Leave Rrrr at Adelaide Airport. Perth to South Africa. 11hrs flight + 3 from Adelaide + 4 hour wait in Perth. Total = 19hrs-2 seats to myself -bliss but bumpy ride.

Arrive J'Burg 5am. Lose a day-it's now Sept 17th.

Transfer luggage, walk the airport. Phone card doesn't work. Get texts but can't send. Wifi hot spots work erratically. Give up on IT but not on Rrrrr & focus on Africa. Met by Sabrina at Phalowbra airport.

Go into Phalabowra, collect Elizabeth, have lunch & shopping. Elizabeth is from UK & being young & IT savvy, organises to buy a new phone card for OS texting. $5 for card & $10 for texting. Amazing to see her navigate the IT world. My new IT guru.

Stuff around in Phalaborwa for ages & I begin to wonder about the program as Sabrina talks non stop in very strong Italian accent about the 2 new cubs that the mother's just abandoned, not touching the animals, tracking rhino etc. This doesn't sound like what I thought I'd signed up for (Deborah told me about- cuddling baby lions & holding cervals).

Meet Liz & George the Geordies. Drive back in the dark. Taken aback on arrival. Primitive to say the least 14 rowdy young people. The kitchen gave it away. It definitely wasn't the renovated one that Deb described!! Very basic accommodation 4-6 to a room in double bunks. Amenities- 2 bathrooms with toilet inside for 14 people. Fire burning outside to heat the water. Initial feeling is OMG this is not what I expected. Dinner seems chaotic. No glasses, just tin mugs. No explanation about the place. I'm allocated a top bunk. Can't go to bed though I'm dog tired as the bathrooms are being used. Eventually drop into bed after 4 hours sleep in about 35 hours. Fall asleep thinking of R & wondering what kind of experience this is going to be. Resolved that it will be a very different & a non tourist experience of Africa.

It's not Ukatula - it's the Leo Project(Limpopo Eco Operations)