Follow the call of the wild and collect unforgettable moments
Have we consciously taken a deep breath today and filled our lungs with fresh air? Let our gaze wander into the distance? Or are we distracted by the daily grind with all the hustle and bustle, traffic jams, constant availability and the number of new messages displayed in red on our smartphones? In our industrialized world, we are alienated from real, wild nature, even though we are part of it. It has everything we long for deep down inside: Originality, seclusion, untouchedness and a sense of freedom.
In Germany and the densely populated parts of Europe, pristine wilderness is almost non-existent. Although Germany is supposed to become "wilder" again, the currently designated areas only cover 0.62 percent of our country.
We think there's room for improvement and believe it's time for a break. Time for Wilderness Holidays.
To achieve deep relaxation, we often treat ourselves to massages, facial treatments or even a whole spa day. We do something good for ourselves and banish stressful thoughts. But massages and infinity pools are not always necessary. Sometimes a change of scenery is enough. Numerous studies have shown how important nature is for our well-being and health. Recent studies by a research team from the University of Vienna show that even nature videos can have a positive effect on the perception of pain.
Wild, pristine environments have a health-promoting effect on us in many ways. We relax our body, mind and soul, reduce stress and stimulate all our senses. Certain landscapes, such as an impenetrable jungle, are also able to capture our attention effortlessly. We smell the forest, watch a monkey in the treetops and listen to the soundscape of birds, rustling leaves and unfamiliar noises. Our focus is redirected. Wilderness sharpens our senses for the here and now.
Wilderness Holidays are an opportunity to immerse ourselves completely in untouched nature and let it work its magic on us. We introduce you to real, wild and remote places that could not be more pristine.
At the luxury safari camp Chinzombo in Zambia, guests can watch elephants up close from their open-plan villa. With a coffee in hand, they can watch the gray giants as they leisurely pull tufts of grass out of the ground with their trunks or take a mud bath on the banks of the adjacent river. We promise you: This encounter is a thousand times more exciting than any dopamine kick from a social media app! But beware, there is also a risk of addiction here: once you've seen elephants in the wild at Chinzombo, you won 't be able to get enough of them.
At the remote Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort on the west coast of Canada, visitors wake up to the scent of cedar wood, enriched with the salty sea air of the bay. From the wild and romantic landscape of the adjacent Great Bear Rainforest, which begins behind the cabin, you can hear the cheerful chirping of birds. They smile. There's no better way to start the day.
This place is truly still an insider tip and not very well developed for tourism: In the picturesque surroundings of NIHI Sumba, Indonesia, guests become one with the wilderness. The warm sound of the ocean welcomes them in every mood and seems to understand them in all their facets. Listening to the sound is expressly permitted, it is better than any Spotify playlist. The mood adapts to the steady rhythm of the waves. You feel relaxed, grounded and at home. The resort's motto is "Be wild. Be free. Be healthy.", underlining the healing and invigorating effect of wilderness for us humans. Mental regeneration through experiences close to nature is right at the top of the program here.
In addition to the positive effects of Wilderness Holidays on the well-being and health of the individual, there is another big plus point: real nature experiences bring families closer together. Shared adventures such as roaming through a dense jungle, snorkeling in colorful coral reefs or marveling at the starry sky will make them longingly reminisce about it years later. Far away from homework and everyday working life, the wilderness gives you space and time to let the impressions sink in.
Nihiwatu Bay, where NIHI Sumba is located, is made for water rats and guarantees the best hours for families. Only very few families swim with horses in their lives, which makes this experience doubly special. A surfing course together is also a bonding experience: the shaky attempts on the board, an involuntary jump into the water, the motivating words to keep trying and perhaps the frustration because you don't get your balance right first time. But at the latest when father and daughter have taken the first wave, they cheer each other on with pride.
Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort has plenty of adventures in store for the whole family. Even the journey there is an adventure, as the resort is so remote that it can only be reached by seaplane. On site, the Great Bear Rainforest impresses with its diverse habitat for numerous wild animals, including the iconic bear. Watching the furry animals forage for food from the boat makes you realize how grateful you are for this shared moment. During whale watching, parents and children are humbled by the gentle giants gliding elegantly through the water.
In Chinzombo, Zambia, families go on safari together and experience lions, giraffes, elephants & co. up close. You hold your breath tensely as the king of the animals strolls gracefully past the jeep not even a meter away. Excitement when a single giraffe strides through the savannah and suddenly a whole herd appears from behind the acacia trees. In the evening, after an impressive day, everyone sits around the campfire, talking about their animal encounters and listening to the guides' stories. It gets dark early, you go to bed and fall asleep to the grunting of the hippos. This is adventure. This is wilderness. This is what unites families.
We experience natural spa and bonding family moments in an intensive way in the wilderness. It doesn't always have to be a wellness temple to get away from it all. The wilderness grounds us, brings us to rest and creates the most exciting, but also the most intimate moments. So let's get out of the house with our families and immerse ourselves in Wilderness Holidays.