Escaping life is rare. There is always some reminder - some impossible to ignore breadcrumb - that has you turning around before you have even departed just to sap a little more energy.

So it was with great joy and surprise that I managed to go 'off grid' for over two weeks recently when I travelled around Southern Africa. I worked until 11.30pm the night before, with a 4.30am departure planned the following day. I charged my iphone, charged my battery packs, prepared to respond to only 'urgent' emails, and scheduled my out-of-office.

18 days later, I arrived back to reality and an untouched inbox, having evaded the constant news cycle and the ping of new emails without even missing them; the lack of internet and wifi across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana preventing any urge to check in.

One of the places that I travelled, without internet, reception, electricity or permanent structures was the Okavango Delta in Botswana.