Pat packs his trunk for a return to Africa

A RETIRED school teacher is preparing to return to Africa and the place where he began his career more than three decades ago.

Pat Bennett, 61, from Moulton, will travel to Ghana next month on a three-week expedition to study and compare the little forest elephant and the Savannah elephant.

The trip, which is being organised by the Scientific Exploration Society, will be especially poignant for Pat as it was in Ghana that he first began his teaching career.

He said: "I taught in Ghana in the 1960s. I have been intending to go back for a long time and when I saw this expedition I decided it would be the perfect way to do it."

Professor Adrian Lister, of University College London and internationally known as 'the Elephant Guru', will lead the study.

The trip will take Pat, who is now a keen writer and photographer, to the Kaum National Park where he will spend several days in the forest seeking the elusive little elephant.

He will then travel to Ghana's premier wildlife reserve, the Mole National Park, for further data collection and analysis.

Pat has chosen to extend his trip by a week in order to go and revisit his old haunts and hopefully catch up with some old friends.

He said: "It is not going to be the same because time moves on but I really loved it in Africa and I am looking forward to returning."

There are still places available on the expedition, which sets off on March 27. For more information, call 01747 854898.

scorrigan@guardiangrp.co.uk