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HOW TO STAY FIT ON SAFARI

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A common misconception about going on safari is that maintaining your physical routine and staying active can be challenging. 
 

Between flights, daily game drives, leisurely meals at camp, sundowners in the bush and even spa treatments – all deeply restorative, but generally activities where you stay still – it’s easy to see why travellers assume that it’s difficult. This can also feel at odds with how much time is spent in nature.

Fortunately, an increasing number of lodges across Africa are offering an impressive range of innovative and inspiring health and wellness experiences that make it possible to stay active without disrupting the rhythm of safari life.

You might begin your day with a trail run through the bush, guided by a Maasai. It’s an experience as much as a workout – watching the elegant, effortless stride of your guide is a reminder of how deeply East African cultures are connected to running, and how strikingly they move through the landscape – and why the region is home to some of the best runners in the world.

Safari gym
Later, there might be time for a quiet session in a shaded gym, where familiar high-quality equipment is set against soaring views; floodplains, acacia-dotted hills or dense forest. Some spaces are open-air, allowing you to work out while immersed in the sounds and smells of the bush. Others are enclosed and restful, temperature-controlled and designed for intensity and concentration. 
 

In some camps you’ll find tennis or squash courts discreetly tucked into the wilderness, ready to work up a sweat with a friendly match before a long-lunch and a restful siesta.

Yoga is often offered too – on a raised deck overlooking the savannah, where a morning flow can shift your perspective as much as your posture. Or perhaps by a calming pool, the sound of water and wildlife both relaxing and grounding.

Safari gym
Safari run
Image credits:  Arijiju, Chem Chem Safari, Daunara Safari Camp, Great Plains Conservation, Michael Poliza, Singita, Stevie Mann and Xigera.
 
We’re delighted that more and more lodges are making movement part of the safari experience. To learn more about active safari experiences, get in touch with the AMADI team.