Sydney Vitalbo (‘26), a Computer Science and Math major with a minor in Biology, traveled to Namibia in May along with nearly a dozen SNC students for a Global Seminar on African Wildlife and Conservation. While it began as a course on wildlife behavior and conservation practices, over the years the course has run it has also grown to include education on religion, poverty, politics, and healthcare. Dr. Brandt (Biology), co-led the course with Dr. Ford (Theology and Religious Studies).
The trip began at Na’ankuse, a conservation organization that strives to maintain a sustainable future for the environment and inhabitants of Namibia. Parts of Na’ankuse serve as a rescue, caring for animals from meerkats to lions, some with spinal cord damage or missing limbs. A veterinary center enables critical care for animals that need it and a large area of land allows animals to roam freely. The students learned how they track elephants, how the volunteers and staff help and care for animals, and their goals as an organization. The class made enrichment toys, walked with baboons, and observed the tranquilization of a lion that was losing a lot of weight due to an unknown cause. Despite being quite vicious animals in the wild, the baboons were calm because they were so used to humans. They hopped from student to student and climbed all over them. On their last day at Na’ankuse, the group was invited to an assembly for the school that the children of staff members and volunteers attend. Sydney was taught a few dances by an 11 year old and the group had a fun time meeting the kids.
The second stop was another organization under the Na’ankuse branch, Harnas. This location seemed “more touristy, like a resort,” but all of their profits go towards their conservation efforts. Sydney was able to feed a lion and the group learned about how the anti-poaching unit operates. In the evenings, the volunteers would gather around a fire, sing songs, and dance. One of the hardest parts of the trip was visiting a clinic in one of the towns near Harnas. They only had basic medical supplies to help whoever needed the assistance, and almost everything they had was donated. Students reflected on this moment, feeling sadness, but also guilt and gratefulness for everything they have.
The third stop under the Na’ankuse umbrella was Timbila, the group’s favorite location. Timbila is home to larger animals like elephants and giraffes and allows observation of predators like African dogs and lions from their open-air safari vehicle, a safe distance away. On their last night, one of their tour guides, Francois, held a BBQ and party for the students to say goodbye. Volunteers introduced them to a game, bokdrol spoeg, similar to a cherry pit spitting contest, but with Impala poop! For the rest of the night, they danced and learned Namibian dances. Emma Menzer was Sydney’s partner when they learned how to swing dance. Sydney found it surprising how different all three of the locations were despite having the same mission. Even though they were organized differently, they are all successful in promoting conservation efforts. The last few days were spent in the Capital City where students learned about the history of Namibia, how they became independent, and the after-effects of the war for independence and revolution.
According to Sydney, all of the best moments on the trip involved an experience with a staff member or volunteer, having fun or participating in an activity with the animals. The inclusivity and welcoming atmosphere were apparent even while preparing food for animals as the speaker alternated between Taylor Swift and some popular Namibian songs. Everyone they met was excited to see and meet students interested in the conservation effort. Students interested in participating in this Global Seminar should keep an eye out for applications in the coming months for a chance to be a part of this truly eye-opening Global Seminar. For those interested in supporting Na’ankuse, visit naankuse.com to see how to get involved in their mission.
Back row, left to right: Dr. Adam Brandt, Dr. Craig Ford, Tyler Bonin (Honors, 2024), Seth Peterson (2025)
Middle row, left to right: Emma Menzer (2025), Emma Herb (Honors, 2024), Kaitlin Alberts (Honors, 2025), Alex Wech (2025)
Front row, left to right: Anna Bauer (Honors, 2025), Megan Pierce (Honors, 2025), Peyton Prevost (2025), Sydney Vitalbo (Honors, 2026)
The group at Timbila with Francois and other volunteers.
