World Mental Health Day is on the 10th of October and aside from professional assistance, travel can be very good for your mental health as well. Cape Town is the perfect destination if you are in need of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Here are the 5 reasons why we think Cape Town is the perfect destination for your emotional and mental well-being.
1. TRAVELLING HELPS YOU STAY FIT AND HEALTHY
Physical exercise is known to improve mental well-being and it just so happens that Cape Town has a variety of ways to keep active. There are outdoor gyms in different suburbs of the Mother City, but most well-known outdoor gyms can be found at the Green Point Urban Park and Sea Point Promenade. If outdoor gyms are not really your vibe, you could go swimming at one of the many beaches all across the Cape, namely Blouberg Beach or Muizenberg Beach. Enjoy hiking to keep fit? Then you are in luck because Cape Town has a variety of hiking trails to choose from, including Van Riebeeck Park Hiking Trail on Table Mountain or the Newlands Forest Hiking Trail; both boasting scenic views and tranquil spots with waterfalls.
2. TRAVELLING IS GREAT FOR RELIEVING STRESS
Escaping from the stress of work as well as your daily routine in exchange for some rest can do wanders for your mental health. There are many ways to relieve your stress in Cape Town, it all depends on you and how you choose to spend your time resting. There are many natural hot springs around the Cape Town area where you can lounge about and relax in beautiful, natural hot waterbaths. The Baths Natural Hot Spring in Citrusdal, two hours out of Cape Town is one such example. They have hot mineral spring water baths, rock swimming pools, mountain biking trails and even offer bird watching. Besides lounging around, if you are travelling with family and friends, this adds to your feel-good factor and Cape Town has many fun group activities such as playing putt putt in a cave at the V&A Waterfront or spending the day at the Toboggan Family Park otherwise, known as Cool Runnings in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town.
3. TRAVELLING ALLOWS YOU TO TRY NEW THINGS AND MEET NEW PEOPLE
Travel connects people, it provides you with opportunities to meet new people and learn about different cultures. Luckily for you South Africa, being the rainbow nation, has 11 official different languages, all relating to different cultures. Our virtual experiences are also another exciting way for you to connect and meet amazing locals from different cultures in South Africa. Your learning journey can start with visits to museums, such as the Iziko South African Museum or the District Six Museum; visiting different suburbs in and around Cape Town, such as the radiant and colourful Bo-Kaap District; trying out African cuisine at Mama Africa in Long Street in the CBD or Cape Malay food at Biesmiellah Restaurant in Bo-Kaap. There is even the option of taking a stroll through one of the many street markets held over weekends, such as the Strand Beach market in Strand, a coastal suburban area. At these markets you can find traditional African clothing, curios, souvenirs and more. WanderfullySo offers great tours of the Castle of Good Hope and the Bo-Kaap District.
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4. TAKING A WELLNESS TRIP CONTRIBUTES TO STRONGER MENTAL HEALTH
A wellness retreat focuses on peaceful practices, massages, yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat, cradled in between the Cederberg Mountains, which is two and a half hours outside of Cape Town, is a great wellness retreat. They offer a variety of treatments that are sure to leave you feeling not only physically relaxed, but also mentally recharged. If you are looking for a closer spa escape, you can have your pick of one of the ample spas around the city, such as the Pepper Club Hotel. They have a variety of treatments such as body wraps, body exfoliators and more. Their signature treatment is the Intonga Stick Massage which is a full-body deep tissue massage performed with both hands and an African Bamboo wooden stick.
5. TRAVEL IS AN ACT OF SELF-CARE
When you are feeling low, it is easy to feel undeserving of nice things or having feelings of guilt towards it. However, treating yourself to a trip can be an empowering act of self-care. We know that a lot of anxiety comes along with planning a trip, however you can use WanderfullySo virtual tours to help you plan your trip better so you’re less anxious about your trip. Travel provides you the freedom to do what you love and with who you love, some time to rest and most importantly, time to reflect and recharge. You learn to live in the moment and become appreciative of what you have when travelling, but you also become mindful of what it is you do not need and what you do need to get rid of in order to strengthen your mental well being.
For many people travel is an enjoyable pastime, but to many others it is an essential part of nurturing a positive and healthy mindset. A trip to Cape Town is guaranteed to be the best choice for your mental well-being.
And if you are in need of some self care but do not have the means to physically travel or would like to avoid the hassle and anxiety that come with travel, then you should try our virtual getaways. We can create a rejuvenating virtual experience to meet your wellness needs with one of our incredible local hosts. Virtual travel experiences are becoming more and more popular, because they are easily accessible, flexible and more affordable than physical travel. Book your free concierge session on our website to find out more about our virtual getaways and prepare yourself for reimagined travel, from the comfort of your own home.
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