In a world where we’re constantly attached to our devices - pinging emails, checking messages, scrolling social media - being away from it all might seem like a strange concept. But when you lose that connection, when the WiFi is non-existent and your phone is just another brick in your pocket, something incredible happens...

You begin to reconnect. Not to the endless chatter of the internet, but to the living, breathing world around you. The one that isn’t on a screen. You’ll start to notice the little things - the soft rustle of grass as a gentle breeze brushes across the plains, the distant call of a zebra as it announces its presence, or the way the setting sun colours the sky with hues you never even knew existed. Suddenly, everything feels... fuller.

With no constant notifications to distract you, you’ll find yourself paying more attention. You’ll see wildlife in its natural habitat, not just as a tick on a checklist but as part of a bigger, more magnificent story. A moment spent watching a herd of elephants moving through the trees isn’t just about the elephants. It’s about the serenity of being in that moment with them - no need for a screenshot, no need for an update. You’re part of the story, and it’s happening in real-time, without any filters or interruptions.

Forget screen time. Try scene time. Why? Safari is about immersion so immerse yourself without distraction. Forget trying to get the perfect shot for Instagram. Forget about who liked your post last. The real magic happens when you let the bush absorb you, when your only job is to witness the raw beauty of nature.

When you wake up for that first morning game drive, your only concern will be the vastness of the bush stretching out in front of you. The moments when the sun rises over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the savannah, are magical - not because they’re picture-perfect, but because they remind you of how tiny you are in this great world. You can try to capture it on your camera, but no lens can truly translate the depth of the experience. There’s no substitute for being present.

When you put down your phone, you stop worrying about how things look and start noticing how they feel. How the air smells after a sudden rainstorm. How the ground beneath your feet feels different on a walking safari. How your pulse quickens as the guide points to a distant herd of wildebeest crossing a dusty plain. And most importantly, how you feel in that moment, when your world becomes focused only on the immediate experience around you, not on your digital one.

Without the distraction of constant pings and messages, you become attuned to the pulse of the earth. It’s a quieter existence, one that feels deeply restorative. And while you may start your journey feeling unsettled without your digital crutches, you’ll soon realise something amazing: the bush has a rhythm all its own. 

The beauty of a digital detox is that it creates the space for a deeper connection to nature and to yourself. You don’t have to share everything on social media. You can simply be. When you remove the distractions, you begin to experience the landscape around you with new eyes.

Being out in the bush, surrounded by animals and ancient landscapes, forces you to slow down and remember that you don’t need to be constantly on the move. There’s time to sit, to observe, to reflect. You don’t have to rush. There’s no need for any kind of urgency. The animals aren’t running to catch a flight, and neither should you. Nature moves at its own pace, and in this space, so should you.

This slower pace will make you more aware of things you might otherwise overlook. The sight of an impala grazing in the early morning mist. The delicate flutter of wings as a colourful bird flies past. The soft call of a lion echoing in the distance just before dawn. All these things become clearer when you give your mind the space to process them.

In the age of instant gratification, it’s easy to get caught up in the need for validation. But out here, on safari, nothing needs your approval. The animals aren’t posing for your photo. The stars aren’t aligning just for you to get that perfect shot. They exist in the way that nature intended - wild, untamed, and free.

This is what makes the experience so much richer. There’s no pressure to impress. No need to rush to capture every moment. You’ll find yourself watching, listening, and engaging in a way that feels more intimate, more personal. You start to value the rawness of the experience instead of trying to package it neatly into a perfect post. The power of a moment lies not in how many likes it can get but in how it makes you feel.

Here’s something you’ll notice quickly: without screens and the noise of the outside world, your connection to the people around you deepens. Whether it’s with your guide, fellow travellers, or even yourself, the conversations become more meaningful. There’s something special about sitting around a campfire, hearing the stories of your guide, and realising that for once, there’s nothing to distract you from the conversation. The stories about the animals, the land, the experiences - they come alive in a way that no online article could ever replicate.

You’ll connect with your environment, your fellow guests, and perhaps even with the deeper aspects of yourself. You’ll find that you’re more present with the people in the group, as you share the simple joys of being immersed in nature. The shared silences, the shared laughs, and the shared awe at the wonders of the bush become part of your safari experience.

When you return home, that’s when the magic of your digital detox truly hits. You might feel a slight pang of discomfort as you check your inbox. Your phone will likely be overloaded with notifications. But here’s the thing - you’ll never look at it in the same way again. Your priorities will have shifted. The overwhelming urge to check emails every five minutes? Gone. The need to scroll aimlessly through social media will feel trivial. 

The next time you pick up your phone, you’ll remember that the world around you is far more exciting than anything that pops up on a screen. You’ll have memories that no digital device can capture, and that’s something priceless.

Ditch the doomscrolling. Turn off the noise. Walk into the wild with no agenda, no playlist, and no one watching. We promise, the world will still be there when you get back.

Need help choosing a camp where "digital detox" isn’t just marketing speak? We know the ones with the best bush, the worst WiFi, and the finest views to unplug by.

Text: Sharon Gilbert-Rivett