NATURAL HISTORY OF TANZANIA EAST AFRICA
January 2006

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2004 Course Description:
East Africa's reputation for spectacular, abundant and diverse wildlife is well deserved. Nowhere else in the world can you see such a diversity and abundance of wild animals in a natural setting alongside indigenous people living traditional lifestyles. Tanzania is home to the world's greatest game reserves including Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. We explore these and other remote wilderness areas of this wonderfully diverse country.

Tanzania is a mosaic of landscapes, ranging from dry, almost desert-like areas, to the lush Serengeti grasslands, to high volcanic mountains, to tropical Indian Ocean beaches. As we encounter new ecosystems we learn to identify the major components that allow that ecosystem to function, including animals, plants, ecology and geology. Students have ample opportunity to view and learn about African "big game" animals as well as lesser known animals and plants.

While studying the African ecosystems we also learn about the people of Tanzania. Visits to Hadza and Maasai villages along with discussions with these hunter-gatherers and pastoral people, fuel our own discoveries and discussions on the viability of pastoralism and nomadism as a lifestyle in modern times. Contrasting these traditional lifestyles with the increasing spread of agriculturalism and the concentration of people living in urban areas emphasize the enormity and complexity of the problems.

Preserving wildlife populations in the context of mounting human populations and land-use pressures poses a significant dilemma for conservation officials worldwide, but is no more evident than in Tanzania. Here the juxtaposition of international bioreserves, tourism, and rapid growth provide a perfect setting for exploring the interface between conservation of wildlife and human development. Community conservation will form the basis of numerous campfire discussions.

Throughout this trip, there are opportunities to hike in remote portions of Africa's Rift Valley and Serengeti and to snorkel in the Indian Ocean. This is a camping safari; travel is over rough winding roads in open vehicles.
Prerequisites:
No course prerequisites are required, though an introductory biology course is helpful. Students inexperienced in camping or hiking are encouraged to participate, but should be aware that camps are primitive, travel sometimes arduous and long, and hikes may be strenuous.
Required Readings:
Selections from Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa (Chris and Tilde Stuart, 1998); Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania (Dale Zimmerman et. al., 1999); and reading list disseminated in November
Evaluation:
One third of the grade is based on an exam of the required readings and lectures. One third of the grade is based on field notes / academic journal. One third of the grade is based on participation in discussions, trip activities and camp chores. Grading: letter grade or pass/fail.

Cindy Johnson-Groh, is an associate professor in the department of biology Gustavus Adolphus College where she teaches conservation biology and a variety of plant courses. She is an advocate of experiencing ecology through travel and has traveled extensively while working on the conservation of a group of rare ferns. She has traveled to Tanzania and Kenya and has a strong interest in conservation issues of East Africa. Dr. Johnson-Groh led UMAIE courses to Tanzania in 2003. 2001, 2000 and 1999.