As many as 83% of South Africans say travel is important to their mental health – higher than any other country surveyed, according to Flight Centre’s global traveller survey. This statistic signals a powerful shift in how we’re coping with stress and setbacks.
Many South Africans are turning to travel not to escape life, but to find themselves. In a country where one in six people are living with a mental health disorder, and burnout, anxiety, and digital fatigue are rising fast, holidays are becoming more of a lifeline than a hard-earned luxury.
Digital detox cabins, solo retreats, barefoot mornings in nature, and quiet getaways to nowhere in particular. These trips are slower, softer, more intentional – and, increasingly, they’re being booked with one clear purpose: rest.
“We’ve seen a noticeable rise in travellers asking for calmer, slower holidays,” says Antoinette Turner, GM of Flight Centre South Africa. “They’re looking to decompress and just ‘be’. It’s a new, mindful approach to travel.”
Why the urge to escape feels more overwhelming than ever
A lingering sense of emotional fatigue (born from post-pandemic uncertainty, financial stress, political instability, and a hyperconnected digital life) is now part of the everyday landscape for most Saffers. And while these burdens may be silent, they are anything but small.
Mental health stats reflect this growing weight:
- Around a third of the population is living with a mental health condition right now, according to the 2024 Sapien Lab Mental State of the World Report.
- Lifetime prevalence for anxiety disorders sits at 15.8%, mood disorders at 9.8%, and substance use disorders at 13.4%, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine.
- Up to 27% are affected by symptoms of depression – often moderate to severe, says EAPA SA.
- Access to care remains limited, with availability of specialised support falling far short of demand.
“For many, travel has become a vehicle for relief. Whether it’s a quiet farm stay, a wellness-focused escape, or simply putting physical distance between yourself and your day-to-day chaos, the act of “leaving” has emotional significance,” Turner explains.
Data now backs what South Africans have long known intuitively: time away helps. According to Flight Centre’s survey, globally, nearly all travellers (96%) acknowledge some link between travel and their overall mental wellbeing. But South Africans stand out – not only for valuing this connection but prioritising it: 83% consider travel ‘extremely important’ or ‘very important’ for their mental health, compared to just 66% in the US and 54% in the UK.
The new travel trends: Rest over rush
South Africans are travelling more, yes. But we’re also travelling differently.
According to Turner:
“Gone is the urgency to cram five cities into seven days or tick off landmarks at speed. Instead, we’re seeing a clear pivot towards travel that prioritises presence, peace, and recovery. It’s about quality, not quantity. Pace, not performance.”
The numbers back this up: 86% of South Africans surveyed said they’re prioritising slow, restful travel in 2025 – once again, the highest globally.
What does that look like in practice?
- Digital detox escapes: Like Wi-Fi-free cabins in the Cederberg, forest lodges without signal, or off-the-grid cottages in Mpumalanga. We used to tolerate the disconnect – now we’re actively seeking it.
- Nature-first breaks: From quiet beach towns to mountain retreats, demand for nature-rich stays (often with hikes, outdoor spas, or eco-living) has grown across Flight Centre’s leisure bookings.
- Sleep-centric stays: Sleep is the new souvenir. Comfortable beds, quiet surroundings, and calming hotel amenities are being factored into trip choices like never before.
- Solo, reflective journeys: More individuals are travelling alone for independence and intentional space.
“We’re watching people choose destinations based on how they make them feel. The new priority is personal renewal, and it’s driving a big shift in the types of experiences travellers are asking for,” says Turner.
What Flight Centre’s Travel Experts are seeing more of:
- Requests for “quieter” or “less busy” destinations, both locally and abroad.
- A tendency to steer clear of high season travel – 75% of South Africans are choosing off-season or shoulder season travel in 2025.
- Increased interest in midweek departures.
- Longer, slower stays and cruises (often 10+ days) – 69% of South Africans are considering a cruise holiday this year.
- Prioritisation of accommodation filters for silence, spa access, natural surroundings, or a non-digital atmosphere.
“Ultimately, we’re seeing a deeper, more emotionally aware kind of traveller emerging in South Africa. Travel has always changed people – but right now, it’s helping hold them together,” Turner concludes.
