Being in the middle of nowhere, with no way to contact those I left behind, created a space for growth. I found it both exhilarating and challenging—being disconnected from the world I was used to felt like flipping a coin. On one side was the thrill of living entirely in the moment, unattached to the steady ping of messages or the urgency of news. On the other side was the gnawing awareness that those I loved were still living their lives without me, and I couldn’t instantly be part of their moments or share my own. This experience, however, taught me something profound: there is beauty in this disconnection, a freedom that opens space for the unexpected and the new.
By: Shaylee Cahoon, University of Vermont
This is the true beauty of Botswana, all the aspects of the environment we take for granted, or often completely disregard. But one of the best things about Round River is that we are outside for every one of these moments, so we always have the chance to appreciate them.
By: Anna Lick, University of Vermont
As a vegetarian and self-proclaimed foodie, I was always wondering what the food situation was going to be. […] We have a group of 14 down here and we split our group every day into chores, most of which are centered around making meals for each other.
By: Jasper Thomas, Bowdoin College
After an hour of learning how to pressurize our ears, dive vertically, and check above us before coming back up, we were feeling stoked to get out to the river the next day and pick up some trash.
By: Cat Murphy, Ithaca College
Within five minutes of that turn, Lucy’s wheels lost traction and halted. A beast of a car, defeated by very soft, silty ground. For the entire five hours Lucy was stuck, I found a permanent smile plastered on my face. To be stuck in the mud in Botswana is where I’d choose to be over anything else.
By: Henry Hagen, St Lawrence University
Join Henry and the Patagonia Spring 2026 crew for their first backpacking trip in San Lorenzo!