Description

7 Day Transformational Yoga Wildlife Retreat

We invite you to come join us for our transformational 7 day yoga wildlife retreat offering you an incredible opportunity to connect deeply with the elements and energy of nature.

Working with the 5 elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether we will explore the connection between the elements and our subtle energetic bodies. Gaining a deeper understanding of how our energetic centres work and creating a Holistic self practice that can heal, restore and balance our energy.

The venue is the only lodge in the Bwabwata National Park, an area renowned for its large herds of elephant. The lodge will be used exclusively for the retreat guests.

Most days are set to begin with a morning yoga practice out in nature. What better place to find yourself at sunrise? The picture-perfect settings will give you the feeling as though time is standing still and you will almost certainly be able to hear the surrounding nature and wildlife whispering rejuvenation into your soul as the world awakes.

The remainder of the day will be spent on excursions, shamanic sessions, relaxation or optional reiki or spa treatments. As the days draw to a close, you will find yourself back in nature for an afternoon yoga practice. An incredible way to end the day and quieten your mind before dinner under the starlit skies.

Yoga

There will be two yoga sessions planned daily, held at different locations on the reserve. All sessions are optional and aim to rejuvenate our guests, whilst also helping to build on your individual practice.

The yoga practice is suited to all levels, from beginners to advanced and our yoga teacher will adapt the practice to accommodate all guests. During our retreat, guests will enjoy restorative, vinyasa, hatha and yin yoga, along with breathing techniques, meditation and sound healing sessions. Sessions focus on balancing your chakras, mindfulness, releasing tension and relaxation. The retreat is for anyone looking for a true African experience while immersing yourself in yoga.

Sound Journeys

HEARTSOUND, a Sydney based husband and wife team Vanessa Forbes and Steve Mazabow will be sharing their musical gifts on this retreat embarking on a journey of deep connection.

They create original live music for Sound Journeys, Meditation, Sound Healing, Yoga, Kirtan, Conscious Dance, Retreats and Ceremonies. They play an array of sacred instruments including didgeridoo, Mayan temple flute, Native American flute, handpan, guitar, vocals and more.

Retreat schedule

Day 1:
On arrival at Kasane Airport you will be met by your yoga teacher/host and make your way to Nambwa Tented Lodge.

The drive to the lodge is somewhat of a game drive where you will see various animals and local villages. At the lodge you will be welcomed and briefed on your Yoga Safari Adventure.

Settle into your luxurious accommodation and relax before your first yoga session as the sun sets, in the floodplains in front of the lodge.

• New Moon flow – Intention setting and tune in
• Meditation
• Welcoming dinner and one on one individual sessions

Day 2: 
AM yoga session next to the Kwando River at the lodge (Earth element, Hatha)
Breakfast is served at the lodge
Morning with Reiki/Shaman healing
A healthy light lunch is served at the lodge on the main deck
High tea is served
Depart on a game drive with a yoga session in a remote area in the park 
(Root Chakra, Yin)
Sundowners served at Horseshoe Bend
Night drive back to the lodge
Dinner is served at the lodge

Day 3: 
AM Yoga session in front of the lodge in the floodplains beyond (Water Element, Hatha/Vinyasa)
Game walk straight afterwards
Arrive at a hide overlooking Long Lagoon where coffee, tea and warm muffins 
are served
Continue the walk back to the lodge where a full breakfast is served
Rest of morning with Reiki/Shaman Healing
A healthy light lunch is served at the lodge on the main deck
Afternoon at leisure with Reiki/Shaman healing
High tea is served
Sunset yoga – (Sacral Chakra, Yin)
Dinner is served at the lodge

Day 4: 
Early morning game drive, stop for a yoga session in the bush as the sun starts to rise (Fire Element, Hatha/Vinyasa)
Coffee and muffins served in the bush after the yoga session
Continue on the morning game drive and return to the lodge
Depart on a very short boat cruise to the private Island for a full brunch
Rest of the morning and afternoon at leisure with beauty treatments available
Yoga session at the lodge
(Solar Plexus, Yin)
Sundowners served on the vast deck at the lodge
Dinner is served at the lodge

Day 5: 
AM yoga session at the lodge (Air Element, Hatha/Vinyasa)
Breakfast is served at the lodge
Morning with Reiki/Shaman Healing and Chakra balancing sessions or beauty 
treatments
A Healthy light lunch is served at the lodge on the main deck
High tea is served
Depart on an afternoon boat cruise, stop for a yoga session in the bush as 
the sun starts to set (Heart Chakra, Yin)
End with sundowners on the boat, then meander back to the lodge
Dinner is served at the lodge

Day 6: 
AM yoga session at Long Lagoon, short walk back to the lodge (Throat & third eye Chakra, Hatha/Vinyasa)
Breakfast is served at the lodge
Morning with Reiki/Shaman Healing and Chakra balancing sessions or beauty 
treatments
A healthy light lunch is served at the lodge on the main deck
High tea is served
Afternoon at leisure followed by yoga as the sunsets in front of the lodge
 
(Gratitude flow with Crown Chakra Meditation)
A short boat cruise takes everyone to a private island for a bush braai (African bbq) weather permitting

Day 7: 
Today your safari comes to an end, but before it does, one last yoga session (Self- love and acceptance), followed by breakfast.

Transfer to either Kasane Airport or Victoria Falls. The drive back to the airport is the perfect chance to reflect on the last few days.

Teachers

Gizelle has been practicing yoga for over a decade. It was not until a period of deep self-reflection and discovery that she was encouraged by her yoga teacher to do a teacher training. She has studied with many teachers and spiritual leaders and has completed her 500hrs Teacher training in Rishikesh.

Despite being a private chef for most of her career she has had a natural progression to Holistic healing through food, yoga and reiki. She has taught internationally for a number of years and is currently based in Indonesia where she helps run a retreat yoga and healing center.

Her soul mission is to learn as much as she can to teach and pass on knowledge of self-healing, forgiveness and love.

Accommodation

Nambwa Tented Lodge is a luxury lodge situated in the heart of KAZA and the only lodge uniquely situated inside the Bwabwata National Park. Its surrounding areas lends itself to an idyllic sanctuary for retreats, with inspirational activities, bush catering events and chefs providing meals in harmony with yoga our retreat objectives.

The main feature, and the heart of the lodge, is the majestic viewing deck, and an al fresco dining area with a large seated fire pit area, with rewarding views of the floodplains below, are more than often the playground for large herds of elephants, buffalo and plains game that later seek refuge and security under your tented suite for the night.

Often, a game drive away from the lodge becomes so unnecessary as the elephants and wildlife meander through the camp. Sundowners are then enjoyed from the safety of the decks or lengthy walkways, only meters above these animals as they traverse below you and go about their feeding.

Explore the fauna and flora up close and personal on a bush walk or a game drive with experienced guides or paddle through the safe backwaters of the Kwando River in a traditional hand crafted mokoro.

A visit to a traditional village allows you the opportunity to understand the local life and culture of our people. The infamous Horseshoe Lagoon is the ideal spot for a sunset yoga session after a riveting game drive. As night falls experience the drama and spectacle as it unfolds beneath you.

Honouring the elephants’ right of way, a timber walkway, towering above these giants, meanders through the trees and joins the ten luxurious tented suites of exquisite comfort. Tastefully decorated with natural colors and evoking a gentle balance of serenity, the decadently spacious tented suites open completely and emanate a feeling of vastness and opulence.

As dawn breaks your morning tea or coffee will be personally delivered to your tent. From the privacy of your tree house deck, watch the sky illuminate with hues of purple and amber and re-energize for the days adventure ahead.

The elegant Safari Lounge creates a perfect fusion of energy and relaxation, which emphasises a sense of place. A library with a mixture of vintage artefacts and books, as well as small relics found on site while building the lodge on this historical military area, all encourage a touch and exploration.

Cuisine

Chefs provide meals in harmony with you retreat objectives, 3 x healthy meals a day, African Cuisine.We cater for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and lactose intolerant. Daily high tea is served.

Retreat Price

Prices are in Euros
Shared Accommodation: €4,400
Private Accommodation: €4,800

Min of 4 and max of 10 guests

Includes

• exclusive, luxury accommodation for 6 nights/7days
• all meals and drinks
• all camp activities
• 1x shamanic healing session
• 1x reiki session
• private yoga teacher
• one on one sessions with your yoga teacher
• daily yoga & meditation
• park fees & levies
• Welcoming gift

Does not include

• flights
• gratuity
• travel insurance
• optional spa treatments
• transfer from Kasane airport or Victoria Falls to and from the lodge

Optional activities

• Spa treatments

Location and how to get there

You can either fly to Kasane Airport in Botswana on the start date of the retreat, or Victoria Falls Airport a day or 2 before the retreat to visit one of the Worlds 7 Natural Wonders. Daily flights on South African Airways to Kasane & Victoria Falls Airport.

Guests flying into Victoria Falls will be collected by their accommodation on the start date of the retreat and transferred to Kasane Airport (about 2 hours drive). Guests flying into Kasane Airport will be met with the rest of the guests coming from Victoria Falls at the Airport and transferred to the Lodge (about 2.5 hours drive).

What to pack

• Yoga mat
• Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
• Comfortable clothes for yoga and the rest of the retreat
• Flip flops and closed shoes for walking
• Toiletries (basics like body wash and shampoo will be supplied + towel)
• Camera

Shop for these items in our Wellness Travel Shop.

Booking

To book this emotional and physical transformation retreat, send your enquiry to the team who will get back to you within 24 hours or email us directly on [email protected].

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