These days, everyone is rushing. At work, on the road, and even on vacation. But what if your next trip wasn’t about ticking boxes or racing from one spot to the next? Slow travel can be helpful in this situation. The key is to switch from a packed itinerary to rest. This blog discusses the appeal of slow travel, including its reasons and ways to embrace it for a more enjoyable experience?

What is Slow Travel?

What exactly is slow travel? Slow travel is about quality over quantity. Rather than rushing from one attraction to another, it’s about spending meaningful time in fewer places. This could look like camping for a week, exploring nearby hiking trails, talking to locals, and enjoying meals all at your own pace. Slow travel often pairs beautifully with cosy self-catering accommodation, where you set your schedule and unwind in nature without the noise of excessive tourist activity.

The Benefits of Slow Travel

Slow travel allows you to experience South Africa with more intention and connection. Whether you’re pitching a tent on a campsite or soaking up the silence of a national park, the benefits of slowing down are plentiful:

1. It’s Kinder to the Environment

By minimising flights and choosing local road travel, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint. Camping or exploring your province by car instead of jetting off internationally is a far more sustainable way to travel.

2. Encourages Meaningful Connections

Slow travel allows you to establish genuine connections with locals, whether you’re talking to the person who prepares your breakfast at your nature resort or sharing stories over a campfire with other travellers at a caravan park.

3. Allows for a Deeper Appreciation of Nature

South Africa’s biodiversity is best experienced at nature’s pace. Slow travel lets you truly appreciate the call of a fish eagle over the river, the stillness of the bushveld, or a sunrise hike. It’s not about ticking off destinations but about soaking in the wild.

4. Budget-Friendly and Accessible

You don’t need an international itinerary to have a meaningful holiday. Slow travel could mean self-catering accommodation, camping, or road trips. All of these can be more affordable than packaged getaways. It’s perfect for families, solo travellers, or retirees looking for value and adventure.

5. Great for Mental Wellbeing

Slowing down means you actually rest. Instead of rushing through cities and checklists, you can take the time to disconnect from technology, reconnect with yourself, and truly unwind.

How to Put Slow Travel into Practice

Now, how would you put slow travel into practice? It starts with intention. Choose destinations that allow you to stay in one place for longer. Swap jam-packed itineraries for flexible plans. Instead of rushing through, focus on walking tours, scenic drives, or even just sitting by the fire with a book.

Accommodation plays a big role too. Pick a place that offers a peaceful setting and amenities that support a slower pace. Lodge facilities with braai areas, walking trails, and spaces to relax are perfect for this kind of travel.

Embrace activities that connect you with nature. Birdwatching, hiking, stargazing, or even cooking over an open flame can be grounding when you’re travelling more slowly.

Embracing the Slow Travel Movement with Mbizi

If you’re ready to join the slow travel movement, there’s no better place to start than at Mbizi Game Lodge & Spa. Tucked away in the heart of Limpopo, Mbizi offers everything you need to unwind and reconnect. Self-catering accommodation, tranquil bush surroundings, and lodge facilities that encourage rest and reflection.

Take morning walks through the bushveld, enjoy quiet evenings around the fire, or treat yourself to a soothing spa treatment. Are you ready to slow things down and discover the richness of travel done differently? Contact us today to learn more about our lodge offerings and how you can embrace slow travel on your next getaway.