Round River News

Botswana Spring 2026: Pula – Bring it on!

 Photo above: Round River vehicle, “Lucy,” stuck in the mud. Photo by C. Murphy.

by Lily Harrison, Botswana Program Instructor

This semester has been full of surprises, with heavy rains and more water than the Okavango Delta has seen in over 20 years. This has brought its own set of challenges — nearly swimming through roads, getting stuck in the mud, everything perpetually wet — and the need to adapt our plans to the conditions. Yet, it has also colored the landscape with the most vibrant green: once-dry rivers now flowing to the brim, full of water lilies and hippos; local farms bursting with food; wildflowers, rainbows, new bird species, very wet elephants, and so many happy young antelope reveling in the abundance of forage.

Pula, the Setswana word for both rain and the Botswana currency, breathes life into an area that has weathered many droughts, yet continues to thrive no matter what is thrown at it. Through the chaos and the beauty of this season, our students have navigated it all with grace, resilience, and endless positivity. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester has in store. Bring it on, pula.

The group out enjoying the flooded delta.
Spotting game with instructor, Selena.
The beauty of Botswana after a storm. Photo by C. Douglas.

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