My first job after graduating as an ecologist from Leeds University was in Africa – little did I know the importance of this on my life. As the permanent ecologist for Raleigh International in Zimbabwe I set up numerous conservation projects, managed hundreds of volunteers, collated scientific data and wrote many reports. And it was here that I promptly fell in love with the continent. The fact that I had a Mozambique Spitting Cobra living under my house for two years did not deter me.

I have a passion for conservation, an in-depth knowledge about African wildlife and an obsession with giraffe having spent countless hours monitoring these animals and collecting their poo! This was for scientific purposes. I have a wealth of fascinating African wildlife factoids (often utterly useless) and love learning trivia about wildlife. Did you know that dung beetles can navigate by the milky way?

This love of Africa led me to setting up my own business organising specialist holidays to the dark continent, Sense Africa, now Sense Earth, creates genuine African and worldwide experiences off the beaten track of tourism.

There is something about Africa that makes me feel as if I have come home, it is restoration for my soul.