In response to the growing popularity of jogging in the late 70s, W.T. Rabe created a holiday called World Sauntering Day (aka International Sauntering Day) to encourage people to slow down and appreciate the world around them. Whether you enjoy sauntering through the park while indulging in the late afternoon sun, or idly wandering around your neighbourhood with no particular place to be, 19 June poses the perfect opportunity for you to slow down and notice the things around you.
South Africa has so many incredible places where you can wander without intent. From gardens with expansive lawns and beautiful pathways, to hiking trails and guided bush walks, there are ample options to choose from. I’ve recently embarked on quite a couple of slow walks, including wonderfully immersive experiences with the Sabi Sabi Collection, but also wandering amidst Jacarandas in my own city.
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Slow Days with The Claremont Boutique Hotel
Staying at the Sabi Sabi Collection’s The Claremont is one of the best ways for one to slow down. Apart from its incredible gardens with its outstretched lawn, you can also book slow day trips along the Cape Peninsula through this incredible boutique hotel. During a recent stay at the hotel, a day trip that included a slow stroll along Kalk Bay’s main street was just what I needed. Coffee in hand, we slowly meandered between local shops and stalls and we even popped in at the harbour. The bonus was having a guide from Escape + Explore with us to tell us more about the town, the area and its people. Not only did we connect with ourselves again, but we got to immerse ourselves in local culture – something quite enlivening.
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The next day we also spent time at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where we slowly strolled among Proteas, Blombos and Yellowwoods – a refreshing nature walk with Table Mountain National Park as backdrop. Here, we were forced to notice. From Cape White-Eyes playfully hopping from one branch to the next, to clouds layering the valleys and playing with the morning light.
For more information on The Claremont and the daytrips to be had, visit their website here.
Take to the Bush this World Sauntering Day at the Brand-New Sandringham Private Game Reserve
Set to launch in August 2026, Sandringham Private Game Reserve (which also forms part of the Sabi Sabi Collection) is a must-add for your travel bucket list. Following an interview with the collection’s Managing Director, Rod Windham, it’s clear that this destination is where you would want to saunter in the bush (with a trained guide by your side, of course). According to Windham, Sandringham has eight drainage lines, some of the most magnificent bushveld trees along the Timbavati River, breeding vulture colonies and so much more to explore.
What better way to explore the bush than slowly, on foot? Notice wildlife tracks that you might have missed from a safari vehicle; listen to the sound of the bush without the noise of a humming engine in the background and spot little things like antlions and rhino beetles, or even just the various colours of the veld as the wind sweeps across the savanna.
Celebrate World Sauntering Day by booking your stay at Sandringham for later this year and be sure to enquire about their bush walks.
Embark on a Winelands Stroll at Babylonstoren
Probably one of the best winelands destinations for one to celebrate World Sauntering Day, is Babylonstoren. Set on one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the Cape Winelands, Babylonstoren is internationally renowned for its magnificent 5ha garden, contemporary farm hotel and spa, award-winning wines, farm-to-fork cuisine and authentic connection to the land.
They’ve just been named a winner of the inaugural Conde Nast Traveler 2026 Triple Crown Awards – a distinction reserved for properties that have earned recognition across Conde Nast Traveler’s three most influential awards programmes: The Hot List (celebrating the world’s best new openings), the Gold List (the editors’ annual selection of favourite places to stay) and the Reader’s Choice Awards (determined by thousands of travellers worldwide). This accolade celebrates Babylonstoren’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful, memorable experiences rooted in nature, generosity and place – one of them being immersive, slow strolls among vineyards, orchards and more.
Go on a Leisurely Neighbourhood Stroll this World Sauntering Day
Of course, you also don’t have to go far or book an official trip to celebrate International Sauntering Day. Leave your phone behind and step out for a slow, unhurried walk around your own neighborhood. Be intentional about observing the sky, the trees and architecture around you. Allow the small, everyday things to surprise you. You’ll be amazed at what you see just from slowing down.
I’d love to know where your favourite slow spots are and where you will be celebrating World Sauntering Day this year, so please leave a comment below!
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