Program Location
Quick Links
Contact the Program Director
Dr. Dennis Wilson
Life Science Department
P: 480-654-7731
Office: RDM S - 264
dennis.wilson@mesacc.edu
May 27-June 20, 2025
A trek through the wilds of Africa will probably be the single most adventurous and exciting thing that you will ever do! In true safari style, you’ll travel Namibia in 4x4's, exploring Africa’s amazing wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, unique people and ecosystems. Accommodations will be a mixture of camping, staying in an authentic Himba village, hostels, and bed and breakfasts.
You’ll visit Etosha National Park with Africa’s big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard), come face to face with cheetahs at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, building an elephant-proof stone wall and track the very rare desert elephants at EHRA, stay at a Himba village, and bushcamp in the world's oldest desert. By exploring the wildlife, flora, people, and landscapes of Namibia you’ll learn about global conservation, biodiversity and environmental issues, as well as the impact of expanding human populations and climate change. You’ll use field techniques to census wildlife and examine environmental topics such as biodiversity loss and human-wildlife conflict.
To complement the environmental and conservation biology themes, you will also learn about the birds of Namibia with an introduction to ornithology.
With a mix of wilderness bush camping, rest camps, relaxing starlight campfires, BBQ’s, and unique wildlife everywhere, this will be the learning adventure of a lifetime! But you’ll also have down time for optional activities like dune surfing and adventure sports at Swakopmund on Namibia’s coast.
Namibia is located on the southwestern coast of Africa, sharing borders with South Africa and Botswana to the east and Angola to the north. Namibia's landscape includes open grasslands, pans, dry riverbeds and dense woodlands. See a map here. Namibia has the oldest desert in the world, the Namib, a long coastline dotted with shipwrecks and diamond mines, as well as abundant wildlife.
Namibia Program Excursions
- Visit Etosha National Park with Africa's big 5 (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard).
- Get up close with cheetahs at the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
- Stay at a Himba Village.
- Track desert elephants and build a water source protection structure at the EHRA.
- Opportunities for optional activities like dune surfing and adventure sports at Swakopmund.
Summer Courses You Will Take During Program
- 5 credit program - Registration for courses will begin in March.
- BIO105: LEC & LAB Environmental Biology Lec/Lab (4 cr) [SQ]; requires $10 lab fee
- Instructor: Dr. Dennis Wilson
- BIO149SV: Field Biology: Ecological and Environmental Field Experience - Birds of Namibia (1 cr)
- Instructor: Andy Bridges
- REQUIRED predeparture coursework in person at MCC Red Mountain campus or live online: May 12-23, 2025
- Mandatory study abroad orientation on Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 9 am - 2 pm at MCC.
- Gear checklist for trip
Photo Gallery
Detailed Information
Namibia Program Details
Did You Know?
- Namibia is safe, politically stable, and the people are very friendly.
- Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa. Only 1 percent of the land is classified as suitable for farming.
- Namibia has adopted a unique conservation model where the local people own land and the wildlife that wanders onto that land.
- To help unify Namibians, the government chose English as its official language and the language of instruction in schools while also recognizing 10 Indigenous African national languages spoken by the major ethnic groups.
- Namibia's Fish River Canyon is among the largest canyons in the world.
- The root of the country’s name is “Namib,” which is the world-famous desert that runs along the western side of the country, largely adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
- Currency used is the Namibian dollar (sign: N$; code: NAD)
- Read detailed cultural information on Namibia provided by CultureGrams™(2024). CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest.
Estimated Program Costs & Deadlines
| Expense Type | Estimated Cost | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
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Program Fee |
$2,821 |
Program Fee Due: March 21, 2025 $250 Confirmation Deposit Due (towards total program fee): upon acceptance Confirmation deposit is non-refundable after the program fee payment deadline. |
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Registration Fee BIO105 Course Fee Tuition: 5 credits |
$ 15 $ 10 $ 485 |
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| Airfare (estimated cost) | $1,800 |
Your program director will provide you with instructions on purchasing airfare for your program. Only after you have received these instructions should you purchase airfare. |
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Meals Most meals are included in program fee but some are on your own. |
$ 220 | Not needed until you land in Namibia! |
| Himba Village Visit | $ 40 | Not needed until you land in Namibia! |
| TOTAL Estimated Costs | $5,391 | (program fee, tuition, airfare and meals, etc.) |
| ADDITIONAL COSTS | ||
| Camping Gear | See gear list | Download the gear list. |
| Textbooks | $ 0 | None required |
Passport
Passport Information Available HereYour passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond the date of your return to the USA. |
$165/130 (new/renewal) |
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Program Application Deadline Space is limited. Apply early to reserve your place! If program reaches full capacity, you will be put on a waitlist. |
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Scholarships and Funding Your Program
| Title | Date(s) | More Information |
|---|---|---|
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Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Students MUST apply through the college they are receiving financial aid from (even if taking program classes from MCC). |
Maximum Award: $5,000 October Application Deadline October 10, 2024 Application is now OPEN! March Application Deadline Come learn how to write essays for the Gilman International Scholarship! Wed., September 11, 2024 2-3 pm |
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Maximum Award: $5,000 October Application Deadline October 10, 2024 Application cycle is now OPEN! January Application Deadline TBA |
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