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Having sat next to my youngest brother for 13 hours on a Heathrow to Cape Town direct flight, the last thing I was thinking about stepping off the plane was the sheer enormity that over whelmed my senses on arrival. I felt as if I could legitimately use the phrase "we are actually on the other side of the world" for the first time in my life. Within 20 minutes I had met two monkeys which I had aptly in true British style named Charles and Camilla, had my wallet stolen from my badly zipped up and absurdly impractical handbag and smelt a mixture of scents that both delighted and revolted me. The entire experience was indescribable and I re-iterate, that was before we had left the airport. We stayed in South Africa for five weeks and from that experience alone I knew it was going to be something extraordinary. The first thing I came to learn very quickly was the importance of sunscreen. My nickname fir the entirety of the trip and many years to follow was "bubbles" due my woeful underestimation of the African sun resulting in the first night of my holiday covered in, well, the word 'sunburn' doesn't quite cover it. However though the time soon came around to fly east, a trip in a tiny rickety plane taking us off to see what both me and my brother were truly excited about. That safari experience I believe is the most awe-inspiring, fascinating, life changing experience I can possibly think of. From the many moments that truly changed me during my time in South Africa, one particularly springs to mind. Up at 5.45am , hot chocolates in hand, ready to head out in high spirits in the search of the ever famed 'Big Five', minutes into the drive we came to a rather unexpected and abrupt halt. This sudden stop was followed very rapidly by a finger to the lips in a 'ssshhh' sign by our driver Cobu. As this was of course, not 'the norm' (what is on a safari?) we immediately all went silent. The only sounds I could hear was the faint beeping of my mothers still rolling digital video recorder and my own rapidly increasing heartbeat as a fully grown Bull elephant in Musk proceeded to, not once, not twice, but five times mock charge our vehicle. I can honestly say I have never been more terrfifyed and excited at the same time. As the bull eventually grew tired of tormenting us mere creatures into a fascinated, nervous and excited frenzy and hobbled off on his merry way, no doubt to find himself a good looking lady elephant to relieve the tension, we found ourselves in a mix of emotions. Cobu, as ever remained un flapped, my father did a relatively solid impersonation of someone in control. My mother, for oncein her life, something I have yet to experience again, was speechless. I started, inexplicably, hysterically laughing and my brother was completely paralysed. A truly wonderful experience of the we, as a family, were lucky enough to have during our time there. All inall I think I were to give someone any words before a trip to Africa they would be - DON'T take your phone - you don;t need it you can look at a scrren all day at home. Keep your bag safe - it's not just the airports to watch out for - those little monkeys are crafty (see first point - they will have your phone off you believe me!) and embrace everything you can for it is truly wonderful. .