Travel takes me places where I can feed my soul

Travel takes me places where I can feed my soul

"I believe travel is for everyone, and nothing should stop you from exploring new things and expanding your horizons," says Vitality member Fikile Hlatshwayo (44). "Our country has so much to offer through the beauty and therapy of nature, and South Africans would do well to take advantage of it."

"I know this from personal experience, because I lost my mother in 2011, my sister in 2015, and my father in 2019," she recounts. "These and other painful events in my life contributed to a long period of severe depression - and I turned to travel to help manage it."

I discovered a world of healing while enjoying nature

"I love travel because it takes me places where I can feed my soul. Just being in the wilderness and away from the city's rat race - I call it African bush therapy! I discovered a world of healing while enjoying nature."

Fikile has also found fulfilment in challenging herself - and cultural norms - through adventure. "In general, South Africans don't expect a black, 40-something, middleclass mother of two to go river-rafting, scuba-diving or shark-cage diving. But I gain great satisfaction in breaking such stereotypes!"

Fikile goes beyond just living out this belief - she's written about it! The author of a bestselling travel book titled Blacks DO Caravan, Fikile has been recognized by the KwaZulu-Natal Chamber of Commerce for her exceptional contribution to tourism literature. "I want to inspire fellow South Africans to travel our beautiful country because we have an incredible range of exotic and affordable destinations that many locals don't even know exist."

The fitter you are, the more thrilling travel is

"I also believe there's a clear link between health, wellbeing and travel," Fikile says. "And the fitter you are, the more thrilling travel is, because you can push yourself to do more fun and extreme activities. Instead of hiking on a flat terrain, you can hike up the mountain - those views from the top are worth the effort. Instead of quad-biking, you can mountain-bike through forests and indulge in nature's wonders."

"I have done it all, and what makes it possible for me is my fitness level. I remember going kloofing where I had to abseil off a cliff, jump into a river, swim against the current, and then hike back to the car. The whole experience gave me a huge adrenaline rush. I screamed off the stress - and slept very well that evening! Even better, I woke up ready to do it all over again."

Vitality helps fund my adventure sprees

Fikile first joined Vitality in 2007 because it encouraged healthy living and offered great lifestyle benefits, like hugely discounted gym fees.

"Joining a gym helped me get into shape and made me aware of the benefits of looking after my health. At the same time, I earned Vitality points that helped me travel more for less, so I could afford being out in nature doing what I love! I have found that regular trips help to stabilise my mental health, because I'm always happy when I'm travelling and discovering new places."

Her favourite Vitality feature? "Everything about Vitality impresses me, especially the Vitality Run Series and the Vitality Gym Series. The beauty of these different fitness series is that they promote healthy lifestyles among people, which collectively transforms our society for the better. I also love the MoveToGive platform, which can be used powerfully to address social ills."

Fikile's tips to getting fit and travelling more

"I always say that if you can't push yourself to start exercising or traveling, then find a person who is good at either one of them, or both. There are so many physical, mental and emotional benefits to physical activity - once you exercise regularly enough to see and feel them, you'll be hooked."

"Join a travel-loving friend on a short activity or trip, and they will help you to see how easy it is to start. Remember, you don't have to go far. You can even start by exploring your neighbourhood and slowly build up as you keep discovering new things. Once you catch the travel bug, you'll realise how simple it is to travel and enjoy all the beautiful treasures our country has to offer."