Telperion Baboon Primatology

Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.

Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.

Travel can be unpredictable! GSP travel itineraries are tentative and subject to change, including while in field.

Upon arrival in South Africa, you will spend one night in a hotel in Johannesburg before continuing on to the field site. This will be a modest airport hotel, anticipated 2 students per room. 

For the rest of your program, you will be living on the Telperion reserve in a newly renovated housing complex. Rooms will be shared in small groups (2-4 students). The site is secure and well-established, with safe drinking water (bottled water is also available if preferred). It is rustic but has WiFi, electricity, etc. 

During your travel days to and from Johannesburg, you will be responsible for sourcing your own food. However, all meals will be provided for you while staying at Telperion. If you have any dietary restrictions, please speak with the Global Learning Advisor before applying or as soon as possible after acceptance to the program.

This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties. Preference is given to ANTH and PRIM students with higher-year standing, but all students are welcome to apply.

Applications will be considered after your online application and supplementary documents have been received in full.

Please read the sections below for information about what your application will include. The application is completed online. Because the online application will time out after 1 hour, we recommend writing out your answers to the application questions in a Word document and preparing any of the supplementary documents you may need in advance.

Once you are ready, click here to access the application system.

Announcements on whether you have been selected to the program will not be distributed until after the November 10 deadline.

Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.

Program-Specific FAQs

Q: Is South Africa safe?
A: South Africa is renowned as a tourist destination and is generally safe. The majority of your time will be spent at Telperion, which is a private site and has no serious safety concerns. The reserve does not have any large predators or dangerous mammals (lions, hippos, etc.); it’s home mostly to primates and ungulate species (zebra, giraffe, etc.) and you will receive guidance on field safety as part of your studies. Of course, there are still general travel safety precautions, which you will be advised on before travel. 

Q: What are the biggest risks of this program?
A: There is always risk when working around wild animals. To minimize this risk, your fieldwork will be under the supervision of your instructors and other experienced scholars from Telperion, and you will be guided on obtaining appropriate protective gear for your trip (such as snake leggings). Another risk is weather; although South Africa is at a lower altitude with a generally pleasant climate, you may find it warmer or more humid than you’re used to. You will be given information about managing heat, hydration, etc. 

Q: How physically demanding is this program?
A: Fieldwork days can be long. A typical day may include 6-8 hours outside, following your primate group on foot as you make observations and collect data. The terrain is uneven and you may have to climb hills at times. Your instructors will try to schedule indoor work at the peak of the day to avoid excessive heat, but this may not always be possible. If you have concerns about your ability to participate in the physical element of this program, please contact one of the instructors and/or the Global Learning advisor to discuss. 

Advice from a student who attended a previous Primatology international program: 

"As someone who has managed anxiety for my entire life through the development of routines and support systems here in Canada, it was very difficult to walk away from that and put myself in a completely new situation with new people and no established routine. As the program progressed, our whole group experienced mental & physical exhaustion from the rigours of fieldwork, and I was shocked by how supportive and kind everyone was. We became so close so fast and were so open with our needs that I truly felt like we became a family by the end. So, the resolution to my biggest challenge in the field was also one of the biggest highlights of my trip. In terms of advice for future students, opening yourself up to your classmates and relying on each other for support and reassurance is absolutely essential to your success in this program. Also, set realistic expectations of what the trip will look like in terms of free-time and 'vacationing', and accept that programs like this need to be tackled one day at a time. It was hard, but it is so worth it if you fully commit to the experience."