It's "safari so good" for a teenager off to do animal conservation work in Africa.

Emily Johnson has the gear, the accommodation and bags of enthusiasm, all she needs now is £2,000 to pay for the trip.

The 19-year-old, who is set to take her walk on the wild side in July, is now organising fundraising events and seeking sponsorship. Emily has already organised a gig at the Y Bar, in Skipton, with performances from a host of local bands, and a car boot sale. She has also contacted businesses and organisation in the area to ask for sponsorship. She is now on the hunt for more fundraising ideas to get her to the grand total.

The money will fund Emily on a one-month work placement at an animal hospital in Namibia. The trip has been organised through an organisation called Wild at Heart.

Emily said: "It's the first time I've done this kind of thing. When I read about what I could be doing at the centre, it sounded perfect. It was exactly what I wanted to do and looked amazing."

The animal lover, whose pets at her Skipton Road, Silsden, home include guinea pigs and a chinchilla, will be helping to conduct research in the field, which will be used for relocating, reintroducing and breeding local wildlife in the African Savannah. She will also be helping to hand-rear orphaned animals.

She said: "The project name is "Noah's Ark" and I will be focusing my research on wild dogs in a bid to help reverse the depleting numbers of these animals."

The trip is part of Emily's gap year. She completed A-levels at Skipton Girls High School last year and plans to go on to study geography at Liverpool University, in September.

Once she has graduated, she wants to work in animal conservation, running breeding programmes in a zoo.

Anyone willing to offer sponsorship, or fundraising ideas, should call Emily on 01535 655763.