VIRGINIA MCKENNA IN AFRICA

Monday 2nd July 2007

Rebecca Fletcher

'I would absolutely love TV Times readers to visit the Shamwari Game Reserve in Africa,' says Born Free film star Virginia McKenna. She set up the Born Free Foundation, a wildlife charity aiming to stop wild animal suffering around the world.

Born Free has a rescue centre at Shamwari, the 20,000- hectare private game reserve at the eastern end of South Africa's Garden Route. It gives a new lease of life to animals who have often spent their lives in tiny cages, performing in circuses, before being rescued by the Born Free team.

'And if TV Times readers visit Shamwari, they must ask to visit our education centres,' adds Virginia. 'Shamwari really is special to me now we have so many of our rescued animals there. Many can't be released back into the wild – usually because of their earlier mistreatment – but it doesn't matter because they have this amazing enclosure to roam in.

'I visited Shamwari twice last year and hope to go back soon to deliver a rescued lion. It really is the most incredible environment.'