South Africans also have a strong sense of adventure and a desire to travel, however their aspirations are often limited by the pressures of modern life.

The research, which sampled 1004 people between the ages of 16 and 65, was commissioned by BBC Earth to mark its channel debut in South Africa on Tuesday, 1 September. The channel seeks to inspire audiences by sharing the incredible wonders of our universe.

According to the study, 90% of South Africans have desired, at times, to escape everyday life and go back to basics, opting for the simpler life away from the hustle and bustle of the urban environment.

Over three quarters (77%) also dream of travelling to places far away to experience the natural world first-hand, yet always end up booking more accessible destinations.

When asked what top three experiences were on the wish list, visiting a tropical rain forest ranked first (57%), followed closely by seeing the Northern lights (45%) and diving in the Great Barrier Reef (38%). Whale spotting, and hiking through the British Isles were also popular answers, with 28% even in favour of travelling to outer space.

The celebrity most South African’s voted as the best companion for a trip around the world was Jeannie D. The television personality and radio DJ was also listed as the person most would like to be stranded on a desert island with, followed by Gareth Cliff, DJ Fresh and Bear Grylls. However, 16% of people turned down the chance of being stranded with celebs, and instead chose to spend time with loved ones, or by themselves.

Most people (87%) stated they are interested in learning more about the natural world, and over three quarters cited television as their main source of information, followed by the internet, social media and blogs. Television programmes inspired 87% of respondents to go out and discover more.

But despite these aspirations, 62% said that lack of disposable income inhibits them doing so, followed closely by long working hours (42%).

Similarly, whilst most think it’s important to spend more quality time outdoors, only 20% spend more than ten hours a month taking part in outdoor activity.

Commenting on the results, Joel Churcher, general manager and vice president for Africa, BBC Worldwide said: “The survey shows that South African audiences are keen to understand more about the World and the universe, which is why we are launching BBC Earth - to inspire people to establish the connection with the natural world for themselves. BBC Earth is a visceral experience, and we want to bring the whole family together to come and learn about the incredible wonders of our universe.”

BBC Earth makes its international channel debut in South Africa on 1 September. The launch line-up programming includes David Attenborough meets President Obama – an interview discussing the future of the planet, their passion for nature and what can be done to protect it, landmark natural history series Life Story and Human Universe with Professor Brian Cox which explores the story of humanity through the greatest questions we have ever asked.

For more information about the channel, visit www.bbcsouthafrica.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter using the #BBCEarth hashtag.