Kenya·7 - 13 December 2024
A once-in-a-lifetime experience in a private safari lodge; complete with daily game drives + awe-inducing moments!
If you've always wanted to visit East Africa or go on a safari, but you didn't know where to start on researching and planning -- here's your chance to make those dreams a reality without all the work! - Group Size: 15-17 Guests - Luxury Score: 3.5 (out of 5) - Activity Score: 3 (out of 5) - Lots of excursions, but not high physical activity levels needed - Cuisine: Omnivore (some meat + fish offered) Imagine waking up to the African sun filtering into your luxury safari cottage. With cup of coffee in hand, you walk to our open-air yoga platform and move through a slow flow yoga class. After yoga and breakfast we'll spend much of our days on our safari game drives in 4x4 vehicles with our expert guides at the helm. They'll help us find and learn about some of Africa's favorite wildlife: lions, elephants, rhinos, zebra and more! Our days end with sundowners (cocktails on the plains) or drinks around the fire back at the lodge. Our home for the week is on the property of one of Kenya's top non-profit conservancies and we'll even get to meet those working hard behind the scenes to bring back the Northern White Rhinos from the brink of extinction. Part of your retreat cost ($660) is a donation direct to the conservancy. The weather will be highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s - perfect safari weather!
Our quiet, remote retreat venue is held exclusively for Above Yoga Retreat guests and is set on an expansive property within one of Kenya's best Conservancies. You'll love the laidback atmosphere paired with eco-friendly luxury, superior service and views of lush landscapes. Get back to nature and be one with the wild. Laundry and butler service included.
Every full day on retreat will include at least one game drive through the Conservancy, which entails riding in our open-top safari vehicles with our private guides on hand to help you learn about the area's wildlife. While no one can guarantee specific animal sightings, you're likely to have close encounters with zebras, giraffes, lions, antelopes, elephants and rhinos.
Enjoy invigorating lovingly cultivated yoga classes 1-2x a day on our open-air yoga platform, overlooking a river that is often visited by the local (wildlife, that is)! All Above Yoga retreats have 2-3 certified instructors to provide a variety of teaching styles. Class types range from vinyasa, to slow flow, to yin and gentle. Mats are provided.
A portion of every guests' retreat fees will be given back to the Conservancy (more than $650 per person). The Conservancy is instrumental in protecting endangered species, pioneering successful anti-poaching efforts, providing hundreds of jobs and giving back to the local community.
All your delicious, healthy meals are included. From made-to-order breakfasts at our private safari lodge like like veggie omelets to epic brunches set up out on the plains... you'll never be hungry for variety of cuisine or atmosphere. Both meat and vegetarian options are available with western and African influences throughout.
If getting away from modern life is on your agenda, there's no better place to tap back into the natural rhythms of the world than remote Africa. You'll enjoy sunrises with exotic bird calls, sunsets with zebras in the distance and star gazing at night that's unspoiled by ambient light. Sleep well and wake ready to start your adventure all over again.
No safari is complete without sundowners. What's a sundowner? Think a mobile happy hour set up for you on the plains after another amazing game drive. Your cocktail order is in hand as you sit back and watch the sun drop down (which happens fast on the Equator!) It's the perfect way to regal your fellow retreat goers with stories from the bush. All alcoholic beverages are included in the retreat cost.
With the help of their caretakers, you'll be able to have an up-close encounter with the last two Northern White Rhinos on earth and learn how the conservancy and scientists around the world are working to bring this animal back from the brink of extinction. It's truly an awe-inducing experience.
Each Above Yoga retreat has an on-site leader(s) and certified yoga teachers who will be present to facilitate the retreat. We find that an opportunity to participate in a variety of classes with various teaching styles adds to our guests’ overall retreat experience. Leaders and teachers are subject to change without notice.
Anna is Above Yoga's Chief Zen Officer and lead yoga instructor. Anna handles all retreat planning and logistics. She aims to hold space for others to experience personal growth, transformation and community through wellness travel. She loves to teach yin, slow flow and moderately paced vinyasa flows that are accessible to every level of student but that offer challenges in an inclusive and warm environment. She currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
Kevé is completing her 200 hour YTT in 2023 in her current town of Salt Lake City, UT. You can expect an accessible and fun yoga class when she is teaching - think chill flows with a hip hop soundtrack. Kevé is no stranger to far-flung destinations and long flights as she has been on retreat with Above Yoga to Cambodia (2x) and Marrakech, Morocco!
Kat is an advanced 500 hour trained yoga instructor. Her yoga and love for travel has taken her across the world to places like Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Caribbean. In addition to her yoga training, Kat has studied holistic nutrition extensively and is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She is the owner of the stunning new Haven Yoga studio in Bakersfield, CA. Kat has also taught on our Coastal Morocco and Croatia retreats.
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DAY 1
*Everything on our retreats is 100% optional. While all meals and excursions are included in the price, your attendance at scheduled activities is neither expected or required, so feel free to create as much free time as you'd like in order to read, nap, journal, etc.
Yoga Class(es)
Safari Drive(s)
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Alcoholic Beverages
Private transfer from Nairobi to retreat location
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (all meals!)
Curated yoga classes (1-2x daily)
Daily safari game drives with expert guides
Unlimited filtered water, coffee and tea
Beer, wine and cocktails
Rhino conservancy visit + excursion
A $650 donation (per guest) to the conservancy
Laundry service at safari lodge
A pre-retreat Zoom meeting and private Facebook group
A mobile-friendly secure web app for use on retreat
A detailed itinerary, packing list and constant support leading up to and during the retreat
Flights to Nairobi, Kenya
Any pre or post retreat stays in Kenya
Kenya visa (approx $50 USD)
Gratuity for lodge staff and safari guides
PAY ONLY $902 DEPOSIT
Shared accommodations (three twins), Private en-suite bathroom, Living room and outdoor verandah space
Shared accommodations (three twins)
Private en-suite bathroom
Living room and outdoor verandah space
FROM$4,510.00/pp
PAY ONLY $1042 DEPOSIT
Shared accommodations (two twins or one king), Private en-suite bathroom, Living room and outdoor verandah space
Shared accommodations (two twins or one king)
FROM$5,210.00/pp
VIEW GALLERY
Once-in-a-lifetime experience
Our venue is the perfect mix of luxury (huge rooms, 24/7 staff) and yet gives you the feeling of being one with nature! You'll enjoy expansive living spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms. Enjoy the vibe of outdoor living? Unzip yourself in the morning and step onto your huge verandah.
Ahead of travel, you will need to get a Kenyan visa (approx $50 USD). Plan to fly into Nairobi, Kenya (NBO - Jomo Kenyatta International). There will be a one-time private retreat transfer service from Nairobi to the retreat property on the conservancy near Nanyuki, Kenya at approximately 8:00 am on the first day of the retreat. We HIGHLY recommend that you fly into Nairobi at least one daily early in order to make sure you can ride with the group (otherwise arrival to the retreat property will be at your own expense and effort). Please note that the drive from Nairobi to the retreat property is approximately 3.5 - 4 hours. Return flights from Nairobi onwards after the retreat should not depart until after 10:00 pm on the final day (or plan to stay the night and depart the next morning). Recommended hotels for overnights in Nairobi will be shared after booking.
A 20% deposit is required to secure your booking. The remaining 80% can be paid at your leisure and in any increments, as long as it is paid off at least 90 days before the trip (reminders will be sent). Please note our Terms & Conditions before booking for more information on cancellation policies and liability waiver, you will be asked to agree to them when checking out. https://www.aboveyoga.com/terms/terms_and_conditions
We HIGHLY recommend you take out comprehensive travel health insurance. Please also keep the remoteness of the area in mind if you have pre-existing health concerns as the nearest hospitals and medical facilities are a great distance away. You should meet with your doctor or visit a travel health clinic well ahead of travel to determine if there are any vaccines they recommend and to help you decide if you wish to take anti-malaria medications. The retreat center is at high elevation and therefore not susceptible to malaria, but Nairobi is more malaria prone, so it may be recommended if you plan to spend time there. .
Our retreat villa is in a remote area of Kenya, so the nearest towns, small shops or restaurants are more than 45 min - 1 hour away. The activities and focus of this retreat will center around the conservancy, wildlife and getting back to nature. There are no TVs, hair dryers are not allowed (surge on power grid) and the WiFi provided is accessed through shared hot spots that will allow for basic messaging. If constant stimulation or "always on connectedness" is your preferred vacation style, this is likely not a good retreat for you.
While it may seem counter-intuitive given we will be right next to the Equator, the weather in Kenya (especially at altitude) is not always hot. It also varies dramatically from day to night. Daily highs in June will be in the mid to upper 70s or low 80s with mostly bright sunny days, low humidity and always the chance for a passing shower. It will be cooler in the morning and evenings (50s and 60s). Your pre-retreat packing list will have more information, but plan on packing lots of comfy layers you can shed as the day warms up. The rooms are not heated or cooled, but a warm hot water bottle awaits you in your bed each evening if you'd like one, or you can unzip the front of your room to expose mesh screens and let the fresh breezes inside.
This is a family owned safari cottage property with superior local staff that also operates as a retreat venue. Given the limited number of rooms and bed configurations, there is no option to have your own room on this retreat. The rooms themselves are extremely large, with separate sitting areas indoors and on your expansive verandah. There's an option to have your own bed in shared accommodations as desired. There is also plenty of space across the grounds to spread out during the day for alone time!
There are no words for the beauty, warmth and serenity at the cottages. Every staff person, chef, guide, guard, laundry person went so far above and beyond what is expected and made us feel that our visit was special not only to us, but to them as well. Peter’s astronomy lessons, Jimmy’s big morning coffee smile, all 3 guides wild life knowledge, the freshest laundry ever are just a few things that still make us smile all these miles away. The food was delicious and creative and too tempting for my own good at every meal. One of my favorite things is that there were so many varied and different experiences. Every game drive was different and trips to the weavers, dog trackers and rhino sanctuary balanced out the drives. There is not one single thing that could be improved upon.
Louise, West End, NC (Kenya 2024 Retreat)
EVERYTHING was superb! I had HIGH expectations but the whole experience far exceeded my expectations. The accommodations at the retreat were so beautiful and in keeping with the surroundings, the staff was so warm and welcoming and we all immediately felt so close to them, the safari experience itself was filled with luck and chance and some sort of kismet with the universe. I felt like our group put out abundant energy and the universe gave it right back to us! Not to mention the fresh food, daily laundry service and the hottest shower water! Even hot water bottles in our beds at night to keep us toasty and in the morning in the jeep if it was a cool morning. DETAILS MATTER and all the details were covered. Also, the best Arnold palmer I have ever had every night at our sundowner. Seriously....what an experience. It makes me get teary just thinking about it.....
Kelly, Milwaukee, WI (Kenya 2024 Retreat)
I know I say this about all of my Above Yoga experiences, but this truly was the trip of a lifetime with an amazing group of travelers! There were several instances where I felt pure gratitude for the experience. The people at the cottages will always have a place in my heart as well. The trip to the spinners & weavers in Nanyuki was amazing. The guides and the staff at the cottages were spectacular. It was mind-blowing how close we were able to get to the animals and we always felt safe with our guides. Thank you Anna for organizing such an special trip!
Kate, Indianapolis, IN (Kenya 2023 Retreat)
Kenya·7 - 13 December 2024·6 nights
FROM$5210/pp
Join the waiting list and we will let you know if a spot becomes available.