Why we need to travel
The need, every now and again, to mentally and physically escape from the day to day runs deep within our human nature. To unleash the passion of discovering something new, the yearning to broaden horizons and to challenge ourselves sits within us all.
Exploring on a walking safari is a thrilling way to experience the African bush. Wonderful Samburu guides and camels to carry the luggage are hallmarks of a Karisia walking safari in northern Kenya.
Leisure travel, in all its forms, fulfils these requisites in so many ways. The planning, the expectation and the realisation fill us with purpose, anticipation and (hopefully) joy.
The wildlife comes to you at Singita Serengeti House
A safari holiday extends these elements by the spade-full. It can be anything you want from exhilarating, adrenaline fuelled and adventurous to romantic and intensely peaceful. Standing on the edge of the Rift Valley looking out across miles and miles of pristine wilderness or hiding behind a fallen tree watching an elephant stretch its trunk to grab a favourite fruit are so far from our normal daily lives. Safari means journey in Swahili and you quite simply never know what’s around the next corner as you travel through the bush.
There are surprises around every corner. Leopard close to Khwai Leadwood, Botswana
Sharing new experiences with family and friends and taking the opportunity to ‘disconnect to reconnect’ has benefits that will last for months if not years. The raw wilderness, getting away from the crowds, the huge skies, open fires, smiling faces, warm evenings, delicious food, the ordered chaos and the charm warmth of the local people hearten the soul. They say a change is as good as a rest and if that’s the case then a safari is the best rest and reset you can get.
Sleeping under the stars is quite simply a wonderful way to experience the African wilderness. The sleepout at Tswalu Motse, South Africa.
Choose the right people to help you plan and even this process is a pleasure. Our team at Aardvark Safaris will take all the time you need to get a trip right (days if you are in a hurry, normally a couple of weeks, but sometimes months of perfecting ideas) and the exploring and choosing can be half the fun. I’d even go as far as to say the expectation and planning of a big trip and giving us something to look forward to, is a great morale booster. And, frankly, we could all do with that right now.
Family fun at Kinondu Kwetu, one of our all time favourites on the Kenyan coast
There are also wider, vital reasons why we should all remember that we can travel to Africa. For a start, the continent relies heavily on international tourism for income and millions of jobs and by travelling you are putting conservation into action for both local people and wildlife. Each worker employed in the African tourism industry typically supports 8-10 dependents, equating to around 250 million people across Africa. In terms of wildlife, the more eyes on the ground the less poaching of rhino, elephant and pangolin there is and subsistence killing of animals for bush meat also diminishes.
Rhino at Borana, home to one of Kenya’s most successful rhino conservation programmes
I think we have all forgotten that we will have the freedom to move and travel and the positive impact that this has on us mentally and physically and to those that we meet in Africa too.
What Next?
If you would like advice or to chat about booking a safari please get in touch by phone or email. We will be delighted to assist you.
Camel safari, Kenya, Laikipia, 
Luxury safari accommodation Waterberg, South Africa, 
Hippos on a walking safari, South Luangwa, Zambia,
Leave a Reply