Science-backed reasons how Safari can boost your mental well-being (and sobriety)

All human beings need to take regular breaks from their busy lives to recharge and reset. Whether this be in the form of a long vacation or micro-vacations throughout the year - it's scientifically proven that a key factor to heightened productivity is high-quality breaks and intentional disconnection from the busyness of everyday life. The cost of skipping this rest period, often-times results in outcomes such as burnout and a negative decline in our mental and physical well-being.

It’s especially important for those who are in recovery to manage this aspect of life more stringently than others due to the increased risk of relapse triggered by high levels of stress.

Benefits of Nature

One of the most effective and research-backed strategies for managing stress on a consistent basis is spending time in nature. Research shows that nature reduces cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for the body’s stress response. Increased cortisol impacts anything from mood to weight gain and is the body’s way of alerting us to a need for rest and rejuvenation. However, it's all too easy to override these alerts out of the daily pressures to achieve and stay busy.

Given the escalating rates of burnout in our culture, it’s no surprise that activities like 'forest bathing' are increasing in popularity as people seek new methods of ‘nature therapy'. Few places offer nature therapy like that of the untamed plains of the African Savanna. By entering into an ecosystem wholly different from that of the modern world, the African Savanna grants the body a system reset. And as an added benefit: it’s pretty much sunny year-round on safari, giving you a potent dose of Vitamin D to boost your mood.

Nature has an innate ability to heal, rejuvenate, and restore humans on a physical, mental, and emotional level. Simply being exposed to nature is good for our brains; science shows that our brains have an easier time processing natural scenery compared with urban scenery, partly because it requires less cognitive load on our brains. I mean let’s be honest, we didn't need science to prove it - just hold the image of an expansive African landscape of trees and wide open spaces in your mind and then replace it with a skyline of smoke-emitting factories and concrete buildings. Which image creates more well-being in your mind?

From doom scrolling on social media to Netflix binges, modern life presents us with countless opportunities to separate from nature. However, there is no denying our intrinsic connection - from the air we breathe to the food that nourishes us, we are nature. It's no surprise that anxiety and depression levels are increasing at such a rapid rate when opportunities for disconnection are so abundant and addictive.

We tend to forget that despite our man-made societies and advancements in technology -  we are animals, mammals, and primitive beings. A disconnection from nature inevitably results in a disconnection from our true selves - thus we actually don't ever enter into nature, but rather we return to nature. Embarking on Safari grants the brain and body an opportunity to return to a balanced state, a necessary antidote to the stressors of our modern life. 

Travel Improves Brain Health

It's a well-known fact that travel broadens the mind and feeds the soul, but did you know that the change of scenery alone can impact our long-term brain health positively? In Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life by Dr Michael Merzenich (widely considered the world authority on brain plasticity), explains how leaving your comfort zone and immersing yourself in new experiences can not only help increase neuroplasticity, and can also reduce the risk of alzheimers!

“People who travel to new places, keep learning languages, and continue to experience new things into old age, are far less likely to develop cognitive decay.”

— Dr Michael Merzenich

People who have been through the process of recovery/sobriety or any type of character transformation will know it's a process which relies heavily on brain rewiring. Transforming ourselves requires us to develop new thought patterns and behaviours so that we can eventually say goodbye to our old unhealthy patterns and embrace a new, rich and fulfilling life.

Shift Perspective | Cultivate Gratitude

In line with ethical tourism practices, Africovery offers volunteering opportunities, conservation activities, and exposure to local African culture during your trip. This is an immensely rich way to connect deeper to the people whose land you are visiting. The intention is not to participate in these activities merely for personal gain, however as a byproduct of these encounters, one naturally develops an increased appreciation for the value of life, for different cultures, and for our own innate privileges.

For people in recovery, and particularly those that grew up in first-world countries - this is often a life-changing experience as many have never seen with their own eyes the daily fight for survival that billions of people on earth have to overcome just to fulfil basic human needs - which we can often take for granted.

Spiritual Growth

When going on Safari, we get to witness Earth in its purest form and observe mother nature taking its course right before our eyes. Whether it's the pride of lions hunting wildebeest, or a herd of elephants protecting their calves - we are instantly reminded of our place in the universe. It humbles us to recognize that we are just another piece in this larger picture puzzle called Earth. For those who subscribe to a God, or simply have an acceptance of a divine presence in our universe - the African savanna embodies a very powerful physical expression of this force.

“The safari experience can evoke a deep sense of gratitude for the wonders of nature and the Divine. Witnessing the intricate balance of ecosystems, the majesty of wildlife, and the interconnectedness of all living beings can awaken a profound appreciation for life itself.”

Many people can feel lost whether it be from working a dead-end job for too long or struggling through a life transition after a breakup or a loss. Whatever the cause may be, spending time in a natural ecosystem reminds us that as humans, we too contribute to an interconnected ecosystem in our daily lives. In our achievement-driven society, purpose is so often confused with the accumulation of wealth and material possessions. Yet, when the concept of purpose is distilled and viewed through the lens of an ecosystem, each one of us has a purpose in simply being alive and contributing to a larger whole, often in small, seemingly insignificant ways in our daily life. Emerging out of a trip to Africa, we are transformed and filled with a sense of our individual life’s inherent worth and value.

I've personally seen how going on Safari can foster incredible spiritual growth within a person, and inspire them to embrace a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life. The transformative powers that exist within nature are no surprise however, many well-known spiritual individuals have experienced elevated states through deep immersion in the wonders of nature, as much of indigenous and religious folklore depicts.

Slowing Down | Mindfulness

Disconnecting in nature has a remarkable ability to induce heightened states of mindfulness and promote presence - and that state is much easier attained when spending time in this special part of the world. Not only due to the many immersive, sensory-rich encounters during a wildlife safari but also because of the absolute stillness that exists on safari. Breathwork and meditation on Safari is incomparable to anywhere else, partly thanks to the sublime air quality and extremely diverse auditory experience of the region.

he 'natural rhythms' of a Safari include exceptional bird sound. These types of auditory immersions have themselves proven to improve mental well-being (Fun fact: there are over 300 bird species in the reserves where Africovery partner lodges are located)

There is no quiet quite like the quiet in the middle of the African bush (how’s that for alliteration?), particularly in the reserves that Africovery lodge partners inhabit - due to the low tourist density. It really is only describable by embodied experience, I sincerely apologise that my limited literary skills cannot do this phenomenon justice.

Connection

Last but not least - we often hear "The opposite of addiction is connection", and this message applies not only to those in recovery but to our society as a whole. A society faced with a shocking loneliness epidemic, largely due to the increase in social media usage and large-scale urbanisation. Safari is a perfect time to shut down our devices, get present with where we are and who we are with - and practice true embodied living.

Whether you choose to form your own group or join an Africovery retreat, you'll be interacting with like-minded individuals who share a common love for nature, wellness and travel. Building these lasting connections with others on similar journeys can fill us with a sense of togetherness, love, and self-acceptance - creating a supportive network for our collective long-term growth.

Lastly, it provides an opportunity to foster the most important connection of all - the connection with ourselves. A safari experience has all the ingredients to help facilitate a deeper connection with yourself, helping you rediscover your values, passions, and true purpose. I can’t wait for you to join us in Africa and create some of these meaningful memories to last a lifetime.