Name: Abigail Ruane
Year: Junior
Major: Animal Science
Hometown: Southbury, CT
What was the program you did in Africa? South African Field Ecology course
How did you hear about it? I heard about it from a friend. I then met with the professor who accompanies the group on the trip to find out more about the program.
Why did you decide to go to Africa for the summer? It was an amazing opportunity- one that I wouldn’t be offered after college. I also wanted to get a better idea of what it is like to be a field guide in case it is something I want to do as a profession. This was the most hands-on way to gain the experience and knowledge-base I needed to make my decision.
What did you do during your time there? We spent three weeks on a reserve in the Limpopo Province sleeping in tents at a small camp out in the bush. We went on many game drives (safari’s), learned track and sign, became ‘bush’ first aid trained, went on dangerous game walks, visited a local school, went caving, and learned lots about local flora and fauna.
What was your favorite part of the trip? I honestly can’t even begin to choose what my favorite part of the trip was, but I can tell you about one really amazing experience. We watched a cheetah stalk a herd of impala. It was amazing how camouflaged she was in the tall grass as she followed the herd while they were grazing. It took just seconds for her to emerge from the grass at full speed and tackle an impala that separated from the herd. The act of catching it was basically a blur. I was using my binoculars to get a better view of her as she was crawling in the grass, so by the time she had emerged from the grass running, I had to drop my binoculars to even catch a glimpse of her in action. It is truly so hard to describe how fast she moved. We then watched her put the Impala down and then observed as she laid next to it and watched out for larger predators in the area that would attempt to take her meal.
What was the scariest part of the trip? One night, the adult pride of lions were only about 20-50 meters away from our camp. Our group sat up for about an hour listening the the growls and roars of the lions. Our chests were vibrating from how loud they were. It was a little bit scary, but more exciting than anything because we only had a wall made out of sticks that served as our barrier from the animals surrounding us. The experience really made me appreciate how powerful these animals are and how vulnerable I am as a human.
What’s the most amazing animal you saw during your time in Africa? I think the elephant was in my personal opinion. They are my favorite animal and are surprisingly hard to find in the bush. For such a large animal, they are incredible good at staying hidden, so it was very exciting the few times we got to observe them. We got about 15 meters away from a herd of 10 elephants three different times. Each time was equally breathtaking.
Do you have any advice for students looking to study abroad? Do something different, even if it isn’t related to your major. It seems that everyone tends to go to Europe on study abroad. Don’t get me wrong- no matter where you choose to explore, you will have an amazing experience. But it seems to me that once you are thrown into the real world, it will be more likely that you will get the chance to go to Europe than on a safari in South Africa. Also, travel out of your comfort zone. You will be surprised how much you learn about yourself and how many absolutely amazing people you will meet.