Bush Diaries combines fitness and travel in Southern Africa

BUSH Diaries, a dynamic travel company in Bulawayo, is breaking new ground in the travel and adventure industry by offering fitness-focused experiences to its clients.

Lindani Ndlovu, a seasoned tour guide at Bush Diaries, revealed how the company is transforming the way people travel and explore southern Africa.

Bush Diaries is not just a travel company, but a gateway to the rich and diverse cultures, landscapes, and wildlife of the region. The company has taken its clients to stunning destinations, such as Nyanga, Mpumalanga in South Africa, Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park, and Bulawayo, showcasing the beauty and splendour of the region.

“Our tours have spanned breathtaking locales, including Nyanga, Mpumalanga in South Africa, Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park and captivating day visits within Bulawayo, encapsulating the diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes of southern Africa,” he said.

The company was established in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it has not let the challenges of the situation deter its vision. It has been offering a range of travel experiences that suit the different preferences and budgets of its clients.

“We are elated with the progress of Bush Diaries, even though the culture of travel is still in its infancy within our community. Our goal is to make travel more accessible, as evidenced by our flexible pricing and the ability for participants to pay for trips in instalments,” Ndlovu explained.

Bush Diaries is also at the forefront of innovation, as it has recognised the growing trend of fitness as a lifestyle and has incorporated it into its travel packages. The company offers mountain hikes, aerobics sessions, and other fitness activities to cater to the wellness needs of its clients.

“The surge in the popularity of fitness as a lifestyle has not gone unnoticed. As a response, we are infusing our tours with mountain hikes, aerobics sessions and other fitness activities to cater to the growing demand for wellness-focused travel experiences,” Ndlovu said.

The company’s latest offering is a day trip featuring a mountain hike challenge in Matopo’s Silozwi, which is designed for fitness enthusiasts who are looking for a thrilling physical adventure.

“For this particular one we are seeking participants aged 18 and above who are fit and ready to embrace the mountain hike challenge and aerobics sessions, offering a new dimension to our travel experiences.

“Particularly on this trip we are working with a certain trainer so we are incorporating a professional trainer into this company so that it becomes a fruitful event and successful. We wouldn’t know the rightful paths when someone is doing aerobics so by incorporating professional people we are trying to sort of engage with professional trainers,” he said.

Ndlovu also shared the company’s plans, which include expanding internationally and exploring other African countries.

“We are hoping that by this event even for the coming year we are able to go to other African countries because there’s already an experience for that. It’s not an overnight thing as it’s still a young company but we are hoping to evolve and we are still in that process of evolving,” he said.

Banele Dube, the assistant operations hand at Bush Diaries affirmed the commitment to pioneering a new era in travel.

“As a company that places a premium on the well-being and experiences of our participants, we are thrilled with the progress we have made. We are dedicated to expanding our market base, particularly targeting youths and adults who are enthusiastic about fitness and adventure.

“It would be a tick for us if people come in numbers for the mountain hike challenge. It’s a first of its kind where we have such a mountain hike challenge because most of the times we do trips where we don’t do many challenges,” said Dube.–@TashaMutsiba