I was extremely fortunate this year to be selected for the Devon Under 16s Cricket tour to South Africa. It was an unforgettable experience filled with incredible wildlife, challenging cricket and lots of new skills and friendships.

Our first week was spent in the Kruger National Park and it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. We went on early 4am game drives and evening drives exploring the bush and spotting some unbelievable animals. We were lucky enough to see 4 of the Big Five (no rhino) – everything from huge elephants right next to the truck to a leopard up a tree guarding its kill and even tiny dung beetles working away on the ground.

We had talks with the head rangers who taught us loads about wildlife conservation and life in the park. In the evenings we enjoyed traditional braais, amazing fish platters and pretty much anything you could want for breakfast the next morning. We also played matches against representative teams while in the area and one of my proudest moments of the tour was scoring 110 not out.

Another highlight was visiting what is known as the world’s most dangerous golf course which has more than 200 hippos and around 60 crocodiles living in and around the water hazards!

After Kruger we flew to Cape Town for ten days where the cricket stepped up a level. We played on some beautiful grounds and faced some really tough opposition. One of the best matches was a day/night game against a township academy – they were brilliant fun and incredibly passionate.

Across the whole Cape Town leg, we played 4 matches and as a team we only lost one game, our final match against Western Province. The level of cricket really challenged us and helped me develop both my game and my confidence.

When we weren’t playing, we had the chance to explore the area. We went up Table Mountain, visited the penguins, spent time at the beach, browsed local markets and museums and got to experience South African life and culture.

This tour was an amazing experience and something I’ll never forget. I learned so much not just about cricket but also about teamwork, independence and appreciating different cultures and environments. It was huge fun from start to finish.

A massive thank you to everyone who donated, supported me or wished me good luck. I know how lucky and privileged I am to have been able to go on this tour and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.