Several Southwestern College students and faculty will travel to Namibia in southwest Africa Dec. 27-Jan. 11.  There is space available for anyone who would like to experience this international travel opportunity.

SC professor of biology Charlie Hunter is organizing the adventure. 

“This was an opportunity for an international experience that was a bit off the beaten path,” Hunter says.   “This is southwest Africa.  There is desert and lots of wildlife.  There are lots of unusual plants and animals. For example stone plants.  They look like a pebble or small stone and they don’t have leaves.  But when they bloom, they produce beautiful flowers.”

Students going on the trip are taking a once-a-week class, worth 1.5 credits, and are learning about Southern Africa.

“Not all of the students have experienced international travel, and those who have, have been to Canada, Mexico, or Europe” Hunter says.   “A trip to the developing world will be new to them.  Larry Wilgers (emeritus professor of history at SC) talked to them about the importance of seeing things with ‘new eyes,’ and not their ‘old eyes,’ meaning to have an open mind and not any stereotypical thoughts.  It is a completely different culture.   These students will be very different when they return to SC.” 

Hunter says some of the planned activities include visiting the Kalahari Desert, Namib Naukluft National Park, bushman village, and Waterberg National Park. 
Wildlife will be plentiful according to Hunter.  He hopes to see lion, cheetah, both black and white rhinoceroses, elephants, giraffe, and several species of antelope.  Birdlife will be in abundance as well.

“We won’t be totally on safari,” Hunter says.  “We will see the wildlife but also learn about different cultures, the history of the region, and the desert landscape.  There will be numerous photo opportunities especially since that region features on average over 300 days of sunshine each year.”

The group will fly out of Kansas City on Dec. 27 and return Jan. 11.  For more information or to sign up, call Hunter at (620) 229-6326.