During the Exploring Wildlife Conservation in South Africa program, I got to stay at the Southern Africa Wildlife College where I learned from experienced conservationists about the difficulties of sustaining wildlife populations in game reserves, as well as possible ways for this situation to be resolved. In addition, I travelled with my fellow students into Kruger National Park, allowing me to find wildlife which is rarely seen in their natural habitat, such as painted dogs and sable antelopes.

I was able to see the species which I have wanted to work with since I was a little kid, which is the African bush elephant. I got to see multiple instances of elephants in their natural habitat, including a young bull who decided to intimidate our safari vehicle and an infant who tried to mock charge our vehicle before retreating to its mom.

These incredible experiences were just a few of many, including visiting a reptile center containing black mambas and boomslangs, the Blyde River Canyon which is the third longest in the world, and a veterinary center where testing for bovine tuberculosis is performed on captive Cape buffalo.

Perhaps the best aspect of this program was the incredible friends I made along the way who shared my passion for animals and connected to me on a very personal level, which has led to us continuing to meet up on campus even now. Without them, I would have brought less back with me to Michigan State, but I have done so thanks to the South Africa program.

• Name: Giovanni DePasquale
• Status: Senior
• Major: Zoology
• Hometown: Valparaiso, Indiana
• Program: Exploring Wildlife Conservation in South Africa