What if traveling the world didn’t mean putting your healthy lifestyle on hold?

For members of the National Health Association, some extraordinary adventures are on the horizon, pairing unforgettable destinations with the whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free way of eating that is at the heart of the NHA lifestyle.

On a recent episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sat down with Wanda Huberman of the National Health Association and Brighde Reed of World Vegan Travel to talk about upcoming NHA travel opportunities, including adventures in Botswana, Rwanda, France and Tuscany.

And these aren’t your typical vacations.

A Safari Experience Unlike Any Other

For Wanda Huberman, Botswana offered an experience she describes as unlike anything she had encountered before.

Imagine traveling deep into the African wilderness by small bush plane, only to have your takeoff delayed because giraffes are wandering across the runway.

Or heading out on safari and finding yourself close enough to watch lions sleeping along the road, elephants moving through the landscape and hippos gathering in the water.

During one walking safari, Wanda’s group spotted a leopard resting in a tree above them. On another outing, she watched a mother lion carrying her newborn cub to higher ground.

The experience left such an impression that Wanda has traveled to Botswana twice.

NHA travelers will have the opportunity to experience both the dry landscape around Savuti and the waterways of the Okavango region. Activities can include traditional game drives, boat excursions and walking safaris led by experienced local guides.

Whole-Food, Plant-Based Eating, Even in the Bush

For anyone following a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle, travel can bring up one big question:

What am I going to eat?

That’s where these trips are different.

The NHA and World Vegan Travel work directly with the properties and camps to provide abundant whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free options throughout the trip.

Travelers can expect everything from fruit, granola, tofu scrambles and chia puddings to salads, soups, vegetable dishes, beans, desserts and snacks.

Even traditional safari “sundowners,” when travelers stop in the bush to watch the sunset, can include plant-based snacks, hummus, vegetables, nuts, seeds, teas and non-alcoholic beverages.

It means travelers can immerse themselves in the experience without having to constantly worry about finding food that fits their lifestyle.

Gorillas, Chimpanzees and the Beauty of Rwanda

Another upcoming NHA adventure takes travelers to Rwanda, where the experience shifts from the open safari landscape to encounters with some of the world’s most remarkable primates.

A centerpiece of the trip is the opportunity to trek to see mountain gorillas, which can only be found in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Travelers will also have the opportunity to see chimpanzees and learn more about gorilla conservation, including a visit connected with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and a presentation from Gorilla Doctors.

These experiences offer more than incredible photographs. They provide an opportunity to learn about wildlife, conservation and the delicate relationship between human health and the health of our planet.

You Don’t Need a Travel Partner

One concern that often keeps people from taking a bucket-list trip is not having someone to go with.

Wanda and Brighde emphasized that solo travelers are very much part of the NHA travel experience.

With groups of approximately 20 travelers plus hosts, the trips are intentionally small. Shared meals, excursions and experiences make it easy for people to get to know one another.

For someone who has always dreamed of taking a major international trip but doesn’t have a travel companion, an NHA group adventure can offer both independence and community.

More NHA Adventures Are Coming

Botswana and Rwanda are only part of the picture.

Upcoming NHA travel opportunities also include France’s Dordogne region and Tuscany, Italy, where travelers stay at a vegan villa near the UNESCO World Heritage town of San Gimignano.

Interest has been strong, with some trips selling out well in advance. The NHA encourages members to watch the travel page for new opportunities and join waitlists when a desired trip is full, since cancellations can sometimes create openings.

These journeys bring together several things at the heart of the National Health Association: nourishing food, meaningful community, personal health and respect for the natural world.

Most importantly, they show that living a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle doesn’t have to make your world smaller.

It might just help you explore more of it.

Links and Resources

NHA Plant-Based Travel:
https://www.healthscience.org/plant-based-travel/

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram:
@esserhealth

Watch NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation