Grant and his staff are dedicated to protecting one of the most pristine coral reefs left in the world while also researching and conserving important megafauna like sharks, rays, whales, dolphins, and turtles. Using a variety of marine biology field techniques and data analysis software, Grant helps improve the management of the large marine protected area.
Outreach and education are also important to Grant, who has started many programs to help the local communities.
Dr Amber Peters - Academic Advisor
Amber is a professor at Michigan State University in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. She studies ecology, conservation, management, and human dimensions. She has spent significant time in Southern Africa and is the Academic Consultant for Field Study Abroad.
She is passionate about helping students take part in international internships, experience the magic of African wild places, and enjoys watching students gain an understanding of different cultures, building skills, and self-confidence while learning about conservation, ecology, research, and animals.
Earl Smith - Director of Field Study Abroad
Earl grew up in South Africa and lives in Johannesburg. He visits the internship sites and coordinates all logistics. Earl is happiest when he is in the bush somewhere in Southern Africa with students watching them enjoy all the beautiful animals and scenery in his country. His local knowledge and over 15 years of experience working with interns in Southern Africa translate into worry-free and life-changing experiences.
Jade Smith - Accountant and Administrator
Jade has been passionate about wildlife since a young age, visiting game reserves around South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Her passion for wildlife and knowledge of South Africa and other African countries are a big asset in helping move our interns around.
Jade will be your 1st point of contact once you have made your booking/confirmed your attendance via your university. Jade is also available on WhatsApp +27 71 356 2967.
Allen - Mitigating Human Elephant Conflict
Allen is an entrepreneur who puts conservation and human-wildlife coexistence at the forefront of all his endeavours. Allen has a passion for the wide open and wild places of Africa.
The challenges being faced by elephant and human populations living in the same space are something Allen works with every day, and his innovative methods for. Promoting the conservation and welfare of elephants and the communities living with them has helped address many of the issues in Zimbabwe and the Victoria Falls area.
Dr Rita - Wildside Vets
Rita is a dedicated wildlife veterinarian from South Africa with a deep passion for the health and conservation of Africa’s wild animals. Her hands-on work with species ranging from elephants and rhinos to lions, leopards, cheetahs, and antelopes brings new excitement and challenges each day.
Her current work includes treating injuries from snares, assisting with wildlife relocations, and supporting conservation research. She believes that protecting wildlife is not just about medicine, it’s about preserving the balance of nature for future generations.
Riana - Cheetah Rewilding and Carnivore Care
Riana is one of the leading “Cheetah Ladies” in South Africa and her passion is to educate people about these endangered animals.
She is committed to ensure that the South African cheetah populations chances of survival are strongly improved through strengthening blood lines and is pushing for DNA testing and the establishment of a stud book in the country to make breeding ethical.
Matt - Marine Mammal Conservation
Matt holds an Honors degree in Conservation and Ecology from Stellenbosch University. He is strongly committed to the advancement of conservation, ecological research, and the sustainable interaction between humans and the natural environment. Matt believes that research, education, and innovative problem-solving are essential to safeguarding our natural heritage.
His career aspiration is to continually develop the knowledge and skills required to make a meaningful contribution to the conservation sector. He is honored to be part of a team dedicated to the protection and preservation of our natural world.
Petronel - Rhino Rescue, Rehab and Release
Petronel started in the Endangered Species Protection Unit of the South African Police Service and now runs the largest rhino orphanage in the world. She has developed best practices for the capture, care, and management of wildlife and was recently named one of the most inspirational woman in conservation across Africa.
Her work has helped improve wound care for rhino calves, develop a better milk replacement formula, and increase success of rhinos who are returned to the wild.
Elliot Netshandama - Field Study Abroad Logistics
Elliot has been with Field Study Abroad for 15 years, helping students get to their internships. You may see his smiling face at the airport, hotel, or as your driver. He loves hearing about the places the students come from and sharing stories about his country.
Mike - Big 5 Conservation
Mike ((B.Soc.Sc; FGASA Trails Guide; MBA) and his management team have taken former farmland and made it a thriving wildlife reserve which boasts free ranging members of all the “Big Five”. In addition, data is collected daily that helps ecologists and conservation biologists understand behavior, physiology, and biological needs of the organisms.
Mike is also a partner in pioneering efforts to use contraception for elephants so that the population is kept at an ideal number to provide an ecological balance for all the organisms in the reserve.
Elizke
Elizke and her team have developed a novel approach to train young cheetah cubs to learn to hunt and to avoid predators so that the cubs can eventually be released into the wild and survive.
They have successfully released cubs that have survived and had their own completely wild cubs, contributing to having more wild cheetahs in Africa.
