I'm off to the Ultimate Big Cat Encounter that officially kicks off on August 15th. I was rather calm, cool and collected until I realised how quickly time was marching on. I mean I'm pretty organised, have my jabs, have my sleeping bag, flights organised and one night in a fab hotel booked as part of my return journey. I do need to organise travel insurance - kinda might need that...well hopefully not but you know what I mean!

I did the Ultimate Lion project back in 2009 so I kind of know what to expect, but, the fact that this project promises to be even more hands on, and, includes the tantalising prospect of tigers is making me wish I could click my ruby slippers three times and find myself in Africa right now! (Oh pipe down Dorothy we really aren't in Kansas anymore).

I'm travelling on my own again; it's a bit freaky but it's also exciting. Going alone means you don't have the back-up of a friend so you really have to put in the effort to make new ones. I'm still in touch with most of the people I met in 2009 so I guess I mustn't be that bad to be around. Well mostly. Not great at speech first thing in the morning or with a hangover. But let's just say most of the time I'm easy going and leave it at that.

Last time I went I put a load of songs on my ipod and brought about 4 books. I listened to my ipod once and managed to finish one and a half books - most of the time was spent with the animals, chatting with other volunteers or sipping wine around the campfire whilst getting engulfed with smoke. Highly glamourous stuff!

Here's to South Africa 2011 and whatever adventures it holds for me.

• Lions
• lion park
• Bloemfontein
• lion park; meerKats; south africa