This is why South Africans find it hard to connect with nature
· The South African
Many South Africans dream about escaping the city and spending more time outdoors. Yet when people finally arrive in these natural settings, the experience is not always what they expected.
A recent BBC Travel report highlighted a growing trend among travellers visiting remote destinations. Guests in Seychelles, Maldives and Thailand reportedly complained about birds waking them up, waves crashing too loudly, and frogs making noise.
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While the stories may sound amusing, they raise an interesting question: why is it so difficult to connect with nature?
Why connecting with nature feels unfamiliar
The BBC article may seem absurd, but it represents something much broader. Many people have become so used to constant noise, screens and stimulation that natural environments are starting to feel unfamiliar. Silence can feel uncomfortable. Stillness can seem boring. Even ordinary natural sounds can seem intrusive when people are no longer used to spending time outdoors without distractions.
At the same time, social media has fuelled a growing fascination with nature travel. Images of remote beaches, safari lodges and mountain cabins attract millions of views online. But experiencing those places in real life is very different from scrolling past them on a screen.
South Africans already have access to nature
Unlike many countries, South Africa offers easy access to diverse natural spaces within driving distance of most cities. That could mean a local park, wetland, hiking trail or nature reserve. Places such as Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria or many of the free options in Gauteng, the many open-access trails in Cape Town, or even the local Botanical Gardens in Durban allow people to spend time outdoors without needing an expensive holiday.
The key is often to avoid it during rush hour and to start small rather than treating nature as an extreme experience. This is the better way to reconnect to nature before jumping into the deep end.
Small changes can help people reconnect with nature
Spending even a short amount of time outdoors without distractions can help people become more comfortable in natural environments again.
That could mean sitting quietly in a park, walking without headphones, or visiting a nearby bird reserve. Staying in a simple chalet in a natural setting instead of a hotel when you travel can also help people adjust to the sounds and rhythms of nature.
Walking in nature rather than driving through it may also change how people experience the environment. Guided walks in nature reserves or parks encourage visitors to slow down and pay closer attention to their surroundings, to notice the smaller things again.
If those options seem a bit too wild, simply make time to go outside and spend more time in your garden at home. Listen to the birds and walk barefoot on the grass to reconnect with nature. Get your hands dirty in the soil, observe the bugs and the bees.
Reconnecting with nature does not necessarily require long-haul travel or luxury accommodation. It often begins with repeated exposure to ordinary outdoor spaces and learning to spend time in them without constant digital stimulation.
Nature is already around you. The challenge is becoming comfortable enough to notice it again.