It’s been a while since you’ve left your home and cabin fever is starting to kick in. If you’ve been in lockdown for weeks and you’re itching to go on a road trip, travel to a new destination or just go out in nature, you may be feeling a little stuck and even somewhat depressed. But fortunately, we live in a modern era where we can “travel” around the world with just a few clicks; the internet has opened so many possibilities for us. And while we may miss our friends and family dearly, there is no need to be bored during this time.
Explore more with a better-quality device and more data
While you can save a lot of money by staying indoors, you will have to spend a bit on extra data and perhaps you will even have to buy a new, higher quality device if you want to explore any of the options below. Some mobile services providers have lowered their prices during the lockdown, but it can still be expensive. To find the best deals, visit stores such as MTN. In the latest MTN catalogue you can get a new device and plenty of data. Great prices are also offered by other shops, such as Telkom, Cell C and Vodacom.
Do you have a lot of data for a great price? So you are ready for your lockdown travels!
How to travel the world from your couch
Explore a museum – virtually
Many famous museums are currently offering free tours. And no, you don’t have to be in the United States, the United Kingdom or France to go on a tour; you can do it from the comfort of your home. Several museums are offering virtual tours you can take from your living room. Try these two first:
- Musée du Louvre in Paris
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
Tour national parks
If you love the outdoors, you are probably feeling completely stuck right now. Luckily, there are ways you can explore nature without leaving your home. Google Earth is offering free virtual tours of more than 30 national parks. There is also a popular series online called The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks which takes you on a trip to some of the most famous parks around the world, teaching you some interesting facts along the way.
Go on a rollercoaster ride at a world-famous theme park
If you’re an adrenaline junkie who enjoys a thrill every now and then, this one’s for you. Disney resorts have made available free virtual rides. This means you can experience a famous ride from your couch, without paying a cent – bonus! You can find a full list of rides here.
Discover beautiful panoramas
If you love to explore beautiful cities and always have your camera ready to take a beautiful photo, The Panorama 360 Cities is ideal for you. This is a web-based and iOS app featuring stunning real panoramic images and videos from many of the biggest cities in the world. When you visit the website, you will be presented with a map and some pictures. Simply choose the continent you want to explore and click to video.
Walk with wild animals
If you’re an animal lover and have always wanted to go on a game drive, now is your chance. Take advantage of daily game drives, filmed in South Africa by experts at WildEarth in partnership with and beyond. They offer a twice-daily game drives from the Djuma Private Game Reserve and the Ngala Private Game Reserve. Tours are led by field guides and can be watched on social media on certain dates.
Visit a botanic garden
Some botanic gardens around the world are offering free virtual tours. This is a perfect experience if you love being outdoors, but don’t have a park or garden anywhere near your home. Simply search for your favourite botanic garden on Google and see if they offer tours. Then, simply click to explore and soak in all of the beautiful scenery.
We don’t know for how long we still have to stay at home. While it may be a great period to spend quality time with your family, to take up a new hobby or to catch up on all the movies and series you haven’t seen yet, it can take its toll. If you’re feeling stuck, perhaps it’s time to take that trip – virtually! Try one of the ideas on this list and travel to beautiful destinations around the world while broadening your knowledge.
