www.womanthismonth.com January 2016 58 LIFESTYLE | travel The Workout Vacation We all need some well-deserved R&R sometimes and one of the best ways to recharge your batteries can be by testing the limits of your strength and stamina. Ankita Mamgain takes you to some amazing destinations that cater to both mind and body. What could be a better way to jolt us out of our excessively sedentary lifestyles than a vacation? But if you’re thinking 15 days of soaking up the sun while playing with the tiny umbrella on you cocktail glass, eating hamburgers for breakfast and becoming the (not-so) proud owner of a newly acquired ‘beverage’ belly – think again. What if you could return home with six-pack abs, a new personal running record and an energised mind, all along with a camera full of exotic pictures? A number of companies are offering fitness or workout vacations, which are a bit different from a wellness break at a luxury spa resort. This experience is all about action and the best part is, it allows you to discover some of the most picturesque, diverse and interesting locations around the world. Whether you’re into running, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, CrossFit, horse riding, golf, yoga or something that calls for even more adrenaline pumping through your veins, if you’re taking some time off this new year, how about coming back a new you? AN ACTIVE SAFARI South Africa packs some of the best that the African continent has to offer into one brilliant microcosm. From leisure seekers to adventurers and culture vultures, the Rainbow Nation extends a warm welcome to all. Its urban hotels boast some of the best gyms and spas, but there’s much to be experienced in the wilder pockets. And for fitness freaks it doesn't get any better than this with a terrain that often surprises you with truly demanding and exhilarating experiences. Hike along Table Mountain's base to world-famous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden or bike from Cape Point to Chapman's Peak and possibly spot ostriches, baboons, rare Cape Mountain zebras and eland. Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat offers great mountain-biking terrain featuring ancient Bushman rock art and red hartebeest antelope. Take a guided bike ride into the Zululand Rhino Reserve and learn to track wild animals such as cheetah, hippo, hyena, members of the Big Five and hundreds of bird species. You can even hike from lodge to lodge, exploring a different section of the park every day. When in the mood to relax, taste the local vintages, indulge in a spa session or go canoeing. Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve Bushman rock art Zululand-Rhino-Reserve
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