The circle of life takes six students to South Africa

THEY are more used to encountering cows and sheep than lions and elephants, but six students are swapping the Lothians for life on a South African game reserve.

The Oatridge College students are looking to raise 12,000 to help them gain experience working with animals including rhinos, buffalos, cheetahs and hippos and shadowing the lives of the rangers in the Eastern Cape.

The six young women will fly out to the reserve next spring and need to raise 2000 each to cover the cost of flights and accommodation while gaining the invaluable work experience.

The Shamwari Private Game Reserve is home to Africa's "Big 5" - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard - and has received numerous international awards, including the World's Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve for many years.

The students - Kerry McDowall, 18, Kay McAdam, 19, Jade Robertson, 19, Natalie Alexander, 22, Lynn Burns, 22 and Corrie Bowman, 18 - are all studying for a Higher National Diploma in Animal Care at Oatridge College in West Lothian.

They were inspired to embark on the challenge after another group of students carried out work experience on the reserve.

Kay, from Livingston, said: "All of us wanted to do this when we heard about last year's trip and how that group managed to raise the money to go.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to see animals in the wild, but we know it's not going to be a holiday.

"We're going to have to work really hard."

When she qualifies, Kay hopes to find a job in a zoo or safari park, so the experience will help her to achieve her career ambitions.

Kerry has the same ambition, but would settle for working in a cattery, and Jade would be happy to do anything, as long as it involves looking after animals.

Corrie and Lynn aim to start their own animal-related businesses and Natalie hopes to go on to university.

Despite the range of potentially-dangerous animals they will be working with when they arrive in South Africa, the girls are agreed on the creatures they do not want to encounter - giant spiders.

They have already started fundraising for their adventure with a "mega" bake sale and a sponsored cycle from Glasgow to Loch Lomond.

A host of other activities, including raffles and regular car boot sales, are planned to raise cash.

Assistant principal Des Martin said: "The staff and fellow students have got right behind this group in their tremendous efforts to raise the funds they need, to undertake what for them will be the trip of a lifetime.

"As a college we firmly support the idea of students getting as much hands-on experience as they can, and the chance of broadening their horizons through travel.

"This group is showing all the determination and enthusiasm we like to encourage at Oatridge and we wish them every success."