I chose to do this study abroad because I wanted to get hands-on experience with exotic animals and experience a new culture. It met both of these expectations and more.

We learned how to take care of all of the animals there - cheetahs, lions, servals, caracals, and meerkats. We got hands-on work with all of them and had some lectures teaching us about cheetah history and conservation.

In the mornings, we would do chores like cleaning the animal’s enclosures and feeding the small cats and meerkats. In the afternoons we would feed the lions and cheetahs, have a short lecture, and spend time hanging out with the cheetah cubs or meerkats. I want to be a small animal veterinarian, and I’ve only really had experience working with dogs and cats, but this experience was very eye opening and made me realize that I might want to be an exotic animal vet or work in conservation.

The people at my program were all very passionate about conservation. The point of the program is to breed cheetahs and release them in the wild after training them how to hunt and survive in the wild. There were four adorable 7-month-old cheetah cubs that we got to spend a lot of time with, from feeding them to training them to chase things and hunt. Cheetahs are incredible animals, and their population is declining very rapidly so conservation programs like the one I went to are very important.

This program was also incredible because I was able to experience South African culture, nature, and animals. I’ve never been out of the country, and it was so great talking to all the staff there about their culture and history. We also got to go on a safari at a national park which was so beautiful, I loved seeing the animals in their natural habitat. The environment at the program was amazing, the view out of my cabin was a beautiful mountain range, and at night I could hear the lions roaring from their enclosure.

Traveling abroad increased my confidence and has made me want to travel to more countries to see more animals and experience new cultures. I was a little nervous about being so far from home, but the program was amazing, and very well organized. I highly recommend this program, or any other study abroad. It was an incredible and lifechanging experience, and I hope I can go back one day.

Name: Erin Muller
Status: Junior
Major: Animal Science
Hometown: Lake Orion, Michigan
Program: Cheetah Conservation Internship in South Africa