I have been accepted to go out to Namibia in the Zambezi Region in Katima Mulilo to spend a semester abroad at the University of Namibia to study a Bachelor of Sciences in Wildlife and Tourism Management. The course I am currently studying at Bath Spa University is Wildlife Conservation BSc, and I have decided to study abroad to expand my understanding of how different cultures interact with wildlife, particularly understanding how indigenous populations cohabit with nature, as well as the how tourism must put nature first, and I want to take what I learn from this semester back to the UK to further my studies and educate others.
I chose to go to Namibia as it’s such a rare chance for me to experience a different way of life, and see fragile habitats, and rare endangered species. The campus has been designed to become eco-friendly and designed so that wildlife can coincide with humans, with elevated walkways and rainwater harvesting. This course and university also been able to support relationships with the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) between its neighbouring countries to support conservation efforts (https://forumonline.unam.edu.na/inauguration-of-new-unam-facilities-in-katima-mulilo-for-wildlife-management-and-tourism-studies/).
The semester lasts for six months and is separated into “core” and “semester one”. Two modules that interest me are “Nature interpretation” and “Historical development of wildlife conservation”, relating to the UN Sustainable Development Goals including Sustainable cities and communities, and reduced inequalities, as they talk about the relationship indigenous people have with wildlife. From looking on the university’s social media, I can see they love to share all the cultures from different tribes and communities in Namibia (https://www.instagram.com/p/DNDsstCoMrY/?hl=en-gb).
I understand that traveling via plane is not a sustainable form of travel but using public transport and to travel with an airline that are implementing more sustainable practices are just the start. Spending a longer amount of time there also reduces the emissions I produce, and being aware of my carbon footprint allows me to follow better practices (https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx). I already try to apply sustainable practices such as the food I purchase, eating less animal products, and using reusable products. I would love to travel around the country to visit different conservancy work. The campus I will be studying at is close to the border of Zambia, and I will also be close to other bordering countries including Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Angola. In these six months, I aspire to learn about other cultures, and feel as though I am a local, too.
Researching into responsible tourism there are many projects that support local communities such as The San, who were the original inhabitants in southern Africa and in supporting these responsible destinations, The San can keep thriving and not be taken away from their land (https://sahistory.org.za/article/san)
Wildlife conservation is all about humans, and our interactions with the natural world. The Development Goals have always been a forefront for why I have chosen this path, especially Climate Action, Life Below Water, and On Land. Without these, none of the other goals can be achieved.
