The five places that changed my life: author Tony Park

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA

In 1995 my wife and I went on safari and became hooked on Africa. I'd already had one failed attempt at writing a novel, set in the outback, but on our third trip to Africa I found myself back in the Kruger Park, where the addiction had begun. I started another book, set in Africa, and it was published as Far Horizon. I'd fulfilled my life's dream and haven't looked back since.

AFGHANISTAN

I was in the Army Reserve and served as a public affairs officer in Afghanistan in 2002. It was the highlight of my army career, but when I came back I became disillusioned and drank heavily. I thought I'd earned the right to enjoy myself, but at the same time I was crying in front of the television over coverage of soldiers' funerals. A psychotherapist friend suggested I talk to someone and I found out I was suffering from survivor guilt. I used to be sceptical about such things, but I've learned more about mental health and tried to reflect the reality of war and trauma in some of my fictitious characters.

RWANDA

I went to Rwanda to research a novel about the 1994 genocide and discovered a country with no plastic bags (they're banned), the highest proportion of women in parliament, and a conservation success story with an increase in the number of endangered mountain gorillas. Rwanda inspired me and showed me that while Africa has its problems, real change is always possible.

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

When I first visited Vietnam in 1985 I found a country physically scarred by war and poverty – most people rode bicycles. Thirty years later Saigon was booming and choked with traffic. Vietnam is beautiful, with friendly people, but that newfound wealth has brought greed – the country is now the number one consumer of illegally poached rhino horn. I don't begrudge a country success, but Vietnam reminded me happiness is not all about money.

NANTWICH, ZIMBABWE

Nantwich Camp, overlooking a dam in Hwange National Park, is a wildlife paradise and this part of Zimbabwe features in several of my novels. Like the rest of the country Nantwich fell into ruin and was abandoned a few years ago. Some friends and I have leased the property and we're renovating and re-opening it as a safari lodge. We'll employ local people and work with anti-poaching rangers to protect the park's wildlife. This is a new chapter in my life and while it might fail, I figure it's worth it if it helps Zimbabwe get back on its feet.

Tony Park's 16th novel, Scent of Fear, is about tracker dogs and their handlers involved in the war against rhino poaching in Africa. See panmacmillan.com.au