Welcome to our Island Paradise!

The wildlife students have a discussion lead by Dr. Bowman on the patio of the Lukuba restaurant. Photo credit Amelia Wang

Katie Yost and Stephen Pope explore the island in the canoes around the lake. Photo credit Amelia Wang

Erin Cordiner enjoys her time off in a hammock on the beach. Photo credit Amelia Wang

Mike Bucknall shares his perspective on life and his passion for photography. Photo Credit Stephen Pope

Students enjoy looking at the beautiful colors of the sky created by the sunset. Photo credit Erin Cordiner

We stepped off a handmade, wooden boat, to a secluded Lukuba Island Lodge on Lake Victoria. After settling into our waterfront rooms, we anxiously explored the island. Excited for the new terrain, including soft sand below our feet, students played Frisbee, rested in hammocks and soared in tree swings before dinner.   

The next day included working on our projects. After a much deserved break, we spread out to participate in canoe races, explore the island and swim in the largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. After lunch, the wildlife students had a discussion on the issues surrounding the conservation of the African elephant as well as traditional tribal cultures.

With the completion of schoolwork for one day, students had the afternoon to enjoy the beautiful weather and observe some of the island’s wildlife including black-faced vervet monkeys, Long-tailed Cormorants, Nile monitors and Little Egrets. One of the black-faced vervet monkeys even snuck into one of our bathrooms!

That night when our stomachs were full, we were treated to a showing of Colonel Mike Bucknall’s collection of inspiring photos from his own African excursions.  Mike is an award winning BBC photographer, a colonel in the British SAS hand-picked by the United Nations to work in conflict resolution in the Darfur Region of Sudan, and currently the manager of the lodge. To end the day, we had a bonfire on the beach lighting up the dark night as waves crashed along the shore with stars displaying a canopy overhead.

The last full day at Lake Victoria was used to work on our projects, lie on the beach and enjoy each other’s company. In the early evening we set out on a short hike to the highest rocks overlooking the island to watch the stunning sunset take over the sky. Fresh fish caught by our professors overflowed our plates complimenting the rest of our meal. Our last night on the island was finished off by watching the photography students’ photo essays and playing games by the fire.

The next day, after a delicious breakfast, we left our island paradise on the same boat back to the mainland and spent an afternoon of traveling via buses and small airplanes before arriving in Arusha.