East Africa

Safari, Cultural Immersion & Yoga retreat

Are your feet are calling you to walk upon the red earth of Mother Africa? It is time to witness the wilderness and lose yourself in the mystery of the unfolding moment. Will you join me on our East Africa Safari, Cultural Immersion & Yoga Retreat?

This is an adventure back to your roots, to reclaim your wild essence, learn from ever-changing and life giving patterns of nature and immerse into a new culture that is deeply connected to the natural rhythms of life. 

This is the trip you have been waiting for. I have designed it so that you can enjoy the best of East Africa and fit as much in as possible whilst enjoying a relaxed pace.  You will stay in beautiful, natural environments and be well cared for be the incredible people of Africa. I will be with you each step of the way and guiding you deeper into the heart of your own humanity. We will engage in service work, conservation efforts, gave upon gorillas in the mist, trek along with the chimps in the trees. We will visit maasai villages, sleep under the stars, witness the big 5 game and relax on the beach.

We will fit yoga and meditation around our activities to cultivate mindfulness, a deeper connection to the land and people, an impeccable curiosity and beginner's mind. Travel can be exhausting. To combat emotional, mental and physical fatigue and to keep the adventurous spark alive in your heart we will lovingly engage in daily mindbody practices maintaining overall wellbeing. 

Because Nairobi is a central hub for the region we will use is as our base and from there venture out to the next destination. You are welcome to participate in the entire month long program or join for one of the sections only.  I have done my best to keep the price reasonable whilst not cutting corners or skipping on the good stuff. You will be amazed! 

Africa is calling you home. You will visit the River Nile, the Impenetrable Forest, the Arabian Sea, the Maasai and the Bush. The world is changing fast, now is the time to see these incredible creatures and natural wild habitats. There will be a lot of travel so be prepared. Only 15kg bag is allowed for each traveler! Pack light. Leave your ego and worries behind. Step forward on an adventure of a lifetime. Let the journey begin!

Part One: Weeks 1 - 2  Uganda & Kenya

20 December - 2 January Christmas & New Years

Uganda PRimate Safari and The Nile River 

We gather at the Stanley Sarova Hotel in the heart of Nairobi to acclimate and get familiar with the local culture and time zone. From Nairobi we will fly to Uganda and make our way down South to Bwindi. There we will stay for 3 nights. During that time we will venture into the Impenetrable forest for our Gorilla Safari. We will track until we spot them. Then settle in and watch them mindfully as they live their lives. 

From Bwindi we take a small plane up North to Murchison Falls National Park. During that time we will visit our chimpanzee primate relatives in the Budongo forest, enjoy boat safari cruise of the falls on the Nile, hike to the top of the falls, as well as a delta cruise on the Nile. We will return to Nairobi for the next part our our trip.

There will be many opportunities to discover the nature parks, encounter animals as well as the local village culture. I will create a space for us to practice yoga and meditation when possible. We will observe sunrise and sunset where ever we are. we will share daily meals and reflect back on the incredible experience of being face to face with our primate relatives. 

Highlights

• Chimpanzee Safari
• Gorilla Safari
• Murchison Falls
• River Nile Delta
• Spend Christmas far away

Kenya Culture, Conservation and the Big 5

Due to all the air travel we will stay one night to ground down in Nairobi before heading up north to the Bush. In the early morning we will drive 4 hours up to El Karama a 14,000 acre conservation ranch in the deep bush. Here we will get to experience all extraordinary amenities of the ranch to include pool, eco-lodge and a working farm that supports 60 families. We will go on big 5 game safari and see lion, leopard, rhinoceros elephant, and Cape buffalo. Also on the ranch Zebra, hyena, Giraffe and hundreds or bird species can be spotted. 

We will walk to a nearby masai village and learn about their local ways and have a chance to buy some gorgeous handmade crafts. For new years eve we will camp out in the bush, build a fire and gaze upon the stars immersed in the wild. An epic way to ring in the new year!  The next day we will travel to a women's only village, learn from thw women who are rising and support the local girls who have initiation rites that don't include female genital mutilation. 

We will observe the sun rise and sun set and fit in yoga, meditation and mindfulness around our safari and cultural activities. We will share meals and recall all the beautiful images we saw that day. We will be grateful that we are part of the conservation efforts just by staying at El Karama we are contributing via donation and park fees. It will be worth every penny to protect and enjoy the beauty and abundance of Kenya, Africa. We will return to Nairobi with the option to catch a flight home or continue on to the 2nd portion of the trip

Hightlights

• Wildlife Conservation & Eco Lodge
• Massai Village 
• Big 5 Game Drive
• New Years Bush Camp out

Part 2: Weeks 3 - 4  Tanzania Mainland Tented Camp Safari & Zanzibar Beach Retreat

1 January - 14 January

TanzaniA Tented Camp Game SaFari 

Tanzania is epic! We will gather together in Nairobi were some may leave and others may join. The next morning we will fly to the Southern Parks where our tented camp in the Ruaha National Park will be waiting for us. I have choses this region (skipping Serengeti) because it is further out of the way and less popular which means less tourists and jeeps in our view.  It will require more travel time. Pack light and be prepared for an adventure! 

We will stay for two nights inside the park so we might encounter Elephants walk by our table or zebra gather in front our our tents! Can you imagine. It's going to be beyond epic! In Tanzania we will see all the game with daily observance of sunrise and sunset. You will sleep in tents and become one with the natural rhythms of life. We will be far away from other people and enjoy some deserved silence along with the sounds of the wild. 

From Ruaha we will continue our tent camp safari to Selous National Park and stay for another two nights at another amazing tented camp. All our needs will be met with the most luxurious service whilst not being too lavish. We will be comfy and eat well. Our hearts will align with the land and we will remember this experience forever in our cellular memory.  We will of course fit in yoga and mindfulness around the other activities. 

At the end our this week we will arrive in Zanzibar and stay for 2 nights in the old Stone Town city. There we will dive into the cultural scene. We will stay in the heart of the old colonial district where we can get some good coffee, check out the local street art, visit spice farms, and visit museums or simply watch the people go by from a rooftop lounge. Pure joy!

Hightlights

• Tent Camps in the Ruaha & Selous Parks with the Animals
• Secluded Camps, less tourists more space
• Immerse into the wild 
• Stone Town, Zanzibar City

What's Included

Does not include

• Visas, additional drinks, tips, items of a personal nature, personal non-optional travel insurance, flights to/from Nairobi, activities not outlined in itinerary, a few meals so that you can go out and enjoy the local town and culture, donations, gifts, curio items, replacement for missing items, laundry service.

Requirements

• Travelers insurance
• Emergency Contact Information
• Healthy mind, body and soul
• Sign a liability waiver
• Be open to adventure
• Be able to take small planes
• Pack 15kg max, plus small personal bag

Who's Coming to Africa? 

Part One: US$8,600 Early Registration, + $600 after May 7, 2018

Part Two: US$5,400 Early Registration, +$600 after May 7, 2018

Full month: Save $200

REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 12, 2018