Kenya·5 - 11 November 2023
A once-in-a-lifetime experience staying in a private safari lodge; complete with daily game drives + awe-inducing moments!
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. 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! 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 is a donation direct to the conservancy. - Group Size: 10-14 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) *Please note we are requiring proof of COVID vaccination (including boosters) AND a pre-retreat negative test for all 2023 retreat guests*
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.
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.
A portion of every guests' retreat fees will be given back to the Conservancy (more than $500 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 on hand and all you have to do is 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!
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.
Along with a retreat leader, each Above Yoga retreat has at least two certified yoga teachers on-site who will lead a portion of the classes and support students in their practice. We also often bring in local guest teachers for a class or two! We find that an opportunity to participate in a variety of classes with various teaching styles adds to our guests’ overall retreat experience.
Tom is a staple in the Above Yoga world! He teaches a variety of yoga styles - Yin, Restorative and Hatha - that are safe, meditative and appropriate for any level of practitioner. You can also always count on a good laugh in one of his classes! When he's not traveling or teaching yoga, Tom is a professor and leadership development coach at Illinois State University. Tom has also been a co-leader and co-teacher on our Croatia and Ireland retreats.
Katie is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and runs her own therapy practice. She specializes in Restorative and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and has been teaching it for 5+ years. She loves the restorative style of practice as it compliments her passion for helping others work through anxiety and stress. She's also the host of a podcast called "Healing Charlotte." Katie has also been on retreat with us to Ireland, the South of France, Morocco, Panama and Mexico.
Valerie is based out of Oregon after a stint in Charlotte, NC where she taught at NoDa Yoga. She specializes in yin yoga (long, slow holds that get deep into the connective tissues). She has also joined Above Yoga in Cambodia and the South of France as a retreat guest and co-teacher.
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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
Guided journaling workshop(s)
Rhino conservancy visit + excursion
Additional excursion(s) in the area
Laundry service at safari lodge
A $500+ donation to the conservancy per guest
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
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 Nov 5, 2023. We HIGHLY recommend that you fly into Nairobi at least one daily early (landing on Nov 4) in order to make sure you can ride with the group the morning of the 5th (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 Nov 11, 2023 (or plan to stay the night and depart the next morning). Recommended hotels for overnights in Nairobi will be shared after booking.
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. In addition to providing Above Yoga with your full COVID vaccination documentation (including booster), you should meet with your doctor or visit a travel health clinic well ahead of travel to determine if there are any other 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 November will be in the low to mid 70s 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!
Above Yoga has changed my outlook on yoga retreats! Yoga retreats seemed inaccessible to a novice yogi. But that all changed from the moment I learned about the way Anna builds her retreats. There is yoga, and free time built, but also carefully curated excursions. There is no way you will regret gifting yourself the time away. I came home feeling refreshed, rested, and ready to dive back into my day-to-day.
Angela, Charlotte, NC (Mexico 2022 Retreat)
This retreat well surpassed any expectation I had going into it. Anna's attention to every aspect of the experience is second to none. From the moment you arrive, it is obvious that she has done her homework on the retreat location, activities that appeal to everyone's interests, is well versed in local culture, and is prepared to offer a grade A hospitality experience. Whether you are a yoga instructor or have never practiced, Anna's retreats are for everyone. Going into it I felt that the retreat was a little out of my comfort zone, but the people that Anna surrounds herself with are just as welcoming as she is. Phenomenal all around experience start to finish. I cannot praise her efforts enough!
Shannon, Charlotte, NC (Ireland 2018 Retreat)
Anna's attention to every detail is beyond compare! From the moment we booked our retreat, her communication with us was timely and just the right amount. I felt comfortable upon arrival, at every excursion, to our departure. The schedule was clear and organized but also allowed for a lot of flexibility and spontaneity - a great balance for a retreat/vacation. Anna's calm energy was also super-appreciated. Truly excellent!
Sarah, Milwaukee, WI (Mexico 2021 Retreat)
This was a very well designed retreat, on top of being the best vacation I have ever had. Getting to meet the other participants over Zoom was one thing that set this retreat apart- it helped get me excited to spend the week with an awesome group! Anna's emails in the months leading up to the trip were immensely helpful, and they were very detailed. I do not travel very much so the level of detail provided was huge, and made me feel like I had all of my "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed before heading overseas.
Megan, Denver, CO (France 2022 Retreat)
Villa was amazing, perfect space. The meals were amazing, the events organized as well. Anna you have a real niche for this. The experience was memorable. My wife and I already miss it.
Brandon, Los Angeles, CA (Mexico 2021 Retreat)
The planning and organization were excellent - unlike any event I attended. The mobile app was great to have a quick glimpse of schedule multiple times a day.
Vijay, Northville, MI (Dominican 2021 Retreat)
Anna is prompt in communication. I really appreciated her keeping in contact with us during COVID. She was always open to being asked questions. The retreat venue felt like paradise. The staff we interacted with were very welcoming. I only attended one yoga class and never felt any type of pressure to do more. I can’t wait to go back.
Lori, Winston-Salem, NC (Mexico 2021 Retreat)
Kenya·5 - 11 November 2023·6 nights
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