Travel is important because it fundamentally transforms us and the kind of people we are and the way we think about people’s cultures and rituals etc. This experience of waking up to the power of your own transformation fires you up to “be the change you want to see in the world,” as Gandhi puts it. Change only takes place once you change the way you think and the only way that will happen is if you see what needs to be changed.

By taking a break from your daily life, unplugging from the pulls and pushes of technology and engaging in new activities in new places, you have an easier opportunity to release unwanted habits. Also, it is empowering to surround yourself with people who don’t know the encyclopedia of your past. It reinforces your willingness to broaden your horizons, to get unstuck and to move in new directions.

Here’s a List of 10 Reasons Why Every South African Should Travel Outside South Africa:

1. Provides learning and education about places and history

I think learning about different cultures and religions and rituals should basically be the main reason why people travel. It’s interesting to learn more about South African history too but, that’s in almost all our history textbooks. We don’t learn much about Indian cuisine or Dutch footprints by sitting in an hour long history period once a week. The main reason one should travel outside South Africa is to get more educated about history that is not known to us through textbooks.

2. Connects us to other cultures and people

Sitting down to have a meal with people of a different culture should surely be the best part of it all. You’re not only trying something new but you’re trying something new in a new way. There’s a difference between knowing about certain cultures and actually experiencing them and being a part of them for a period of time.

3. Slows us down: Gives us a break from our fast-paced lives

Traveling removes you from the realities of a career and stresses of rush hour after work. You remove yourself from having to worrying about doing things on time etc. It’s just about enjoying the scenery and living for the moment, for the feeling.

4. Expands our awareness and introduces us to greater diversity

When you travel to other countries you learn that South Africa is not the only place where we are united through our diversity. As much as we have our different cultures and languages, other countries do too. There are certain countries that have close to over 50 different languages and you thought South Africa is diverse with our large 12.

5. Helps us break habits: mentally, physically, and emotionally

When you travel you break away from everyday habits that make you feel a little more secure than what you did yesterday or the day before. Traveling puts your mind at ease and you mentally, physically and emotionally adapt to a new reality.

6. Gives us time to heal, reduces stress and helps us regain enthusiasm for life

You appreciate life a little more when you see how other people appreciate the little or the nothing that they have.

7. Stokes curiosity and awakens our inner child by offering us new, “first-time” experiences

There’s nothing better than experiencing things for the first time over and over again. Certain activities that you experience while traveling remind you of some of the things you may have missed out on as a child. You appreciate the smallest things in the biggest ways at times.

8. Promotes patience

By releasing heavy expectations of the “one right way” mentality thereby allowing life to flow more organically

9. Invites the opportunity to get lost and face one’s fears of the unknown

The best part of traveling is getting lost. In the tracks of being lost you basically see new things and learn more about your surroundings while you navigate your way back to the right path.

10. Helps you get to know yourself better: the true you is rediscovered

Traveling somehow reminds you of the person you are and the person you would like to be in all your activities. You become one with yourself and through other things you learn how to love and appreciate yourself a little more.