Biology students travel to South Africa for once in a life time field course

Third year Biological Sciences students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Western Cape of South Africa for a two-week field biology course.

The long-running and highly successful course was led by Professor Vincent Savolainen, Director of the Georgina Mace Centre, accompanied by Dr Julia Schroeder and Dr Rich Gill. The group stayed at the Klipbokkop mountain reserve, a centre nestled in the fynbos of the Cape Fold Mountains, and spent their days eagerly studying the avian, insect and plant diversity in the area, seeing animals such as baboons, ostriches and elephants along the way.

Find out more about their experiences below:

Xiaoling Zhang

My field trip to South Africa was a fantastic learning experience! We began in Klipbokop, rotating through three groups to study insects, plants, and birds. The experiences were amazing, but having to write three reports in a single day kept us under pressure. However, it was a great preparation for the demands of real-world work environments.

Next, we traveled to Knysna, where we went on safari and recorded animal populations to discuss the Damuth law back in London. A highlight was witnessing an ostrich hatching—an unforgettable moment of pure luck! Our campsite there offered impressive facilities, and although I expected the shower to be cold and uncomfortable, it turned out to be surprisingly refreshing after a long day of walking lectures in the forest. The conservation lecture there expanded our understanding of local ecosystems and their preservation.

Back in Klipbokop, we completed an ID test on the organisms we found along the trip. The final days were dedicated to a self-designed mini-project focused on data collection.

The field trip was interesting but also intensive. This experience deepened my knowledge of ecology and research methods, while South Africa’s unique ecosystems and incredible biodiversity made it an unforgettable learning opportunity.

Sophie Robertson

We spent a few days studying the avian, insect and plant diversity in the area, particularly to better understand the uniqueness of fynbos biome that surrounded us. This biome is especially interesting because it relies on the occurrence of regular natural fires, as many of the shrubs there rely on heat for seed dispersal. We were lucky that a fire had recently passed through the area, so we were able to witness a crucial aspect of the biome’s natural cycle firsthand. We had the pleasure of meeting a few experts of the area, including Dr Anso Le Roux, who blew us away with her encyclopaedic knowledge of the hundreds of plant species found there. 

While doing fieldwork my classmates and I regularly came across amazing creatures other than the ones we were surveying, including a troop of wild baboons that lived in the area, rock hyraxes, a mongoose, and a reedbuck.

Halfway through the trip we drove to Knysna phantom forest, where we stayed in an eco-camp for two nights with Frank Carlisle, a conservation specialist. On the way, we stopped at a private game reserve and went on a three-hour safari, where we had saw many game animals in a protected natural habitat including hippos, lions, elephants, zebras, nyalas, and even ostrich eggs that were in the middle of hatching.

At Knysna, we had a series of incredibly inspiring lectures from Frank, who told us stories from his time as a conservation manager protecting the critically endangered white and black rhinos. He opened our eyes of the reality of conservation management, and the sacrifices that are often required to protect species. In addition, we learned about how South Africa’s political and economic history, particularly its wealth inequality, has profoundly impacted conservation efforts in the country. Many of us were left in awe of Frank and it is safe to say our campfire conversations with him were some of the most memorable and significant takeaways from the trip. 

Upon return from Knysna, we set off designing our own research projects at Klipbokkop, given four days to use what we’d learned in the days prior to conduct an experiment on a question of particular interest. Some examples of projects included comparing the avian diversity between agricultural land and the fynbos, and observing differential colour preferences in insect families. These gave us exposure to conducting and designing research in the field, navigating challenges like limited access to resources and unforeseen issues.

The trip was an unforgettable experience, honing an array of scientific skills while immersed in one of the most beautiful and biodiverse places in the world.

Joshua Dickerson

When we arrived at Klipbokkop, we were greeted by a troop of baboons soon after arriving! The centre offered views over the Brandvlei dam and provided us with an array of local food including the staple pap as well as desserts such as malva. The first three days were intensive but rewarding, involving cataloguing plant species, trapping and identifying insects, and bird ringing.

Our journey to Knysna’s Afromontane forest included a safari where we observed iconic African megafauna including lions, elephants, and zebras. At Knysna we stayed in an eco-camp hosted by Frank, a former game warden who gave an interesting account about his experience dealing with poachers. We also got to experience a tour of the forest where we learned about its history as well as seeing animals such as scorpions and frogs.

The course culminated in group mini-projects at Klipbokkop. My study compared bird diversity between fynbos and agricultural areas, which entailed recording bird diversity from the back of a pickup truck. Overall, the course was an enjoyable experience and offered valuable insights into how ecological studies are conducted in the field.