Humanity has been around much longer than civilization. Long before we walked on the paved streets of our towns and cities, our ancestors roamed vast areas of untamed wilderness every day on their life’s journey.
In an age where the stresses of the modern world are increasingly becoming a burden on our mental well-being, nature escapism has become a way to get back to our roots and embrace the mental health boost that returning to nature can offer.
Nature escapism is a term that refers to escaping daily life by immersing oneself in authentic natural wilderness. It recognizes there is a deep human need for a connection to nature and a growing absence of true nature in our everyday lives. Finding spaces where nature is still given room to thrive is a difficult task in many parts of the world, and few can claim to have the richness of natural wilderness Africa still has today. From vast grasslands to desert oases teeming with migrating animals, from enchanting forests to mountains covered in wildflowers, Africa truly has an abundance of magnificent, untouched wilderness areas. There are, however, several things to consider to properly take advantage of the healing power of places like these and make the most of an escapist’s trip to Africa.
Switch Off
To truly escape, you need to switch off from the daily. This can mean different things for different people: some of us are hooked to work and constantly checking our email, while others post on social media every day and check in to see the likes and comments that follow. To properly escape and allow the African wilderness to help unwind, restrict social media, virtual communication, and reading the news to a minimum. Not only will this help you get rid of the latent stress still sitting at the back of your mind as you enjoy local coffee and the sound of birdsongs in the morning, but it will also improve one of the core foundations of mental well-being – sleep. So take as many photos as you like, call friends and family to tell them about your great experiences, but save the posting, emailing, texting and news reading for later.
Let go
There is a Sotho Proverb that says, “A strawberry doesn’t ripen according to the wishes of a baboon,” which is to say that the sweetest things often come without being planned. The same mindset should be followed when travelling – embrace pleasant surprises, even when that means veering slightly off plan. Another great way to truly let go on your holiday is to leave the exact planning to others and focus on having memorable experiences and appreciating every part of the journey. Not only does this relieve your mind of all the worry of planning and executing the perfect trip, but it also allows you the space and time to savour the experiences – whether planned or not – that come your way.
Try new things
Reconnecting with nature often means learning things we did not know before and experiencing nature in new ways. Walking safaris are one of the most exhilarating such experiences, where expert local guides take you through scenic landscapes on foot and bring you up close and personal with nature. For those looking for a more relaxed way of reconnecting with nature, there are scores of other experiences to be had, from safari game drives or exploring by boat, to picnics in the bush or fire-side dinners amongst the stars. The key to reconnecting is staying curious and embracing the learning and experiences that go with that.
Be in the moment
This one might sound like a cliché, but ‘being in the moment’ simply means not thinking about the future or the past but focusing on enjoying what you are doing at that very moment. Picture this: the sun is low on the horizon, and you are on a canoe in the Okavango Delta with a local guide. Ripples form in the waters as the paddle gently pushes the vessel forward, and you notice a herd of elephants drinking among the green reeds, gracious giants standing like boulders in the landscape, dipping their trunks in desert oasis waters in complete silence. You watch them in awe.
You think of nothing but your appreciation for their being. Your mind is at peace. You are in the moment.
** This is a guest Post by Ruan Viljoen of African Sky Safaris and Tours.
