Travel More Adventurously

What happens when you take your children wild camping among elephants and hippos, rafting on rivers with crocodiles, or exploring Spain in a campervan? And how can we turn those adventures into memories that last a lifetime?
In this episode of Travel More Adventurously, I'm joined by Mish and Kat, two adventurous South African mums living in Barcelona and the creators of Zwela Journals - beautifully illustrated travel adventure journals designed to help children become more curious, observant and engaged with the world around them.
Mish and Kat contacted me after listening to the podcast, and I'm so glad they did! I felt as though I'd known them for years, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them both.
We share some extraordinary family travel stories, from wild camping in Botswana's Okavango Delta, with elephants wandering metres from camp, to rooftop tent adventures in Namibia, a rather eventful crocodile encounter on a rafting trip, and Kat's campervan journey through Northern Spain - complete with a mosquito invasion!
But this conversation is about much more than adventurous destinations.
We explore how to raise curious and adventurous children, why slowing down and noticing the little things can transform family holidays, and how travel journalling can encourage creativity, gratitude and connection without feeling like homework.
Mish and Kat also share the story behind Zwela Journals and how their own experiences travelling with children inspired them to create something that encourages young explorers to ask questions, notice wildlife, reflect on their experiences and record the memories that matter.
In this episode, we explore:
Adventurous family travel in Africa and Europe
Wild camping, safaris and campervan adventures with children
How to encourage curiosity, confidence and independence in kids
Travel journalling, mindfulness and gratitude for families
Why the unexpected moments often become our favourite travel memories
How to make everyday adventures meaningful, even close to home
Whether you're planning an African safari, dreaming of a family road trip, travelling with young children or simply looking for ways to encourage your kids to spend more time exploring outdoors, this conversation is full of inspiration.
Because adventurous family travel isn't necessarily about going further or spending more. Sometimes it's about learning to see the world through your children's eyes.
Discover Zwela JournalsWebsite: https://zwelajournals.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zwelajournals/
Find Rebecca & Travel More AdventurouslyWebsite: https://www.rebeccaryell.com/
Listen to more episodes of Travel More Adventurously here on YouTube or your favourite podcast platform.
If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, share it with another family who loves adventure, and leave a comment. I'd love to know: What's the most unexpected thing your children have remembered from a family adventure?
#FamilyTravel #AdventureWithKids #TravelJournaling #ZwelaJournals #TravelMoreAdventurously

Choosing Adventure Over Routine: Family Travel, Freedom and Living Differently | Anisha Patel
What if you could redesign your family life to make more room for adventure, freedom and experiences together?
In this episode of Travel More Adventurously, I chat with Anisha Patel, a former NHS pharmacist, entrepreneur, podcaster and mum of two, about breaking away from the traditional 9–5 and creating a life where travelling with children becomes a priority rather than an occasional luxury.
Anisha shares her family's incredible adventures through Thailand and Kenya, from travelling with just two backpacks to watching her children develop confidence, independence and a stronger sibling bond through their experiences abroad.
We explore the realities of extended family travel, working remotely with children, balancing school and adventure, choosing experiences over possessions, and challenging society's expectations of what family life should look like.
Anisha and her husband Sunjay have now left their traditional jobs to build The Podcast Department, helping others create and grow their own podcasts while building greater flexibility into their family life.
It's an inspiring and refreshingly honest conversation about making intentional choices, embracing uncertainty and remembering that we only have one life to live.
If you've ever dreamed of travelling more with your children, escaping the daily routine or finding a different way to balance work, family and adventure, this episode is for you.
🌍 Find Anisha🎙️ The Podcast Department – Podcast strategy, production and support from Anisha and Sunjay
https://thepodcastdepartment.com/
🌴 The Love Life Family – Follow their family travel adventures
https://www.instagram.com/thelovelifefamily/
💊 Pharmacist Diaries – Anisha's podcast exploring careers and opportunities in pharmacy
https://www.youtube.com/@pharmacistdiaries
💼 Connect with Anisha on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anisha-patel-a95b9562/
🎧 Find Rebecca & Travel More Adventurously🌍 Family travel coaching and inspiration:
https://www.rebeccaryell.co.uk
Follow Travel More Adventurously for inspiring conversations, real family adventures and practical ideas to help you explore more of the world with your children.
If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, like and share it with someone who dreams of making more room for adventure in their family life.
And I'd love to know in the comments: If you could change one thing about your family life to make more room for adventure, what would it be?
#FamilyTravel #TravelWithKids #AdventureTravel #FamilyAdventures #TravelMoreAdventurously

Making Family Adventures Possible: Travel, Fear and Additional Needs | Michelle DoyleWhat if the biggest barrier to your next family adventure isn't what's possible, but what you believe you can manage?
In this episode of Travel More Adventurously, I'm joined by Michelle Doyle, a Welsh mum of three, surfer and adventurous traveller who has taken her family across the world, including Australia, California and Hawaii, while navigating the challenges of travelling with a child with additional needs.
We talk honestly about the fears that come with travelling with children, particularly when they have additional needs, and the practical strategies that make adventurous family travel possible. From managing long-haul flights and other people's reactions to flexible itineraries, balancing everyone's needs and building confidence, Michelle shares what she's learned along the way.
Michelle also reflects on how travel coaching helped her take the leap towards a family adventure she once thought was impossible.
This episode is for anyone who dreams of travelling more adventurously with their family but wonders whether they can really make it happen.
Find Rebecca and Travel More Adventurously:
🌍 Website and family travel coaching: https://www.rebeccaryell.co.uk
📸 Instagram: @rebecca_ryell_travel
🎙️ Listen to more episodes of Travel More Adventurously on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast, leave a comment or review, and share it with someone who might find Michelle's story inspiring. It really helps more people discover the show.
#FamilyTravel #TravelWithKids #AdditionalNeeds #AdventureTravel #TravelMoreAdventurously

What is it really like travelling through Sumatra with three young children?
In this episode of Travel More Adventurously, Pete is back for part two of our family travel adventure through Northern Sumatra, Indonesia - and this part of the trip involved volcanoes, Lake Toba, a terrifying boat journey, traditional Batak tuak, hungry children, remote islands and more than one moment when we wondered whether we had completely lost the plot.
We pick up the story after returning from the Mentawai Islands, when a chance meeting with a local driver called Harley ended up shaping the next few weeks of our travels.
From Berastagi, we climbed Mount Sibayak before sunrise with three young children, walking through the dark past steaming volcanic craters before reaching the summit as the sun came up. There was also the slightly surreal moment when a group of local children became convinced that one of our sons was Justin Bieber.
From there we travelled on to Lake Toba, the enormous volcanic lake in North Sumatra, where we ate extraordinary local food, bought fresh fish and crayfish from fishermen, and experienced one of those frightening parenting moments that feels much bigger when you are a long way from home.
We also talk about tuak, the traditional Batak palm wine we tried in Northern Sumatra. Made from fermented palm sap, it was cloudy, milky-white and considerably more alcoholic than we were expecting. Looking back, it is one of those tiny details of travelling that has stayed vividly in our memories.
Then came the journey to the Banyak Islands.
We set off from Singkil in a tiny boat in torrential rain and rough seas, unable to see land and bouncing across the water for hours. At one point I remember looking at Pete and genuinely thinking: we must be absolutely mental.
And then, somehow, we arrived in paradise.
The Banyak Islands were remote, beautiful and completely unlike anywhere we had stayed before. We swam over coral reefs straight from the beach, watched the children invent games with hermit crabs and experienced what happens when you take three children somewhere so remote that there simply aren't any snacks.
As storms prevented fishermen from bringing in food, our meals became smaller and smaller. The children, who could once be particular about how a fish finger was cooked, suddenly discovered that hunger makes you remarkably adventurous - including enthusiastically eating chicken legs when they finally appeared.
We also saw first-hand the enormous amount of plastic pollution washing onto these remote beaches and heard about the devastating impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on the islands and the people who lived there. It was one of those travel experiences that was simultaneously beautiful, uncomfortable, funny and thought-provoking.
And after several days of increasingly small meals, our stay ended with an unforgettable surprise

Can you still travel adventurously when your child has type 1 diabetes?
In this episode of Travel More Adventurously, I talk to Lindsay Karanec, NHS physiotherapist and mum to a 12-year-old who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at three.
We talk about the fear that followed his diagnosis, their first big trip just months later, and how travel gradually helped build confidence, resilience and trust that even when things go wrong, they can cope.
Lindsay also shares practical tips on flying with insulin and equipment, keeping medication cool, eating out, swimming, travel insurance and preparing for emergencies.
A really reassuring conversation for any family wondering whether a health condition has to limit their adventures.
Find Lindsay on Instagram: @lindsay.karanec
#Type1Diabetes #FamilyTravel #TravelWithKids #TravelWithDiabetes