Ben Britton's wild adventures

AT HOME at Wild Animal Encounters headquarters in western Sydney, there's no fencing Ben "I like my space" Britton in.

ben britton

AT HOME at Wild Animal Encounters headquarters in western Sydney, there's no fencing Ben "I like my space" Britton in.

He and his girlfriend, Kerrie, share the property with exotic cats, monkeys and reptiles.

Although "there's always work to be done", Britton says he's the luckiest bloke around. getting to share his life with such amazing animals - even if it means never getting a weekend off.

> Favourite place to travel overseas?

BB: If you love big cats like I do, it doesn't get much better than Africa. Lions, leopards, cheetahs as well as medium and small wild cats make it a cat lover's paradise. I've loved it since I was a young boy, so to be able to travel there with Nat Geo Wild is a dream come true.

> Most memorable animal encounter?

BB: A few years ago I got to dive with great white sharks in South Africa.

To be in the water with these animals is something I'll never forget. As soon as you enter the water, you're guests in their world, something I think we all need to remember at times.

> Best destination you've been to for work?

BB: The Cocos Islands to help quarantine the Asian elephants they were importing. It's a beautiful place and somewhere I never would have thought to visit. I have great memories of fishing, snorkelling and attempting to surf in the reefs that surround the islands.

> Has anything ever gone wrong while travelling?

BB: Last year when I was in Africa I became quite ill while I was with a group of guests on one of our hosted trips. The principal researcher and I came down with some type of bug or virus. Luckily the vet working with us gave us some canine medication he had with him, within 48 hours it had done the trick - although I was chasing cars for a few days when I got home.

> Where to next?

BB: I'm heading back to Africa in a few months with one of the carnivore research trips I host - everyday Aussies can join me in Africa for some big-cat conservation. It's great being able to introduce people to Africa for the first time and always reminds me of why I love it so much.

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Ben Britton is Nat Geo Wild's Australia presenter. His Big Cat Week premieres tonight at 7.30 on Nat Geo Wild channel.