Ten reasons a safari is good for the soul.

 

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1.    Being in the moment

In the bush we seem to be able to live more naturally in the present – the here and now – immersed in whatever is or isn’t happening minute by minute. Just like mindfulness, yoga and meditation, being more in the moment delivers great benefits for our minds, bodies and souls.

2.   Cutting off

Living in the moment like this means that we’re genuinely cutting off, disconnecting literally (don’t connect to the WiFi!) and figuratively from our daily lives. We feel free from all our normal pressures and responsibilities. Relaxation comes naturally.

3.   Slowing down

Because our days on safari follow a more natural circadian rhythm and we’re existing more in the moment, we function at a much slower pace. This adds to our sense of wellbeing and means that we have more time for the things and people most important to us.

4.   Appreciating the little things

Pausing to notice small details and finding joy in simple things – something we can’t or don’t always make space for in our frenetic daily lives – is genuinely enriching and calming.

​5.    Being outside

It sounds rather obvious, but when on safari we spend a lot more time outside than we do normally. As well as the benefits of breathing in lots of fresh air and absorbing some vitamin D, our souls are fed by being in much closer touch with our simpler, more primitive needs such as food, shelter, and warmth.

7.   Feeling more alive

Karen Blixen said: “You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions.” Being in the company of big game, even from the comfort and safety of a game viewer, and in the hands of an expert guide, there is that slight element of danger, that frisson of vulnerability and sense of adventure that makes us feel more alive.

8.   Feeling connected

Being closer to nature makes us more aware of our connection to a ‘greater whole’ with animals, other people, our surroundings and the Earth. Research has shown that this feeling of connectedness is vital for our health and happiness.

9.   Gaining perspective

All of the above helps to put ourselves and our lives into greater perspective, enabling us to take a step back and see things with fresh eyes. “Africa gives you the knowledge that man is a small creature, among other creatures, in a large landscape,” wrote Doris Lessing. Many a safari goer has made changes in their life after returning home!

10.  Coming home

And then there’s this strange sense many of us have of ‘coming home’ when we’re in Africa (if we live elsewhere) or in the bush. Like we’re tapping in to some deeper ancestral knowledge.