During this program I learned about cheetahs while taking care of them. It was a lot of manual labor, but it was never boring or unexciting. Seeing a cheetah up close and being able to touch its fur felt like a dream. There were other animals we got to care for as well, such as lions, hyenas, meerkats, bushbabies, servals, and caracals. While there we also did lots of activities such as hikes, safaris, and parties. I enjoyed everything we did there, from scooping up cheetah poop to walking with the cheetahs through a reserve. This was a valuable educational experience, and it was also a very fun time. This was my dream come true.

Doing a study abroad in South Africa was life changing. This was the best thing I’ve ever done, and I plan to go back some day. South Africa is gorgeous and everyone I met there was so friendly. The flora and fauna are fascinating, and it is a sight I’ll miss seeing now that I’m back home. I got to interact with so many animals I thought I’d never be able to see, meet so many incredible people, and gain valuable experience I can take with me to my future career. This program helped me be sure with what I want to do with my future and inspired me. During this program I also gained connections to professionals in the field, and I got to learn from them which will help me a lot when I’m applying for more internships and jobs. While abroad, I learned to be more confident in myself and my decisions. Being surrounded by so many kind, like-minded people and being able to do lots of hands-on work with the animals helped me with my pursuit of a career in conservation.

We didn’t get to leave the reserve much during the program but all of the people I met there were so kind and understanding. The food was also incredible; I liked the curry they served us so much that I asked for the recipe and I’m going to attempt to make it myself. Everyone I met there spoke English, so it wasn’t hard to navigate. We learned about games and activities in South Africa; my personal favorite was mud surfing. For that you attach a tarp to the back of a car and the car drags you around through mud and dirt, it was very messy but very fun!

I’ve seen many people say that they wouldn’t do an education abroad program because they're worried about the expenses, which is a valid worry, but there are scholarships around each corner to help all students. Education abroad has been so life-changing, and it was worth every cent I spent, and I highly recommend that all students look into it. As an LGBTQ+ student, I was worried what traveling to another country would be like, but I never felt unsafe while I was in South Africa. I was glad that the experience I had was so welcoming to people of all identities and backgrounds.

Name: Zoey Coye
Status: First-Year/Freshman
Major: Environmental Biology/Zoology
Hometown: Okemos, Michigan
Program: Cheetah Conservation Internship in South Africa