Round River Botswana ’12

Molly grew up in Santa Cruz immersed in the spectacular nature of the California coast. Her mother, a marine biologist, instilled in her a deep respect and appreciation for nature and, at the age of 16, she set her heart on a life and career in conservation. When it came time to select a study abroad program, Molly knew she wanted a field-based program and she had become mildly obsessed with Botswana as an example of how conservation could drive sustainable development. Molly was part of Round River’s brand new Botswana student program in 2012 which spent time in the Okavango Delta, the Linyanti, Chobe National Park, and along the banks of the Boteti River.

One evening in Chobe, the Round River group came across a lion stalking a kudu. The lion inched closer, the kudu blissfully unaware of its presence. Then, in a whirl of activity, the kudu bolted and the lion lunged, pinning the kudu against the hood of the car. The pair slid to the ground, fur and hooves flying, and tumbled into the bushes where the lion finished its kill. This was life in Botswana – raw, wild and mesmerizing.

Molly describes her experience with Round River as “profound”. It cemented in her a wholehearted love of travel and learning through experience. It reinforced in her a belief that conservation must be just, equitable, and inclusive if we have any hope for long-term success. It helped her understand the importance of community-based natural resource management, the dangers of “colonialist conservation”, and the belief that local and indigenous groups must always have a seat at the table.

After college, Molly took a winding path away from and back to the world of conservation, spending time with a leopard research project in South Africa, a start-up in San Francisco, and a fair trade nonprofit before returning to school to study International Environmental Policy. She now works as a consultant with the WildAid Marine Program which strives to improve the effectiveness of marine protected areas. She also runs a small business, The Local Box Shop, which supports local artists and makers, and writes a travel blog, Molly Gone Wild. While her focus has shifted from mopane forests to coral reefs, her commitment to protecting our natural world for the benefit of both wildlife and humans remains constant. “I am eternally grateful for the time I spent with Round River in Botswana and the invaluable lessons I learned.”