holiday – Page 2 – Mabalingwe Nature Reserve Blog

This year so far has been one for the history books. Since the novel pandemic COVID-19 hit our shores, we have all been trying to adhere to the safety regulations and adjust to the new normal. Having to come to terms with the impact that this virus has had here at home as well as in other countries has taken its toll on many of us. For many of us, we spend our days going out to see our loved ones, going to eat at our favourite restaurants or leaving for a great holiday to clear our minds. Not being able to do any of these has definitely taken its toll on us.

As we enter into the warmer season, hopefully, the tourism regulations will start to ease up and allow for intra-provincial travel (and maybe even inter-provincial travel if we are lucky). That would mean we can look forward to taking staycations! Yes, STAYCATION!

Staycation
noun · informal
A holiday that someone spends in their own country or at home, rather than travelling somewhere else.

A staycation is just the thing that we can use for some self-care for the mind, body and soul. Here are are a few points to remind you why holidaying, or staycationing, is good for you:

Mind

Taking the time to go away on holiday is a great way to give your mind a time out that can not only enrich the mind but also help you deal with feels related to anxiety, stress and other mental health concerns. If you have been feeling uninspired of late, a holiday might just be the remedy you need to inject some creativity and increase your overall productivity; increasing your overall mental power.

Body

Stress can contribute to conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure. A holiday, even a mini staycation, can help reduce stress and the effects it may have on your body. A holiday where you can go on a lovely hike or do some soothing yoga in the peaceful and scenic outdoors is the perfect way to boost your immunity and energy, while you appreciate all that nature offers. Not only do you release feel-good chemicals like serotonin after an exercise session that lessen the amount of stress in your body, and you also get some much-needed vitamin D from the sun, which is essential for optimal health – BONUS!

Soul

Holidaying is truly a gift that keeps on giving. From the fun excitement that comes from planning the trip; to the anticipation en-route to the destination; then the blissful relaxation that comes from being at your favourite home-away-from-home and the almost hypnotic calmness you can feel days after the holiday has ended. That long-lasting feel-good-feeling is undeniably some wholesome food for the soul.

“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” –Eleanor Brown

With everything going on, it’s important to take care of YOU. We know that you cannot wait to satisfy your travel cravings and feed your wanderlust soul to nourish your mind, body and spirit. Hopefully, you will be able to treat yourself to a lovely staycation that you will thank yourself for. In the meantime, use your imagination and start planning for your staycation and all the holiday gems you can explore right around the corner. Fingers crossed!

We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones for a great holiday experience once leisure travel is permitted. You can still book your stay for Business Travel. For bookings and other enquiries, please be in touch on contactus@mabalingwe.com or on +27 (0) 14 001 7011.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Government Regulations surrounding the South African lockdown and COVID-19 are continuously being amended and updated. As such, we remain committed to providing you with relevant communications which are accurate and reflect the latest updates at the time of publishing. These regulations are subject to change and may need to be reviewed on occasion. We thank you for your understanding.

Leaving your busy city life behind for a South African bush escape can need some serious preparation – what will you wear, will you need anything not easily accessible, do the kids have enough to keep them entertained? We’ve learned, the hard way, that you need to expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. That’s why we thought we’d share our hacking the bushveld tips and tricks!

1) Bottle it up

Packing up the car sparks that excitement of going on holiday, but it can also be a frustration when your suitcase just. won’t. close! Toiletries generally take up the bulkiest amount of space and for this reason, we just love swapping out big bottles and oddly shaped shower gel packaging for small screw top squeeze bottles. You can decant your: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and even body cream into them, pop a label on and save half the space while doing it! Another great use for these is for a homemade concoction to protect you against the sun and to assist in deterring mozzie bites! Simply pour your preferred sunscreen, along with a few drops of essential herb oils (like mint and basil oils) into a bottle and stir or shake it up. Now, you’ll be able to quickly smear on that protective layer before taking on the bush.

2) Keep the Kids Entertained

Keeping the kids satisfied on the drive to the Resort, or during your afternoon nap time at our Resort could be the difference between easy breezy travelling and nightmarish headaches. So to remedy this and make sure your trip is smooth sailing, use a backpack and fill it with a few activities such as: a colouring-in book and pencils, your little one’s favourite book or stuffed toy; and a small selection of yummy snacks. Hang the slip on the back of the front seat headrests so the kids will have access to the goodies inside. This will give them something to do when you need them to be distracted/pre-occupied for a few hours.

3) Fuel up Tiny Tummies

Snacks for the kids, in general, are something handy and something you can plan to have on hand, for when those hunger pangs set in. Why not fill a little Ziploc bag with treats? Some peanuts and raisins, pretzels trail mix, fruit rolls, or similar not only gives them something else to do but will make sure their tiny tummies are happy.

4) “Oopsie, Mommy I messed”

For all those sticky fingers and, “Oopsie, mommy I messed” moments, keep a packet of wet wipes on hand in the glove compartment for easy-breezy cleaning.

5) Game Viewing Galore

Have you ever been on a self-driven game drive where the family aimlessly wanders around the Nature Reserve, in search for elusive leopards or grazing elephants, only to wind up back at the Resort with the family all huffing and puffing and a photograph of a tree stump you thought was a buffalo? Same. For maximum exposure to the wildlife in the area, rather skip the frustrated family drive and opt for a guided game drive so the Rangers can track and locate the animals you really want to see – they’ll even impart their awesome knowledge with you. Don’t forget to pack a jersey or light jacket. It might be warm at the Lodge, but the open aired vehicle will make you wish you had thought of a warm top!

Posts Tagged with holiday

Holidays are Food for your Soul