How a Trip to The African Wilderness Invokes Creativity

For centuries, humans have been on a quest to understand where ideas come from, how creativity manifests and asking, what are the shortcuts to this mysterious state of being? In developing and refining the answers to this question, one thing has become clear - a state of inspiration need not be left to chance alone. Rather, it is in the cultivation of certain conditions that allow for inspiration to unfold. There are proven methods that we can employ to remove the roadblocks that may arise throughout the creative process. One of those methods is immersion into nature, and in this blog I will go deeper into this topic by outlining the related conditions which a trip to the African wilderness supplies.

It's known amongst all creative types, be it within the arts or entrepreneurship - that initiating a change of environment has the potential to liberate us from a creative block or career plateau that we may be facing. Research proves these shifts are significantly more effective amidst natural environments. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs famously took "Think Weeks" in a secluded cabin in the woods to recharge creatively and foster innovative ideas away from the noise of their non-stop lives. An extended period in nature somehow pulls a lever in the psyche, opening the mind to vast expanses of inspiration previously concealed by habitual operating systems and routine grooves of thinking. 

There are many places one could go for a Jobs style think week, but few are as immersive and rewarding as the awe-inspiring plains of the African Savanna. I would argue that not all travel incites the pursuit of creative expansion in equal measure. I would go on to argue (even though literally no one is arguing with me), that Safari is one of the best suited categories of travel for this noble (and spiritual) pursuit. Despite having 100+ reasons why, I’ll spare you the dissertation and leave you with my top 4 reasons:

1. Nature Travel Fuels Creativity 

Novel experiences and exposure to new, unfamiliar surroundings spark our curiosity and encourage mindful exploration. Dr. Shelley Carson, author of “Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximise Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life” says, to be more creative, a person needs to learn new things constantly. “Travel is one of the ways to constantly be learning because travel is full of new experiences, new stimuli, that’s just going to pack your brain full of new information.”

In this article, we went deeper into some of the brain benefits of nature immersion, and we also touched on how Safari can provide a boost to your mental well-being - benefits that have a direct link with our creative juices flowing freely. Essentially, as our stress levels decrease, our cognitive functioning increases. This creates space for fresh creative thought to emerge. Positive emotions are also associated with greater cognitive flexibility and expanded thinking - the formula for creative ingenuity.

“A trip to the African wilderness has been known to infuse one with a greater sense of flow and clarity.”

— This Article

‍2. Immersive, Sensory Rich Experiences

A wildlife safari offers an array of sensory experiences - from the beautiful architecture and designs of your luxury lodge, to the wildlife and biodiversity of the surrounding area. There is simply no shortage of opportunities to stimulate novel perceptions, both large and small.

In fact, exposure to natural environments alone is associated with increased Divergent Thinking - a critical component to the creative process. The work of Chin-Wen Yeh cites that, "The attention restoration benefits of high- and medium-naturalness environments improve creativity. Our study indicates that viewing natural environments stimulates curiosity and fosters flexibility and imagination, highly natural environments distract our minds from work, and the benefits of attention restoration can improve the uniqueness and diversity of creative ideas." 

When we break out of our everyday routine and expose ourselves to novel environments, new doorways of possibility can open out of previously existing roadblocks. A trip to the African wilderness has been known to infuse one with a greater sense of flow and clarity.

3. The Human<>Nature Connection

Nature is full of lessons, metaphors and symbols that can spark creative thinking. Witnessing the natural patterns that occur on a wildlife Safari can inspire symbolic associations in both artistic work and business. Kivi Bernard’s work is just one extrapolation of the many metaphoric lessons that are embedded within nature. Kivi famously publicised learnings in business strategy in his best-selling book, Leopardology, inspired by my favourite mammal (and Africovery logo model) - The Leopard.

Nature also encourages a certain childlike playfulness and inquisitive mode of being. Engaging in this type of unstructured play is paramount to fostering creativity and experimentation. Being on a safari (especially an Africovery-run safari) where you are surrounded by close friends or like-minded people, away from cities or crowds where the need to 'act normal' is present - you have permission to be yourself, act yourself, and embrace this child-like modality. Coming on safari with us can be a rare opportunity to let your inner explorer out and simply let go and just be - free from the ‘city-ego’ we unconsciously adopt in order to operate in our modern world.

4. Safari Encourages Information Synthesis

Finally, and core to the creative process, is the processing of both novel and familiar information - thus generating original ideas. This process requires a deliberate absorption of information and a gestation period that allows for these new ideas to form. It calls for a state of relaxed attention. We’ve all experienced those unspurred and delightful moments where some of our most creative ideas just ‘arrive’, whilst doing nothing at all. This is because the mind needs time and space to work on and process information. When there is constant input, it never has these moments. A safari may just present one of those moments - as we disconnect from the constant busyness of our daily lives,

Unsurprisingly, and I believe as a result of our modern rushed life - new travel trends are emerging such as 'Slow Tourism' or 'Slow Travel'' concepts picking up momentum alongside the transformational travel movement. As someone who doesn’t enjoy hasty, ‘checkbox travel’, these are movements that fill me with tremendous joy. Slow Tourism is a more conscious form of travel which prioritises thoughtful absorption of local cultures and experiences, as opposed to the more "rush-from-place-to-place" type of travel that fills the days with non-stop social activities, leaving us with the need to holiday after the holiday.

Safari is the OG of slow travel. The absolute stillness of the Savanna allows you to process - to hear yourself think. (why not throw in a couple of wilderness meditations for increased access to the subconscious). This quiet is fundamental to the reflection and self-discovery that is required to tap into new creative passions and projects you may not have even dreamt up yet. 

Research supports this phenomenon; Stanford University found that when people spend time in a natural environment, they experience a natural shift in how they view time. In short, when you spend time in nature, you tend to feel that critical sense of “awe” we spoke about earlier and as though time is expanding. Instead of feeling pressured by time, or a lack of time, people tend to enjoy a “time abundance” when they are in nature.

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”

— Unknown

‍Africa - The Whole Package

When one travels to a place like Africa - a place so rich in culture, nature, and art - a multitude of new, unique, and diverse forms of life begin to feed the brain with stimuli that are sure to invigorate the senses of any conscious creative.

Africa’s diversity displays the beauty in humanity's shared values as well as our differences. Immersing oneself in local cultures and traditions can also provide insight into how people from other backgrounds approach problem-solving and creativity. This multi-cultural learning inspires creativity by connecting seemingly disparate ideas.

There is a wellspring of inspiration for creative projects of all varieties within the safari experience. Perhaps you're an artist and the diverse colour palettes of the flora and fauna inspire you, or you're a songwriter and the unique sounds of the wilderness night time awaken an idea for a beat, or you're a storyteller and the way the Lioness and her cubs playfully interact evokes something intimate within you. The experience of awe evoked by an authentic African safari is as unique as it is universal.

The reason for this departure into new realms of thought could be found in the human experience of awe. In her book, The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, Author Annie Murphy Paul explains that “soft fascination” aka “awe”, evoked by natural scenes awakens a brain network associated with expansive, open-minded, and inspired thinking that deviates from the norm.

She explains, “one of the pleasurably fearsome things about awe is the radically new perspective it introduces. Our everyday experience does not prepare us to assimilate the gaping vastness of the African Savanna or the crashing grandeur of Victoria Falls. We have no response at the ready; our usual frames of reference don’t fit, and we must work to accommodate the new information that is streaming in from the environment.” As we find ourselves confronted by the raw, untouched wilderness of Africa - we can’t help but feel a transcendent sense of awe.

Keep in mind that the degree to which travel fosters creativity equates with the level of openness and receptivity to the experiences you encounter along the way. Embrace the unknown, stay curious, and allow your travels to enrich and expand that beautifully creative soul of yours!

À très bientôt en Afrique du Sud.