A call centre manager from Watford has returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa where he met Maasai warriors, came face to face with wildebeests and saw where his fundraising money was to be spent.

Martin Wells, of Hallam Close in the Reeds Estate, returned from his trip to Tanzania and Kenya last month after raising more than £3,000 for ActionAid – the international development charity.

During his 11-day trip, the 54-year-old trekked through the Great African Rift Valley, saw some of the world’s most exhilarating wildlife and took in among Africa’s most breathtaking scenery.

Martin, who works in Bletchley, said: “I had always wanted to spend time in Africa, but wasn’t sure how to go about it.

“I also wanted to challenge myself and thought if I could do all that while raising money for a great cause, all the better.”

Martin contacted ActionAid – a charity that organises trips all over the world – after stumbling across their website.

The charity asks volunteers to raise £1,600 to pay for their trips as well as contributing £1,500 to its projects across the continent, as well as in Asia and South America.

Martin’s trip began in Kenya, before travelling across the border to Tanzania and through the Great African Rift Valley.

He then trekked through Maasai villages, up the Kitumbeine volcano and passed the 2,000-foot deep Ngorongoro Crater – home to lions, wildebeests and zebras.

Martin and the other volunteers were also given the opportunity to see the difference their sponsorship money will make when they visited local ActionAid projects.

Martin visited projects where they were building classrooms and community centres and got the chance to meet the people the charity works with.

Martin said: “The whole experience was mind-altering. When you see first-hand how difficult it is for people to make a living in poorer countries, you feel humbled.

“I saw tiny children out in the middle of nowhere looking after goats all day and walking miles to collect water, yet when you see how cheerful they are it really does make you stop and think about priorities.”

“My favourite part of the whole trip was the smiles and waves from the children,” he added.

“They are so curious about visitors and so pleased to see you. These are memories that will stay with me forever.”

After getting up before sunrise and walking through hot and dry climates, Martin says he was glad to have got himself in shape before boarding the plane to Africa.

He said: “I really wasn’t sure I could manage the trek, but my partner Annie stepped in. She gave up her weekends and organised my training and we ended up walking all over the country.

“With her help and support, I was ready for Tanzania and had the time of my life.”

For information about ActionAid, visit www.actionaid.org.uk/adventures or telephone 01460 238047.