I TOUCHED A LION. I actually went up to a lion and touched it and played with it. I walked lions through the bush and got taught how to lead them and send them in the right direction. Let's just take a minute to appreciate that I, Jenny Ramsden, TOUCHED/STROKED a lion!

Every Thursday and Saturday we would go with the lion project volunteers to interact with the lions. We had to get up before sunrise to do this and go in an open car to the reserve, you may think Africa is warm but before sunrise I am telling you now, it is absolutely freezing. Those freezing rides made me want to cry!

The lion project definitely made me come to the realisation that Africa is so chilled. I don't even think you could call the 'brief' we had before we were allowed to be with the lions a brief.

This was the basic information:

· Don't turn your back on a lion because they will pounce on you if they think you are vulnerable and they will hurt you.

· If they start running at you just point your stick out and say NO in an authoritative manner.

· Don't wear bright colours that attract their attention because they will want to eat you.

· When stroking the lions and they start to growl at you, move away.

· Do not be in a position where the lion can corner you.

· Do not tease the lions, they will get angry. (Shock, the lads teased the lions)

· Don't act scared around them, be confident or you will be their target.

After that short introduction we were allowed to be around the lions, in all honesty I felt I knew nothing after the introduction, only that I could be in quite a bit of danger.

On our first bush walk with the lions I was asked to guide them in the bush. I had to touch the lion's back and put my stick ahead of me for them to follow, it was actually a bizarre scenario, being 'in control' of two lions. Once in the bush we would take photos with the lions and play with them, they would then find a place to sit and we would 'cub sit' for two hours.

I know having the opportunity to be with lions and sit with lions is amazing, but after doing this a few times, the excitement wears off and some of the volunteers began to realise that in reality all we were doing is sitting with big cats and watching them…sit. Personally, I didn't mind it; it allowed the volunteers time to have a good gossip. However, some volunteers stopped finding it interesting. This is when the antics of the volunteers began at the lion project.

Along with cub sitting and bush walks there was also the option of doing meat preparation. During this procedure you cut up different animals like giraffe and zebra for the lions to eat. I'm not going to lie, I really didn't fancy cutting up giraffe so I didn't partake in this. However, my brother, Pablo, Nacho and other volunteers did.

Turns out they thought punching a hung up dead carcass was lots of fun (check out the video I upload, absolutely hilarious!). It also turns out that they found stealing a giraffe penis after decapitating it and then hanging it inform of one of the girls bedroom door is also lots of fun (trust me it was). One of us knocked on the door and we all hid from the scene of the crime. Turns out it was Pampi who opened the door, and not realising what was dangling in front of her, she grabbed it and threw it across the lodge. Can't even explain how funny it was to watch. It is pranks like this that make me really miss volunteering; we really did become a little family before the end of the month, it was so sad to leave!

I've also got another video of one of the lions (I think it was Wadiwa but I'm not too sure) getting quite angry through the cage, if you watch that you will realise what I mean when I said I felt like I was in quite a bit of danger!

Turns out that that 'The Hoff' visited the lion project that we were working at earlier in the year before we arrived. A little claim to fame right there!

If you ever do go to Africa I really do recommend going to interact with the lions, it's a great experience and one that you will keep forever. Not everyone can say they chilled with a lion, can they!?