With an urge to do something for the world, the Vivonne Bay mother of three has volunteered to spend a month with a group called Space for Elephants.

One of the group’s aims is to develop wildlife corridors so that elephants can migrate between game reserves and through different countries. It is based in the Kwazulu-Natal province.

“I have always been drawn to do something in Africa, to contribute, having visited 12 years ago.

“This opportunity has come for me just at the right time,” Ms Ward said.

“I know some people think I must be crazy, leaving my kids and husband for a month, but I really feel a strong desire to do this,” she said.

Husband Simon is supportive and looking forward to some time off from his busy work at Vivonne Bay Eco Adventures to spend with Jack, 6, Sam, 4, and Rachel, 2.

“It’s not that I’m unfulfilled as a mother and wife. I am very happy but this is something that feeds my soul. Simon and I agree it’s important to do challenging things and support each other to do things that fulfil us,” Ms Ward said.

She found out about the project through another Vivonne Bay resident Andy Young, who has previously volunteered for the project.

The project offers many different areas for volunteering in botany, history, ecology, teaching, geology and archaeology. Ms Ward will spend her first week tracking leopards.

“I sent an email to the project founder Digs Pascoe and I guess I was half expecting him not to respond but he did and it was all arranged.”

It could be the start of a lifetime of international volunteering for Ms Ward who said she would also like to teach children in a Third World

country.

“It will be tough but it will also be the experience of a lifetime,” Ms Ward said.