Program Directed by
John Linsley
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Namibia
Desert Safari & Big Cat Conservation
The landscapes of Namibia are home to a wealth of desert-adapted wildlife that conservationists are working hard to protect. This summer, go into the field and experience conservation in action with leading ecologists and other like-minded high school students. Choose either the Photography or Wildlife Conservation track, and delve into your focus area. Along your journey, photograph iconic African wildlife like elephants, hyenas, giraffes, and oryx on safari; go sea kayaking in Walvis Bay; and climb the dunes of the Namib Desert.
- Highlights
• Photograph Sossusvlei’s unique red sand landscapes
• Learn from experts how technology is used to monitor wildlife
• Surf towering desert dunes on a sandboarding excursion
• Go on safari in world-renowned Etosha National Park
• Learn from experts how technology is used to monitor wildlife
• Surf towering desert dunes on a sandboarding excursion
• Go on safari in world-renowned Etosha National Park
“Our daughter came home with a passion for wildlife conservation. The excitement in her voice describing her future goals that developed while in Namibia was audible. In addition, she has made lifelong friends and has started to learn how to network with people in her field of interest.”
—Kelly & Troy L., Germany
Featured
Expert
An Expert joins each Career program for a portion of the itinerary, lending their insights and perspectives to the experience.
Big cat researcher and conservationist Dr. Florian Weise has spent over two decades on the African continent studying and protecting endangered species. His work aims to understand and safeguard southern Africa’s large predators—cheetah, lion, leopard,...
Big cat researcher and conservationist Dr. Florian Weise has spent over two decades on the African continent...
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in New York, and fly together to Windhoek, Namibia. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary — 4 days
The program begins at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, where researchers have developed innovative approaches to protecting predators while reducing predation on local livestock. Settle into your accommodations, get to know your group through an in-depth orientation, then head into the field with local wildlife experts on game counts, collar-tracking exercises, or to set up camera traps at watering holes. Snap close-up shots of resident cheetahs exercising using a lure on a pulley system mimicking wild prey, and zoom out to photograph herds of zebras and springbok in the afternoon sun. Meet with a herpetologist for an introduction to the important role snakes play in the Namibian landscape. Discuss the effects of climate change on this desert ecosystem with field ecologists, and participate in a conservation careers workshop.
Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, & the Namib Desert — 5 days
Travel south to Sesriem Canyon and Sossusvlei—a salt and clay pan surrounded by towering dunes. Camp overnight in the national park and wake early to photograph the sun rising over the massive orange-red dunes. Pay a visit to the iconic Deadvlei, a stark landscape dotted with ancient, skeletal camel thorn trees. Continue to the seaside city of Swakopmund, and explore the nearby dunes with desert ecologists, learning about the species that have adapted to survive the harsh conditions. Then zoom down dune slopes on a sandboarding excursion. Visit Cape Cross to observe a vast breeding colony of some 100,000 Cape fur seals, and paddle alongside dolphins, flamingos, and pelicans on a guided sea-kayaking adventure in Walvis Bay.
Damaraland — 2 days
Journey into Damaraland, where the desert harbors unusually succulent plants fed by Atlantic mists. With local guides, hike to the White Lady rock etching, believed to date back at least 2,000 years. Pay a visit to Brandberg Mountain, a giant granite monolith and Namibia’s highest mountain peak; then descend into the neighboring valley and venture across the stark landscapes in search of endangered desert-adapted elephants.
Etosha National Park — 3 days
Namibia’s dry season spans April through October, when herds of plains game flock to the waterholes of Etosha National Park, and their predators—lions, leopards, and cheetahs—follow close behind. Enjoy three days on safari here, looking for big cats, giraffes, oryx, rare black-faced impalas, and endemic birds like the bare-cheeked babbler. Stop at watering holes for close-up views of bathing elephants, zebras drinking at the water’s edge, and hartebeests splashing in the shallows. Meet with park rangers and learn about their efforts to encourage conservation through tourism.
Okonjima Nature Reserve — 3 days
Explore the 55,000-acre Okonjima Nature Reserve, home to the AfriCat Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Namibia’s carnivores and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Join expert trackers in search of elusive leopards, rhinos, hyena, or the endangered pangolin. Talk with AfriCat’s conservation team about predator-conservation outreach efforts, hear about their collaborations with local farmers, and learn about their work to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
Windhoek — 2 days
Travel to the Namibian capital of Windhoek. Cap off our journey with visits to artisan markets, museums, presentations of our Workshop projects, and celebrate with a final meal out on the town.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Windhoek, Namibia, to New York with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in New York, and fly together to Windhoek, Namibia. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary — 4 days
The program begins at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, where researchers have developed innovative approaches to protecting predators while reducing predation on local livestock. Settle into your accommodations, get to know your group through an in-depth orientation, then head into the field with local wildlife experts on game counts, collar-tracking exercises, or to set up camera traps at watering holes. Snap close-up shots of resident cheetahs exercising using a lure on a pulley system mimicking wild prey, and zoom out to photograph herds of zebras and springbok in the afternoon sun. Meet with a herpetologist for an introduction to the important role snakes play in the Namibian landscape. Discuss the effects of climate change on this desert ecosystem with field ecologists, and participate in a conservation careers workshop.
Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, & the Namib Desert — 5 days
Travel south to Sesriem Canyon and Sossusvlei—a salt and clay pan surrounded by towering dunes. Camp overnight in the national park and wake early to photograph the sun rising over the massive orange-red dunes. Pay a visit to the iconic Deadvlei, a stark landscape dotted with ancient, skeletal camel thorn trees. Continue to the seaside city of Swakopmund, and explore the nearby dunes with desert ecologists, learning about the species that have adapted to survive the harsh conditions. Then zoom down dune slopes on a sandboarding excursion. Visit Cape Cross to observe a vast breeding colony of some 100,000 Cape fur seals, and paddle alongside dolphins, flamingos, and pelicans on a guided sea-kayaking adventure in Walvis Bay.
Damaraland — 2 days
Journey into Damaraland, where the desert harbors unusually succulent plants fed by Atlantic mists. With local guides, hike to the White Lady rock etching, believed to date back at least 2,000 years. Pay a visit to Brandberg Mountain, a giant granite monolith and Namibia’s highest mountain peak; then descend into the neighboring valley and venture across the stark landscapes in search of endangered desert-adapted elephants.
Etosha National Park — 3 days
Namibia’s dry season spans April through October, when herds of plains game flock to the waterholes of Etosha National Park, and their predators—lions, leopards, and cheetahs—follow close behind. Enjoy three days on safari here, looking for big cats, giraffes, oryx, rare black-faced impalas, and endemic birds like the bare-cheeked babbler. Stop at watering holes for close-up views of bathing elephants, zebras drinking at the water’s edge, and hartebeests splashing in the shallows. Meet with park rangers and learn about their efforts to encourage conservation through tourism.
Okonjima Nature Reserve — 3 days
Explore the 55,000-acre Okonjima Nature Reserve, home to the AfriCat Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Namibia’s carnivores and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Join expert trackers in search of elusive leopards, rhinos, hyena, or the endangered pangolin. Talk with AfriCat’s conservation team about predator-conservation outreach efforts, hear about their collaborations with local farmers, and learn about their work to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
Windhoek — 2 days
Travel to the Namibian capital of Windhoek. Cap off our journey with visits to artisan markets, museums, presentations of our Workshop projects, and celebrate with a final meal out on the town.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Windhoek, Namibia, to New York with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Workshop Themes
Choose either the Photography or Wildlife Conservation focus, and break into teams to delve further into your area of focus.
Photography
Document your exploration of Namibia in a photography portfolio. Use time-lapse techniques to show the sun dipping behind the dunes at Sossusvlei, zoom in on zebras visiting a watering hole, or photograph a colony of fur seals on the wild Atlantic coast. Practice landscape shots on the desert’s dramatic scenery, and experiment with camera traps to capture images of elusive species.
Wildlife Conservation
Examine Namibia’s unique landscapes and the species that have adapted to these fragile desert ecosystems. Work with researchers at conservation organizations, helping them to protect the country’s big cats, rhinos, and other threatened wildlife. Track leopards with wildlife experts, and discuss the plight of the cheetah with field scientists.
Technology
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to the program, and keep their devices throughout. During in-country orientation, leaders will lock phones with a code, unlocking them for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program and most of each day is spent outdoors. You can expect to participate in field science and conservation work, which involves hiking and data collection in a variety of different landscapes and temperatures (Namibia's arid, desert climate is hot midday and often drops below freezing overnight and into the morning hours). No prior outdoor experience is required, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are interested in outdoor exploration and field work.
Accommodations
At N/a’an ku sê, we stay in large safari tents with beds and ensuite bathrooms. In Swakopmund and in Windhoek, we stay in small hotels. In Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Etosha, and Okonjima, we sleep in camping tents. During this program, students will spend up to 10 nights camping in tents.
Meals
At N/a’an ku Sê, we eat meals in a dining hall. In Swakopmund and Windhoek, we eat meals at our hotels and at local restaurants. In Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Etosha, and Okonjima, we prepare meals at our camps with our local safari outfitter.
What to Expect
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Workshop Themes
Choose either the Photography or Wildlife Conservation focus, and break into teams to delve further into your area of focus.
Photography
Document your exploration of Namibia in a photography portfolio. Use time-lapse techniques to show the sun dipping behind the dunes at Sossusvlei, zoom in on zebras visiting a watering hole, or photograph a colony of fur seals on the wild Atlantic coast. Practice landscape shots on the desert’s dramatic scenery, and experiment with camera traps to capture images of elusive species.
Wildlife Conservation
Examine Namibia’s unique landscapes and the species that have adapted to these fragile desert ecosystems. Work with researchers at conservation organizations, helping them to protect the country’s big cats, rhinos, and other threatened wildlife. Track leopards with wildlife experts, and discuss the plight of the cheetah with field scientists.
Technology
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to the program, and keep their devices throughout. During in-country orientation, leaders will lock phones with a code, unlocking them for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
Physical Activity
This is a physically active summer travel program and most of each day is spent outdoors. You can expect to participate in field science and conservation work, which involves hiking and data collection in a variety of different landscapes and temperatures (Namibia's arid, desert climate is hot midday and often drops below freezing overnight and into the morning hours). No prior outdoor experience is required, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are interested in outdoor exploration and field work.
Accommodations
At N/a’an ku sê, we stay in large safari tents with beds and ensuite bathrooms. In Swakopmund and in Windhoek, we stay in small hotels. In Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Etosha, and Okonjima, we sleep in camping tents. During this program, students will spend up to 10 nights camping in tents.
Meals
At N/a’an ku Sê, we eat meals in a dining hall. In Swakopmund and Windhoek, we eat meals at our hotels and at local restaurants. In Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Etosha, and Okonjima, we prepare meals at our camps with our local safari outfitter.
A Day in the Life: N/a’an ku sê
Due to the traveling nature of this student program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in N/a’an ku sê.
- Morning
7:00am
Eat breakfast together as a group
8:00am
Head out into the field to set up camera traps for retrieval several days later
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Have lunch together as a group
2:00pm
Head back out to use VHF (very high frequency) telemetry to locate a wildlife tracking collar in the bush
5:00pm
Read or write in your journal, throw a frisbee, or work on your independent project
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy dinner together as a group alongside N/a’an ku sê volunteers and researchers
7:00pm
Listen to a presentation by your Putney expert on a pressing conservation topic
8:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and the upcoming schedule
9:00pm
Participate in a workshop on night photography
A Day in the Life:
N/a’an ku sê
Due to the traveling nature of this student program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in N/a’an ku sê.
- Morning
7:00am
Eat breakfast together as a group
8:00am
Head out into the field to set up camera traps for retrieval several days later
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Have lunch together as a group
2:00pm
Head back out to use VHF (very high frequency) telemetry to locate a wildlife tracking collar in the bush
5:00pm
Read or write in your journal, throw a frisbee, or work on your independent project
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy dinner together as a group alongside N/a’an ku sê volunteers and researchers
7:00pm
Listen to a presentation by your Putney expert on a pressing conservation topic
8:00pm
Group meeting to discuss the day and the upcoming schedule
9:00pm
Participate in a workshop on night photography
“This program expanded my horizons with future career choices, and has led me to think about focusing more on wildlife biology or wildlife conservation. One of my favorite things I learned was the usage of technology and other methods to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. It was beyond what I could have ever imagined!”
—Kalena K., Saint John’s High School, Jefferson, OH
Program Directed by
John Linsley
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
