari and Okavango Delta.
Course Information
Summer 2025
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Ritzmann Tropical and Marine Ecology Scholarships
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- Stohl International Undergraduate Research Scholarships
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer 2025 8 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $8,250 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 |
| Educational Costs | $6,610 * |
| Housing | $1,140 ** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $8,250 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $112 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $130 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $25 |
| Personal expenses | $160 †††† |
| Total Costs | $2,127 |
*direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
**Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in Residence Halls, you should budget approx. $336 for meals
††Round trip based on East coast departure
†††For homestay budget an additional 100 USD for travel from home to campus
††††If you plan on traveling independently budget for more depending on your plans
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Basetsana Maposa
Center Director
Basetsana Masego Maposa is a seasoned health, gender, and international development professional with over 15 years of experience managing and directing national and multilateral public health projects. She holds two...
Keneilwe Manisa
Program Assistant
Keneilwe completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Botswana in 2022. She started as a student volunteer in 2019 and also has experience with...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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