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Search any variation of “travel” and “bucket list” on the internet and you’re likely to be presented with “go on safari” as one of the most popular travel bucket list items of all time, along with things like walking the Great Wall of China or seeing the Northern Lights.
A new report by Go2Africa shared the findings of global Google search trends they analysed related to high search volumes for “bucket lists”, and found that a wildlife safari is the second most popular bucket list experience indicated in the data.
“A safari holiday is one of the best ways – arguably the ultimate – to fully immerse yourself in the wonder of nature in all her glory,” says Miguel Farinha, Manager at Kruger Gate Hotel, who shares that many of the guests they welcome to the property consider their visit a bucket list item.
Beyond the (seemingly) obvious reasons why a safari is such a sought-after adventure, including the opportunity to get close to the magnificent Big Five, it’s a holiday that offers so much more, and also allows you to give back in an impactful way.
And if a safari adventure isn’t on your bucket list yet, consider the reasons below as motivation to not only get it on the list but to action a plan to make it happen in 2025.
No time like the present
There is increasing unanimity that time is the ultimate luxury, and especially time to really switch off and relax. A safari holiday lends itself beautifully to simply embracing each moment for what it is.
Mother Nature runs by her own clock, where the rhythm of the day or the season cannot be made to go faster or slower. And slotting into that rhythm for a few days does wonders for the mind, body and soul.
Respect and appreciation for nature
For all the talk of sustainability and the importance of biodiversity, very few of us get the opportunity to truly engage with what that means on a practical level. In a small but significant way, a safari holiday brings us closer to nature, and has the potential to open our minds to the importance of the intricate way we’re all connected, and how we rely on the natural world for our ultimate survival.
Almost nobody goes home from a safari holiday – especially not one in the Kruger National Park – with less appreciation for nature, for the complexity of the ecosystems, the magnificence of the animals that call the Park home or for the sheer beauty of the landscape. In that way it’s a holiday that stretches the mind and positively impacts our respect for nature.
Community and conservation
By going on a safari holiday you’re also contributing to the conservation of the area as levies like conservation fees also play an important role in managing and maintaining the Kruger National Park.
We should always tread lightly but do bear in mind that the area and its people are both grateful and proud to share the place they call home with those of us who have SAFARI on our bucket list for the year.
Because the memory will last a lifetime
Over the course of a lifetime we’ll go on trips and holidays, many of which years later we’ll only remember by the photos we took. But a safari holiday is different. Watching a leopard drag its kill up a tree or witnessing the birth of a lion cub are things guaranteed to stay with you for a lifetime.