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Submitted by Makenzie Dowlin on the 2024 Winter ENWC program in Tanzania…

Week 1:

After over twenty-four hours of travel, including two long flights spanning two days, we landed in Tanzania and set foot directly on the tarmac in the country where we would be spending the next month. There are nineteen students on this trip, the majority of us don’t know one another and as we look forward to what is to come, we are already hit with a significant challenge almost as soon as we arrive. Our luggage has been lost and we are now facing a trip filled with camping and outdoor activities with only what we have packed in our carry-on day packs. The next few days without our checked bags would prove to be a bit challenging for some, but ultimately, we were all in the same boat, and although we were tired, a little smelly, and wearing the same clothes for the past few days, it didn’t stop any of us from taking advantage of experiencing all that we did in our first week.

We are staying at a camp location in tents and ultimately got our bags back after the first few days of the trip. However, so much has happened since we arrived. We hit the ground running in regard to learning about the culture and wildlife surrounding us. In this first week, we have not only walked through the local village while interacting with the children and people living there, but also visited Arusha National Park where we had our first up-close encounters with wildlife bird and mammal species, interacted and learned from the Maasai people about their culture and practices, but also learned about the conservational efforts taking place here. In addition to these experiences, we have also been immersed in this new culture, trying new foods, and engaging in learning Swahili with our guides who are teaching us common greetings and sentences.

Although not much time has passed, I have gotten to know and have become grateful for the peers joining me on this trip, in many more ways than one. In one instance specifically, I really appreciate getting to hear the questions they ask, as I have learned so much just by hearing others pose different questions, share their perspectives, and contribute to conversations, adding to our chance to learn as much as possible. In addition to the other students, I have really enjoyed the time spent with our guides and school faculty, they are so knowledgeable and I truly love getting to talk to them and learn about their experiences, as our entire group continues to grow closer.

All in all, observing wildlife, both the many bird species as well as the African mammal species, is almost always the highlight of my day. I love having the chance to stand up in the safari trucks to look for wildlife. It sometimes feels surreal as you look out at your surroundings with the wind blowing in your face, realizing how in awe you actually are to be here in Tanzania observing such amazing animals as well as the insects, plants, and landscapes present all around. There are no words or even pictures that do it justice and it is hard to describe just how amazing of a feeling it is to witness it all so close. It truly has been such an insightful experience to be immersed in the animal’s natural habitat, view their natural behaviors, experience their surroundings, and hear their calls as you fall asleep in your tent at night, and it has only just begun.

Week 2:

Just like that, before we know it, it’s already week two of our program and it feels like it’s going by too quickly. This week has been busy and packed with such valuable cultural and wildlife experiences. Throughout the past few days we have traveled quite a bit, spending a couple days in each new location, and learning from the local people in each place as we go. Traveling such a distance, passing through the Rift Valley, Nou Forest, Mbulu Highlands, and Yaeda Valley regions allowed us the opportunity to take notice of and observe the landscapes as they transform and change. It is clear that you can see distinct changes in the land, plant diversity, climate, and civilizations including homes and structures as we got closer to each destination, even the air smelled and felt different in certain places.

We had the opportunity to spend time with multiple local communities, learning directly from them about their cultural practices and lifestyles. For instance, we got to spend a lot of time with the Hadza people in the Yaeda Valley. The Hadza are among one of the only remaining hunter-gatherer societies existing in Africa that rely on what the land provides to sustain their lifestyle. They are very open people who live simple lives in fluid communities. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn from and interact with them, sharing many new experiences, including making and shooting bows and arrows with the men, making beaded bracelets with the women, visiting their homes, gathering food, going hunting, climbing baobab trees, singing, dancing, and spending time communicating and asking questions about each other’s cultures.

To be more specific, one of our highlights with the Hadza was when we all participated in learning how to make arrows from branches we gathered on a hike. It was such an amazing process, watching them methodically transition through every step of the process while also including us as well, teaching us each step, and walking us through as we all made our own arrows. It amazed me to think about how this was such a simple and everyday task for them and yet they intently but effortlessly worked on each arrow, being patient with us, taking the time to show us what to do. Knowing that this process is so essential to their lifestyle made it all the more interesting to watch as they rely on making the tools they use to hunt and gather all of their food. After making the arrows, they even taught us how to shoot them, which was so fun as we all tried to aim and hit the target.

The time we spent with the Hadza was so insightful and when we had the opportunity to speak with them, it was very interesting being able to hear the responses and translations of their answers to our questions as well as hearing the questions they had for us. I think it’s easy to forget or neglect to realize that people don’t know much about our culture in the same way we don’t know about theirs. Being able to learn from each other was a truly valuable experience. I admire their openness and curiosity, and really enjoyed spending time with them. One last special moment to share that is definitely a favorite of mine is singing and dancing with them around the fire. This was such a fun experience, and I loved that they welcomed us in this way. Learning the words and the movements of the dances, as well as laughing and jumping around with them was truly incredible and a memorable experience I will always cherish.

Week 3:

It’s already week three, how crazy is that? Another week down and only a short time left to go. This week was filled with exciting wildlife encounters and sightings, including some unlike any we had experienced on the trip so far. Over the past few days, we spent time in Karatu, Ngorongoro National Park including both the Crater and the Conservation Area, as well as Ndutu, where we had a chance to witness interesting animal behaviors while also gaining some valuable knowledge about conservation in the area.

During our time visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, we traveled down winding roads on the sides of the mountain with beautiful views of the crater below until we reached the bottom where it opened up into a flat open plain. There were animals everywhere we looked and as far as we could see, wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle were scattered across the land. We were able to get so close to them and really spend time observing their behaviors closely, seeing even the most minute movements and details through our binoculars. Not only were the animals abundant but we were able to get some rare views as well. For instance, among the more common species we see most often, such as gazelle, zebra, wildebeest, elephants, and giraffe, we also got to see black rhinos in the far distance as well as a hippo out of the water, golden jackals, a honey badger, and a pair of lions mating. There were so many animals we were able to observe, it was truly an incredible opportunity to witness firsthand.

However, it doesn’t end there, we would go on to see a Mama lion and her three cubs up close and personal the next day. They were out in the open and she was nearby as the three cubs ran and played with each other. We were able to get a great view to watch them as they all interacted. It was so interesting to watch the cubs’ behavior as it mimics the actions that will one day be essential to them becoming good hunters. You can see them stalk their siblings, pouncing and tumbling together ultimately teaching themselves how to hunt their future prey. Yet another amazing animal sighting was three cheetah brothers that could be found cooling down in a shady spot beneath a tree. While we got to see them resting together, we also witnessed them with a fresh wildebeest kill which they had caught just moments earlier. Watching the behaviors that go along with such a sighting was such a cool experience as we got to observe a display of their natural instincts so closely.

Among the up-close animal sightings, we experienced, my tentmate and I had an additional close animal encounter. It was late at night, and we heard footsteps and loud sniffing and rustling sounds just outside the entrance to our tent. The zipper jingled as if something was trying to get in. The light was on and nothing could be seen through the screen windows. Once the lights were turned off, under the bright light of the moon that night, it could be seen that there was a honey badger right outside our tent that had been trying to get in. Now we could both see and hear it walking around the perimeter of our tent through the screen window beside my bed. Still hearing the sniffling and scratching, it came closer, walking right below my window as I looked down upon it, watching it as it walked by. Wow! It then walked over to the tent next door and did the same, waking another member of our group. Ultimately, we were able to scare it away, avoiding a honey badger break-in. However, we walked away with such a crazy and exciting experience that we will always remember. There was no better way for end a week already filled with amazing wildlife.

Week 4:

It’s our last week here in Tanzania and we have been so lucky to see and do as much as we have. The experience has been amazing and as we spent our last safari game drive in the Serengeti earlier this week, we have made our way back to Arusha where our trip began. To recap a bit, our time in the Serengeti truly lived up to what we were all hoping for, with the views and landscapes of tall grasses and acacia trees that we grew up knowing from the wildlife documentaries and movies we obsessed over as kids, it truly made for a full circle moment. We had just spent the last month traveling through Tanzania visiting a handful of National Parks where we were able to observe wildlife up close and in ways I had never dreamed I would have the chance to. For many of us, it was a literal dream come true. Our last few days on safari were filled with lion sightings, views of hyenas, hippos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and thousands of migrating wildebeest, not to mention the countless bird species. It was a perfect way to bring our game drive experiences to an end.

However, the trip wasn’t completely over just yet, we still had a couple of days left. They were spent in a lodge where we had time to recoup and refresh before heading to the local markets to buy souvenirs for ourselves, friends, and family. With the time remaining, we got to experience aspects of the local life as we explored the area, taking taxis, eating at local restaurants, and spending quality time with each other in addition to the guides that we had all become so close with over the past month. It is sad to think that our time here is coming to a close, it is happening faster than I would like and we will sadly be going home soon. But these last few days have provided a lot of time to reflect on the trip as a whole. I miss my family, and while I do want to go home, I also don’t want to leave. I have learned and experienced so much here, not only from the wildlife perspective, but also from the local people, the cultures, those that are surrounding me on this trip, and from the very trip itself. I have truly gained so much from all that I learned from my time here in Tanzania. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience or better guides, professors, and peers to join me along the way. Not to mention, the relationships and bonds that have been built will forever be linked by the experiences we all had together in this study abroad program, for that and much more, I am truly grateful.