Rooted in Heritage, Guided by Healing.
For many in the African diaspora, the journey home is more than just travel—it’s a reclamation, a healing, and a return to self. Nature Is Balm was born from this sacred calling: to reconnect, to rediscover, and to heal through immersive, transformative experiences in the lands of our ancestors.
MEET YOUR TRAVEL BESTIE
Nandi Kaye
I'm so glad you've found your way here!
My affinity for travel, food, cultural exchanges, and introspective healing led me here, to you. It is my deepest desire to provide nourishing and holistic travel experiences that provide a collaborative atmosphere where healing, self-discovery, and community serve as the lens through which stories of reimagined Black joy, self-care, and resilience are shared. This journey of reimagining healing, connection, and discovery is as much an individual endeavor as it is a collective pursuit of liberation for all. We, as our own storytellers, are all key-players in this liberating movement, and I’m glad you’re interested in joining me on this journey to freedom. 🫶🏽
A Journey Back to Self: How Nature Is Balm Was Born
I'm not just a travel curator, I'm a fellow traveler on a journey of self-discovery and healing. My unique perspective is shaped by my own experiences and my deep love for my people and our culture.
My journey began in the 90s, with my mother's curiosity and desire to connect with our heritage. My mom took me to Nigeria to find community, learn about other cultures, and heal. This trip transformed my view of Africa and the success of Black/African people. It sparked my own desire to travel and connect with others. Later in my early 20s, I journeyed through East Africa for 7 weeks with a group of 16 individuals.
This experience taught me the importance of empathy, respect, and community; and I gained a deeper appreciation for life and my identity. Then, in 2016, I embarked on a two-month road trip around the US, living out of a hatchback and camping in nature. This experience taught me the power of nature and how it can heal me and bring me closer to God. This was the catalyst for what would become Nature is Balm.
A Journey to Reclaim, Heal, and Thrive—Together
These experiences provide a safe and supportive space where we can process trauma, heal from transgressions, and create new and wholesome ways to thrive in our respective communities. Because I firmly believe that personal growth causes a ripple effect that leads to lasting social improvements, I am committed to supporting others on their journey to freedom so that, together, we can liberate the collective.
Essentially, I want us to access and reclaim what was taken from us, and to be able to do it in a safe and communal space with other people who look like you and me as we support each other on the journey to freedom (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional).
Rooted in heritage, healed through connection.
Rooted in heritage, healed through connection.
Liberation Begins When We Come Home to Ourselves…
MY VALUES ⬇
MY VALUES ⬇
Cultural Connection
This value drives the curation of the birthright experience as it centers learning about history, West African culture, and traditions through interactions with local people. It provides opportunities for African descendants to reconnect with their ancestral roots, foster a sense of identity, and belonging.
Self-Discovery & Healing
This value informs the design of experiences that facilitate vulnerability, strengthen self-love, and promote personal growth through immersion in nature and cultural exchanges. This provides a space for members of the African diaspora to engage in self-discovery, heal from historical trauma, and address personal challenges, leading to empowerment and a stronger sense of self.
Community
This value shapes the experiences to encourage shared travel, discussions, and engagement with local people, which helps form connections with like-minded individuals on a similar path. This allows members of the African diaspora to connect with others like them, creating a supportive network for exploring their identity and cultural heritage, thus combating feelings of isolation and despair.
Reclaiming Our Roots, Healing Our Future
These cultural birthright travel experiences are important because they provide connection and healing to American-based descendants of Africa. As descendants, we have been forcibly removed and stripped from our ancestral origins, traditions, and cultures only to arrive in countries that do not honor, respect, or acknowledge our being as equal, worthy, or deserving.