By Sarah Zwickel, Guest Writer
ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA—
(Photo Courtesy of Sarah Zwickel)
I am currently in Zanzibar, Tanzania studying coastal ecology and natural resource management. This School of International Training (SIT) program is an immersive experience, where we connect with community members through the Kiswahili language and an extended homestay.
We are a small cohort of nine students, exploring the dynamic coastal environment of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Over the last month, we travelled across Unguja, the largest island in the archipelago, to better understand the impacts of tourism on local communities and how it affects Zanzibari livelihood practices.
This past week, we visited Chumbe Island, a Marine Protected Area (MPA) east of Unguja, dedicated to ecotourism and environmental education. There, we snorkeled, measuring reef fish diversity and toured the island, learning how the MPA promotes sustainable tourism. We swam with dolphins, visited a green sea turtle rehabilitation center, and toured a spice farm. With each activity, we explore the ethics and challenges of conducting research in the Global South.
(Photo Courtesy of Sarah Zwickel)
Located in the tropics, Zanzibar is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to many endemic species. Tomorrow, we embark on another exciting adventure to Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park to learn methods for collecting data with forest species and, more importantly, see some super cool animals. At the top of my list is the Jozani running frog (Kassina jozani), which as its name suggests, does not hop like you might predict it runs instead.
More than the amazing wildlife I have seen so far this semester, the relationships I have procured with community members, my host mother, and my peers are what I value most. Our cohort has become a family, spending afternoons strolling through town trying to sniff out the best coffee shops and championing our many fixations, which include but are not limited to: dead insects, cowries, junk journals, Nutella buns and basil seed drinks (the perfect remedy for a hot day), birds, and fish.
As the semester progresses, we will continue to laugh, take in Zanzibari culture, eat delicious embe (mangoes), and investigate the unique flora and fauna of the Indo-Pacific coast. For three weeks in April, we will each perform a field-based independent research project on a topic of our choice in Zanzibar, concentrating on relevant environmental and social issues and proposing possible management strategies. For now, I will continue to grow and embrace this opportunity to explore Tanzania!
Ask me about all of the amazing insects I’ve seen.
Badaaye (Later),
Sarah
This article originally appeared on page 17 of the March 2026 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine.
