MaNdlovu on Travel Destinations: Are you inspired or influenced?

I remember a time when you’d log in to social media and see multiple posts from different people travelling to the same or similar places. My first thought was always that whoever was handling the travel PR for that city was doing an excellent job. But my second thought was this: were people going because it was well marketed, or because it was somewhere they had chosen for themselves?

Just so I’m not judging anyone (and yes, I’m laughing at myself here), a quick disclaimer. I went to Paris because the prices were great at the time, but have you watched Emily in Paris? That alone is enough motivation.

I’ve often spoken about how travel can be healing and a journey of self-discovery. When I look back at the places I’ve visited, I didn’t choose them because they were trending or heavily marketed, but because, in that moment, they meant something to me. Sometimes it was about fulfilling a childhood dream, ticking off a bucket-list item, or simply expressing a part of myself I hadn’t explored before.

That’s not to say perfectly curated, Instagram-worthy travel doesn’t serve a purpose; it absolutely does. Many people would never have considered travelling if it weren’t for the content they see online. Inspiration has its place. But there’s a quiet difference between being inspired and simply following.

I started this column to encourage people to travel more. Not just to see the world, but to experience themselves differently within it. To heal, to celebrate, and to discover parts of themselves they might not otherwise encounter.

These days, when I’m planning a trip, I find myself asking different questions. What haven’t I seen yet that I’d like to experience? What would I return to, not because I must, but because of how it made me feel? Places like the Natal Midlands come to mind, spaces I’m drawn back to for their calm, stillness, and connection with nature.

More importantly, I ask myself what I need from the trip. Do I need solitude? Then I’ll choose a place where I’m happy to stay, slow down, and be still. Do I need to reconnect with nature? Then a game reserve or something similar calls to me. Do I need to remind myself of my courage and sense of adventure? Then I’ll go somewhere unfamiliar, somewhere that stretches me just enough.

That feeling, the anticipation, the excitement of stepping into something new, is addictive. It’s often the very thing that keeps us planning the next journey.

The most meaningful trips, I’ve realised, are the ones that are deeply personal. They’re not always the most visible or the most talked about, but they stay with you. They reflect where you are in your life and what you need in that moment.

As you plan your next getaway, whether it’s a quick weekend escape or something long overdue, perhaps pause for a moment. Not to ask where everyone else is going, but to ask yourself what would feel right for you. The journeys that matter most aren’t always the ones we share most. Sometimes, they’re the ones that quietly change us.

* Sané Ndlovu is a proudly local, globally curious travel writer, PR practitioner, and avid solo traveller.