While on assignment uncovering the Northern Cape’s hidden treasures, I met passionate locals and was awestruck by the hidden and unique beauty of the biggest province of our country.
I also had the chance to immerse myself in the red Kalahari red dunes during a dune boarding session as well as rafting down the orange the river. My experience of the province, known for its open and vast landscapes, moved me and left me pondering a lot about our desire to hit the road. Whether across the ocean or down the street, the desire to plunge ourselves into the unknown and make discoveries about our surroundings and beyond seems inescapable and is something that in one or another, we seek even in the smallest of ways.
Here are 5 reasons why I think we love to get on the road and venture into the unknown.
1. Step out of our comfort zones
If the comfort zone is your enemy, then you know that who we identify ourselves to be is a matter of constant recreation, not a collection of adjectives and expectations predetermined for us. It is when we get on the road and travel that we get to challenge ourselves and find out who we are beyond the limited knowledge of ourselves. On the road, we get to unearth unrehearsed versions of ourselves. It is on the unexplored horizons awaiting our explorations that we find versions of ourselves that we wouldn’t find laying in bed.
The limited ideas of who you think you are, are insignificant in the grand scheme of what’s out there. Driving through the vast and open landscape of the Karoo on a long road that seems to stretch the hands of time is a good reminder of how small human beings are in comparison to big mountains, the wide open sky and in general, the vast cosmos. So go ahead and step out and into an unknown area, even if it’s exploring the street you’re always walking past. By entering a new place, you allow yourself to experience thoughts and feelings you never imagined to be within your reach.
Photo by Teagan Cunniffe.
2. To get active
Aside from all the physical benefits of exercising, the release of endorphins when we are active makes us feel good. A lot of research done on exercising and being active show that it reduces stress and makes us feel good. Taking a walk is the most basic workout almost anyone would ever have. It is on our walks and trips that we get the urge to push the boundaries of how far our bodies can go to get that extra dose of adrenalin. You have to be active and push your limits to get an adrenalin rush that will get your heart pumping making you feel most alive. Boarding the Kalahari red dunes, left my heart thumping with adrenaline and left me wanting to push my body for the thrill of an adventure.
Dijeon Pienaar from Open Africa gliding down the Kalahari Dunes. Photo by Melanie Van Zyl.
3. To have authentic and altering experiences with people
Travelling is insignificant if it doesn’t afford us the opportunity for authentic life-changing encounters with strangers who often end up as friends. These encounters can only take place outside of our immediate and known environments. In addition to the networks and relationship that we get to build in our travels, we also broaden our perspective of what it means to be human beyond our social groups. By exposing ourselves to people from different backgrounds, we broaden our worldviews and become progressive people who are accepting of difference.
While in Ashkam, we stopped at Aunt Koera’s Kitchen Farm for a roostekoekie and lamb stew. She cooked the supper on an open fire under the stars in the wide sky. That evening, fellow journalist Melanie Van Zyl, Dijon Pienaar from Open Africa, Auntie Koera and I enjoyed candle lit dinner while bonding. We talked about her passion for feeding people and sharing Nama cuisine with whoever stops by on this side of the world. Her passion and generosity to share the unique beauty of her heritage moved all of us, almost to tears.
Aunt Koera preparing dinner at the Erin Game Farm. Photo by Melanie Van Zyl.
4. To indulge in idleness
The demands of work, family life and the fast pace make it necessary to take time out to step out of daily routine and recharge. Part of the sweet indulgence of travel is the escape from routine, providing us with the opportunity to indulge ourselves in idleness. Italians revel in this form of indulgence by allowing themselves small moments of escape from daily routine (2-hour compulsory lunch breaks I was told). The Italian way of life centres around Dolce Far Niente; pleasant relaxation in carefree idleness. We are rejuvenated by a trip when we allow ourselves moments to stop on the side of the road to stare at the fields, or observe the fading of ripple-formed waves come and go, letting our minds wander and be free from the demands of routine and daily life. Indulging ourselves in idleness is a reminder of how we can find freedom from routine by choosing to take time out from it.
Welcome Lishivha with Dijeon Pienaar from Open Africa watching the sunset in Hondeklipbaai. Photo by Melanie Van Zyl.
5. To learn and tell stories about the world
It is from the authentic encounters with people as we move through the world that we get meaningful stories to share about others, about the world and about ourselves. I’d go as far as saying that if it wasn’t for the human ability and desire to travel, there would be no literature or stories to tell, stories that ignite and fire up our imagination to carry on building a better society. We would perhaps be like flowers; static, reduced to aesthetic function and without any knowledge of what happens beyond our immediate surroundings. In sharing our travel tales, we have the opportunity to transport the listener or reader across distance and time to spaces they wouldn’t ordinarily be afforded the time and resources to visit.
Yes, we all love a good story especially one that’s told well, but nothing beats first-hand experiences of knowing the world for ourselves. When we travel, we collect stories that belong to us, stories through which we get to share our experiences of the world. After my most recent trip to the Northern Cape, it delights my heart to have to share with anyone who dares to listen, about the hidden treasures I discovered within my country.
Taking a walk at the Erin Game farm with Patat Van Wyk and Oushe Raad. We got to talk about how they juggle living in a world that’s increasingly modern while holding on to ancient traditions of the Khomani San.
Read the story in the August 2017 issue of Getaway magazine.
Our August issue features 14 Northern Cape treasures, a trip along Mozambique’s pristine beaches on a fat-bike, holidays to take if you want to learn a new skill and so much more.
This article, 5 reasons why we travel, was originally posted on the Getaway Blog by Welcome Lishivha.