East Africa: Biology

In cooperation with Dorobo Safaris, Lewis & Clark College offers a program of cultural and biological studies focused on human culture and history, as well as the diversity and ecology of tropical organisms in both marine and terrestrial habitats. This program is intended for biology majors. Over the course of the semester, the group travels to different parts of northern Tanzania to study Swahili language, culture, history, biological diversity and ecology in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. A defining characteristic of this program is its mobility; accommodations during the semester include homestays, camping in tents, and staying in remote lodges and small hotels. The program includes an independent research component, giving students the opportunity to conduct field research and develop a project focused on tropical ecology.

Itinerary Overview: 

This program takes place in northern Tanzania, in East Africa. It begins in the village of Olasiti, just outside the city of Arusha. Here, students receive a general orientation to the program, along with Swahili instruction (WLL 101) and lectures on culture and history (IS 210). Instruction in these topics continues as the program moves on successive weeks to Magi ya Chai, at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mambo View, a village in the western Usambara mountain chain. Next, the itinerary shifts to coastal Tanzania, beginning with a visit to forests near Amani, in the eastern Usambaras and followed by travel to the island of Zanzibar. While on Zanzibar, students continue their Swahili language instruction and finish their IS 210 coursework with studies of coastal Swahili culture and history. After Zanzibar, students move to the coast of Tanzania, near Pangani, to begin their biology curriculum (BIO 325 and BIO 415). This coastal component includes snorkeling on coral reefs with boat travel. After this, the group returns to Arusha in preparation for an extended safari (approximately four weeks, with stops in Oldoinyo Sambu, Tarangire, Nou Forest, Yaida Valley, Soitorgos, and Lake Natron). This exposes students to various terrestrial habitats for continued biological studies and allows for cultural immersion with the Hadzabe (traditional hunter/gatherers) and Maasai (including homestay in a traditional Maasai boma). The final three weeks of the program are spent conducting independent terrestrial and marine ecological research projects as part of the BIO 415 course.

Onsite Staff: 

This program is supported by an excellent team of Tanzanian residents who oversee curriculum and logistics throughout the semester. They have worked with Lewis & Clark programs for over 20 years to build a curriculum specifically designed for our students. With diverse backgrounds and decades of in-country experience, they offer a remarkable opportunity to explore a variety of habitats, people, and contemporary issues across the breadth of northern Tanzania.

About the program leader: 

Dr. Binford’s research centers on invertebrate biological diversity with specific expertise in arachnids, biogeography and venom biology. She has over 30 years of international field based research experience including leading expeditions to Namibia and South Africa. Dr. Binford has led Lewis & Clark Biology Overseas programs to New Zealand and Australia.

To learn about one student’s experience on the program, check out this photo essay, titled “Where we Learn(ed)” and created by Makayla Simmer ’21. Makayla participated in the East Africa: Biology program in Fall 2019, and she created this photo essay as a follow-on service project for the Gilman Scholarship.

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits. IS 210 fulfills the Culture, Power and Identity, or the Historical Perspectives general education requirement.

Major Requirements: BIO 325 and BIO 415 may be applied to the Biology major. BIO 325 counts as a lab course.

Credits: 17 credits (4 courses)

Curriculum:

IS 210: Area Studies, East Africa: History, Culture, and Change (4 credits)

East Africa is a region of extraordinary ethnic, cultural, and biological diversity. Beginning with the dawn of humanity, this course examines the movements and settlement patterns of various peoples of the region. Special attention is given to the impact of overseas influences during the last millennium, particularly those of the Arab-Muslim world during initial contact, and those of the Western-Christian world during the colonial period. The course also considers the rise of African nationalism and the end of colonial rule.

WLL 101: Swahili Language Instruction (4 credits)

Introduction to basic vocabulary and structural patterns of Kiswahili. Present, past, and future tenses. Practice in using the language: oral comprehension and development of skills in speaking, reading, and writing basic Swahili in order to function in everyday-life situations in Tanzania.

BIO 325: Vertebrate Diversity (5 credits)

An examination of the ecological and evolutionary processes that define, promote, and maintain biological diversity with a focus on East African fauna including marine organisms, arthropods (including arachnids and insects) and vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals). Lectures, discussions, and readings of original literature will combine with field/lab exercises that explore regional patterns of diversity in natural settings.

BIO 415: Research Projects in East African Tropical Ecology (4 credits)

Advanced study of behavior and ecology within two tropical habitats: Coral reefs and grassland savannah. Students will develop and implement research projects that investigate the mechanisms that contribute to organismal coexistence and stability within two very different habitats. Student teams will share their projects through oral presentations including methods, results, interpretation and implications. Projects will be supported by lectures and discussions focused on the underlying ecological processes that generate community level patterns in these habitats.

Relationship to On-Campus Curriculum: The biology-focused East Africa program is intended for students majoring in biology, particularly those with interests in tropical field biology, coral reefs and savanna ecology. By offering a comparative perspective on democratic political institutions, international relations, gender roles, etc, the program is also attractive to students from a number of other major programs, including Environmental Studies, Sociology/Anthropology, Political Science, International Affairs, Economics, Rhetoric & Media Studies, and Psychology.

Irrespective of their major course of study, students may also relate their education abroad to various on-campus activities including regularly offered courses, self-directed independent study or practicum, and cultural celebrations such as the International Fair.  Relevant courses include various International Affairs and Sociology/Anthropology offerings (e.g., IA 230 African Politics; SOAN 255 Medicine, Healing, and Culture; SOAN 265 Critical Perspectives on Development; SOAN 349 Indigenous Peoples: Identities and Politics) as well as courses in Music, Art, etc.

Housing: 

Accommodations vary during the program, depending on location. Students stay with local families in the West Usambara Mountains for several nights and with Maasai families in traditional bomas. Students spend a significant portion of the program camping in tents as the program moves from one location to another. The group also occasionally stays in lodges and small hotels

“I loved being able to see so many different places in Tanzania and was worth having to be constantly on the move.”

“In country staff were absolutely excellent. Dorobo staff was kind, welcoming and made sure we had constant access to resources that were pivotal as well as emotional support. Many of them I can now call my friends and I truly believe my experience would not have been nearly as incredible without them.”

2026-2027 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $44,791

Tuition: $35,329

Program Fee: $9,425

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals. 

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to JRO): $1,500 - $2,000

Estimated Travel Document Fees: $175 - $225

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,906

All students participating in overseas programs are automatically enrolled in iNext, a supplemental travel insurance program. The fee for iNext is covered in the program cost. However, students are also required to have comprehensive health insurance during their time abroad. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in overseas programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Find more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.

Physical Requirements:

A significant portion of this program will take place in the field, so program activities will often be held outdoors. Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in program activities, including: in a savannah, a cloud forest, and an island, where participants will spend significant time walking and/or hiking on uneven ground (including hilly slopes). In addition, participants should consider the following activities/conditions:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or unpaved terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Most program nights are spent sleeping in a tent
• Hikes at night with flashlights
• Exposure to mosquitoes and other biting insects
• Swimming, which is highly recommended if you want to participate fully in some of the program’s aquatic surveys, but is not required
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of hot and/or cold temperatures with little ability to control the conditions
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities
• Heightened consideration for food and water safety
• Certain vaccinations are required or highly recommended. Please consult with a travel health clinic
• Frequent location changes

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: Applications are due one year before the start of the program. The semester before the program, students who have been accepted will meet regularly for orientation. This orientation is meant to prepare the students for life in Tanzania by exploring literature and culture, and provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the logistical details of the program.

Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into Kilimanjaro airport (JRO), where they are met by onsite program staff.

Visa: Students will be required to apply for a visa in order to participate in this program. More information will be provided upon admission to the program.

Country-Specific Health Information: View specific health information for people traveling to Tanzania.

State Department Country Information: Visit the State Department’s Tanzania page.