Long-stay travel appears to be something out of a fairy tale. People have taken to traveling indefinitely as a way of life. But what is it like to travel for an extended period of time?Is it truly that flawless?
In this blog, tour operators, African Bush Camps, go over everything you need to know about long-term travel, especially the benefits. How should long-stay travel be planned, and is it worthwhile?
WHAT IS LONG-STAY TRAVEL?
Some define it as travelling for more than three or six weeks, while others define it as one or two months. It is debatable. Nevertheless, long-term travel provides us with a sense of liberation. Mentally, as well as physically.
It’s spending a month in a place you fell in love with when you only intended to stay for a few days. It’s when you decide to change your plans at the last minute because you meet a new buddy, or maybe the love of your life! It’s the polar opposite of the conventional tourist trail.
Long-stay travel entails more than just seeing sights; it also entails feeling them.
SIX BENEFITS OF LONG-STAY TRAVEL
1. You have all the time you need to make the most beautiful memories
If you’re planning on getting the most out of your African safari experience or if you are visiting two or more of our camps during your stay, we recommend spending at least three nights at each destination. This will give you the time and flexibility to experience the African bush on your terms, and you will have the opportunity to participate in all of the exciting activities offered at our camps.
Staying for three days instead of two also means that you have two full days dedicated to your dream African safari. Remember, most of our camps in Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe are in remote locations, which means you need to factor in travel time, general administration, and practicalities that you need to get out of the way before you arrive at our camps. We recommend that you give yourself enough flexibility for adventure and leisure. After all, you can experience both at any of our camps.
2. It gives you a different perspective
Long-stay travel gives you the unique opportunity to remove time from the equation. The longer you stay, the more you’ll learn about your destination. You can listen to tens of thousands of stories about a location, the community around it, its wildlife and cultural history etc. Long-stay travel is an immersive experience that lingers long after you’ve left. Nothing beats staying in a place to genuinely understand and appreciate it.
Africa, for one, is rich in cultural history and resources. Sometimes, seeing and feeling traditions in action is the only way to understand them. Long-stay travel is one way to learn how to accept cultural differences while traveling. When you’re surrounded by diverse groups of people, you start to absorb their cultures and ways of doing things. As a result, you learn from each experience and take the best of each on your journey home.
3. You may exchange materialism for minimalism
Long-stay travel will alter your perspective on your possessions and the value you place on them. Before you even leave, you ‘ll have to think like a minimalist. When planning an African safari, it’s natural to want to bring everything you own, but this is impossible for obvious reasons. As a result, you’ll have to make choices even before boarding the plane. You’ll have to select what’s vital and what’s not.
Spoiler alert: you’ll almost certainly take more than you need.
Whether you adopt a minimalist packing plan or bring your entire life with you, you’ll quickly realize that some of the items you’re lugging around aren’t being used very often. As a result, you’ll wind up forgetting things! And believe us when we say that this is a wonderful thing.
When it comes to packing for a long-stay travel adventure, the adage “less is more” has never been more true. Not only is it excellent for luggage restrictions, but it’s also beneficial for you to get rid of unnecessary stuff! You’ll realize that the things you value aren’t that important to you, and you’ll begin to place a higher value on the things that truly matter to you, people, experiences, and memories.
4. There's room for more spontaneity
You tend to plan more, whether you travel for a vacation or a short trip. That makes sense: you only have a certain amount of time and want to make the most of it! Some people even plan to exhaustion with excel sheets and time stamps.
When you travel for an extended period, though, the opposite occurs. When you remove time from the equation, you are liberated! You have more options, which can lead to better interactions and experiences.
Of course, you’ll have a basic itinerary in mind, but the idea is that you’ll be flexible enough to extend your stay in that one location you adore.
5. Overall, it's healthier
Long-stay travel, allows you to explore more locations in a more leisurely manner. You space out your trips to avoid spending too much time on the road or in the air each week. You have plenty of time to work out and reflect. In general, long-stay travel allows you to devote more time to your physical and emotional well-being.
6. It gives you an opportunity to build long lasting relationships
Travelling, as we all know, is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. Long-stay travel allows you to spend more time with the people you meet and share moments and experiences with them. Those experiences naturally form strong links, resulting in true and honest relationships that can last a lifetime. It’s improbable that you won’t encounter each other again at some point in your lives in these situations. The only drawback is that when both parties continue on their journeys, the “goodbyes” become much more difficult.
We sincerely hope that these six benefits of long-stay travel described in this blog motivate you to get out there and begin your long-term travel adventure as soon as possible. Don’t second-guess yourself; just do it! You’ll figure it out along the way, and when you return, we’ll be waiting to hear about your adventures.
The end of the year is a great time to start planning your adventure, especially if you’re travelling to Africa for a authentic safari. In fact, World Safari Day is coming up. Perhaps you should consider planning that awe-inspiring long-stay in the African bush.
African Bush Camps have several properties in Zimbabwe, in Hwange and Mana Pools National Park and on Lake Kariba. Check out the following which are in the Zambezi Valley area:-