Nature trips: the absolute must-do destinations

Our lives seem to be getting busier with each year, which is why there’s been a spike of interest in holiday destinations that prioritise nature and adventure – the natural stress relievers. Below are a few absolute must-do destinations that’ll get you excited to leave the city and breathe in the stillness and calm of nature.

Thanda Safari

If you are looking for a getaway where you are surrounded by gorgeous landscapes, wildlife and wilderness, Thanda Safari is the ideal destination. Located in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, this safari oasis is fourteen thousand hectares of wild wilderness home to the worlds most beautiful species including the Big Five; lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino – the coveted group every visitor to Africa hopes to see. It’s certainly the best of the game lodges in KZN as it’s practically guaranteed you’ll encounter every one of these species, making your trip that much more of an investment, and of course extraordinary. But there’s even more to encounter and experience at Thanda such as the vulnerable wild dog, warthog, cheetah, hippopotamus, hyena, amazing birdlife and so much more. In terms of accommodation, service and amenities, you’ll be living in the lap of luxury with all the five star pleasures the Thanda portfolio is known for.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia has the world’s largest salt flat – one of the most unbelievably beautiful sights with extreme natural beauty and diverse landscapes. Anyone can take a tour of El Salar de Uyuni, so long as they’re accompanied by a guide. The salar is a snow white expanse stretching for miles with absolutely no landmarks for as far as the eye can see. For this reason, it’s a rather dangerous landscape for the average explorer to navigate, but certainly a terrain worth conquering with a tour group. Should the area be gifted with a little water, the surface reflects the clouds, the blue sky and it looks as though the horizon has disappeared. Salar de Uyuni has their rainy season from December to April, this is the perfect time to witness the Salar’s mirror effect that will leave you breathless. The dry season is from May to November when temperatures are colder and the ground is more compact, making it possible to drive across this beautiful landscape and explore places that you can’t get to in the rainy seasons.

Sahara Desert, Morocco

Bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is Morocco. This North African country is influenced by its European, Berber and Arabian cultures. Many believe that the Sahara Desert is the largest barren land in the world but it is second to the greatest on earth, the Antarctic. It is the largest and driest of deserts but remarkably beautiful and nothing quite like it. The Sahara Desert with its limitless sea of shades of gold sands is a unique experience that you may only get to do once in a lifetime, but will certainly never be forgotten. There is never a day that is the same as the one before as the desert dunes are ever-changing. Locals of the desert believe that the Saharan sand is blessed with healing properties – the Berber men dig holes in the dunes and you can have a sand bath, which is a spa with a difference. The sand bath is about thirty minutes and helps with skin irritations, and eases aching limbs and muscles.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is known for its mountain gorillas that live on the mountainsides. There are approximately only 800 remaining mountain gorillas in the world,most of which can be found in this forest. Those that have been fortunate to experience seeing these great primates in their natural habitat have said that it is something utterly remarkable, even life-changing. The mountain gorillas are found in other African countries such as the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda but the Bwindi Forest is by far the most magical, with its deep green expanse of trees and foliage and abundance of rare bird species and unique wildlife including the gorillas, deer and more. It’s essential you are accompanied by a guide – these tour require visitors to purchase an entrance permit as well pay the fee for the guide. It’s certainly a more costly trip, but worth every penny!

Iceland

Iceland is a rather small island, but offers many unique experiences being located in the far Northern corner of Europe. It may largely be covered in snow but there are areas of gorgeous grassland home to extreme phenomenons like volcanoes, waterfalls,mountains and more.

Iceland with its contrasting landscapes, natural beauty with glacier lagoons, natural spas, black sand beaches and warm water pools, national parks, active volcanoes and underground caves, what more could a nature-lover ask for! Iceland seems to be the place where one can explore to their heart’s content as it has so much to offer.