At the end of 2011 I won The Guardian Been There competition and as a result went on assignment for them in South Africa in September 2012. This is the competition journey in images:

The winning image was taken in Sierra Leone and won the Guardian November heat with the theme of solitude and then won the main prize in December when put up against nine other images.

My winning photo in print alongside some of the other stunning images – I was so chuffed to have been chosen out of such a strong group of photos. When I found out I had won the big prize my eyes teared up because I just felt so blessed!

On safari in South Africa with The Guardian and &Beyond. A bit nervous as I had never tried wildlife photography before.

One of the photos I took in Ngala, South Africa. A cheetah protects its kill from other lurking dusk time predators.

Double page spread in The Guardian, October 2012

One photography adventure over…. I hope for many more!

You can see some of the images I took in South Africa at the Guardian Online.