GORILLAS nesting, hair-raising driving and stark poverty – just some of the things encountered by a Comet county headteacher lending a hand in Africa. Peter Loach, head at Hitchin s Priory School, left for Rwanda in January as part of a three month progr

GORILLAS nesting, hair-raising driving and stark poverty - just some of the things encountered by a Comet county headteacher lending a hand in Africa.

Peter Loach, head at Hitchin's Priory School, left for Rwanda in January as part of a three month programme to support two primary schools in the country.

This has included coming to terms with the poverty-stricken education system and some rather terrifying journeys to get to school.

Writing in his blog, he described one of his journeys: "He drove with demonic purpose and this might have been fine, had it suited the track's condition, but it had rained incessantly all night. Choosing only his horn and accelerator to propel us onward, we found ourselves sliding and skidding through mud and water. But once again we reached our journey's end alive and in one piece, so I was left wondering whether I just worried too much."

One of Mr Loach's highlights has been a trip to the mountains, where he got up close to mountain gorillas.

"After less than an hour of trudging along narrow, muddy tracks under a bamboo canopy, our guide halted us in silence to point to nests overhead - the gorillas were above us but invisible. After several minutes a black, hairy arm or leg appeared almost reluctantly in the foliage above."

Priory students raised over �1,000 for the two schools where Mr Loach is helping to create sporting facilities.

To read more of his adventures go to www.peterwanda.blogspot.com