A Safari had been on my bucket list for years and in 2017 I checked off that box during our Safari retreat in Kenya. Our time spent in Kenya did NOT disappoint so I’m extremely excited to announce that we are headed back to The Safari Cottages, a family run establishment on the edge of Ol Pejeta Conservancy this March! Take my word for it {and watch our Kenya travel diary} - this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity that you won't ever forget. This yoga retreat is for people who want adventure without sacrificing luxury and the comforts of home. The yoga program is suitable for all levels, and we will practice both powerful vinyasa to build strength and endurance, as well as slow, restorative yoga to work on flexibility and relaxation. This yoga retreat will sell out, so sign up asap!
Our bonfire area
Who is this for?
This retreat is for anyone looking for a luxe travel adventure with a side of yoga in the company of fellow YBCers - people who are interested in health and wellness, but are not about to sacrifice coffee, chocolate, or a glass of wine or two at night!
What is it?
Our Kenya Safari Yoga Retreat is a 7 night adventure with a specially curated yoga program for the five senses.
Where
This will take place at the Safari Cottages at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
When will it take place?
March 3rd - March 10th 2019.
Some pictures from last year:
On the plains at our Safari Yoga Retreat
Breakfast in the Bush
A little post breakfast yoga at our Kenya Safari Yoga Retreat
Yoga with a serious view at our Kenya Safari Yoga Retreat
Baby Hyena
Mama and baby rhino
98 Likes, 1 Comments - Team YBC (@ybcsneakpeek) on Instagram: "Safari lunch 🙌🏽 #ybckenya #ybcretreat"
Lion tracking was a success!
Luxe Accommodations in the Bush
Each cottage has a sitting room and two bedrooms with en suite bathroom.
Each bedroom has two beds (this one is just pushed together for couples), and en suite bathroom
Each cottage has a patio with ample seating if you want to relax and take in the sights just outside your door
Kenya Safari Yoga Retreat Schedule:
Day 1: 3/03/2019
Arrive in Nairobi at any time. Our driver will pick you up at the airport and bring you to The Crowne Plaza Nairobi. There is no yoga today, as this is a travel day. Settle in, shower, relax. The following morning, we will all depart for Ol Pejeta. Note that while your hotel room for this night is included in our price, the food is not included while at Crowne Plaza Nairobi.
Day 2: 3/04/2019
7:00 am: Breakfast *please have your bags packed and ready to leave directly after breakfast
8:30 am: Leave for Ol Pejeta Conservancy
2:00 pm: Arrive at Ol Pejeta Entrance Gate
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Game drive through the park on the way to the cottages
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Sense of Smell: Gentle Yoga and Guided Meditation with Aromatherapy
7:00 pm: Bonfire Welcome Circle, intention setting and a pre-dinner drink
7:30 pm: Dinner
Day 3: 3/05/2019
6:30 am - 9:30 am: Sunrise game drive
9:30 am: Bush breakfast
11:30 am - 12:45 pm: Sense of Touch: Partner Strength Building for Yoga and Yoga Practice
1:30 pm: Lunch
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Kenyan Cooking Class
7:30pm: Dinner
Day 4: 3/06/2019
6:30 am - 9:30 am: Sunrise game drive
9:30 am: Breakfast at the cottages
11:00 am: Bush Walk
1:30 pm: Lunch
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Sense of Hearing: Guided Meditation followed by Arm Balance Workshop
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Bonfire Sun Downer
7:30 pm: Dinner
8:30 pm: Optional Night Game Drive
Day 5: 3/07/2019
6:30 am - 9:30 am: Sunrise game drive
9:30 am: Bush Breakfast
10:45 am - 12:00 pm: Sense of Sight: Blindfold Yoga Practice
12:30 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Depart for Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers
7:30 pm: Dinner
Day 6: 3/08/2019
6:30 am - 9:30 am: Sunrise Game Drive / Lion Tracking for Group 1
9:30 am: Bush Breakfast
10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Jane Goodall Chimp Sanctuary Visit // Optional Yoga - Sense of Taste: a relaxing yoga practice with a calming drink
1:30 pm: Lunch
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Game Drive / Lion Tracking for Group 2
7:00 pm: Bonfire Sundowner
7:30 pm: Dinner
Day 7: 3/09/2019
6:30 am - 9:30 am: Game Drive / Lion Tracking for Group 3
9:30 am: Bush Breakfast
11:45 am - 1:00 pm: All 5 Senses: Handstand Yoga Workshop
1:30 pm: Lunch
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Final sunset game drive
7:00 pm: Final Group Dinner
Day 8: 3/10/2019
6:30 am: Depart for Nairobi Airport
About the Venue:
The Safari Cottages are a family run establishment on the edge of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Ol Pejeta Conservancy consists of 90,000 acres of pure wilderness and offers an incredibly uncrowded environment in which to enjoy top quality game viewing. It straddles the equator on the Laikipia Plateau, nestled between the Mighty Mount Kenya and the Aberdares Mountain range, and is East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary. It also hosts large numbers of elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard and plains game. Within the conservancy there are also a number of rarer Northern species such as Grevy’s zebra, Jacksons hartebeest, Beisa Oryx and reticulated giraffe.
Each of the three cottages has two ensuite bedrooms. The beds have been designed in a way that they can be converted to double or single. The central open plan lounge and dining area is large and comfortable with a big fireplace, which your butler can start for you, if you'd like. All rooms open out onto an extensive veranda which stretches the entire length of the cottage and provides an uninterrupted view of the surrounding wilderness onto the river. Twenty four hour power is supplied through an environmentally friendly solar system.
About Kenya & FAQ:
Kenya sits squarely on the equator. However, when traveling to The Safari Cottages in Kenya’s central highlands you will find temperatures ranging from 95 degrees fahrenheit during the day, to 23 degrees fahrenheit at night. Obviously, this is a huge difference and we suggest you pack accordingly. Evenings and early mornings are downright chilly. Bring gloves, a hat, and lots of layers you can peel away, because by midday you'll be warm.
Health: Before traveling it is recommended you speak with your doctor about the necessary vaccinations and anti-malarials that you may need before embarking on your trip. Standard vaccinations include tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis A, but those are entirely up to you. If you are traveling from a Southern African country, make sure to check the latest advice on carrying yellow fever certificates. If you are coming from the US or Europe, you don't need a yellow fever certificate. As some of these vaccinations are a series of injections, make sure you visit your doctor well in advance.
Mosquitoes & Malaria The Safari Cottages are located on Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau and at their high altitude, malaria is very uncommon. However, they highly recommend taking a course of anti-malarials if you plan on traveling to other parts of Kenya.
Drinking Water In Kenya, water from the taps is often untreated or tastes unpleasant, so it is recommended that you only drink from sealed bottled water, which is available at almost all stores, airports and camps. Drinking water will be provided for you at our retreat.
Money: The currency of Kenya is the Kenya Shilling, often written as KSH or with a /= symbol at the end of a figure. When shopping in Kenya you will often hear “four hundred bob” or “one thousand bob.” ‘Bob’ is a term carried over from colonial times. It is a word that the English used to use for a shilling. Most hotels and shops will accept US Dollars but please note that only US$ notes newer than 2003 will be accepted. Kenya shillings will be needed for your personal expenses such as souvenir shopping, eating out in Nairobi, any excursion fees if you decide on an outing while in Nairobi and buying drinks and snacks at airports. We recommend you change a number of your dollars to shillings at the start of your trip so that you have both currencies in hand. You can do this at the airport.
Safety: For the majority of your safari, you will be enjoying the country’s rich wildlife. Although you may come close to them, remember that these animals are all in fact wild, and although you have no reason to fear, you do need to show them, their families and their personal space respect. The Safari Cottages are fenced off in order to dissuade large game from entering, especially during the day. Safety precautions will be outlined for you on arrival and it is essential that you comply with these. While on your game drives and walks, it is essential to observe animals quietly with as little disturbance as possible and never try to attract their attention your way. It is also imperative to respect your guide’s judgement with regards to proximity and don’t insist he move the vehicle closer. While on the property, you will be able to walk freely to and from your cabin and the main gathering area during the day. At night you'll have a night guard walk you back and forth. This is for your safety.
Cost & What’s Included:
This trip is admittedly quite expensive compared to our other retreats, but once we're at The Safari Cottages, everything will be taken care of. We do it this way because we figured most people have never been to Kenya and it can be intimidating to travel to a place you've never visited before.
Double Occupancy: The cost per person is $4,995. The rooms are shared, with en suite bathrooms. Each cottage has two bedrooms, and each cottage comes with its own staff to ensure you're well taken care of.
What's Included:
airport pick up at Nairobi airport
transfer from airport to Crowne Plaza Nairobi
1 night accommodation at Crowne Plaza Nairobi
transfer from Crowne Plaza Nairobi to Safari Cottages
6 night accommodation at Safari Cottages in double occupancy room
all aforementioned yoga classes
guided bush walk
visit to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, founded by Jane Goodall
3 meals per day
all drinks - water, juice, and a selection of beer, wine and liquor
laundry service
each cottage has a private room steward
open top 4WD game viewing vehicle and private safari guide
conservancy fees
lion tracking fees
transfer from Safari Cottages to Nairobi airport
What’s NOT Included:
airfare
travel insurance **We can’t stress the importance of travel insurance enough
staff tips - this will be entirely up to you. We suggest $10 per day for your game driver and $10 per day to put towards the staff pool (waiters, night guard, laundry service, house keeping, etc).
personal expenses for things like souvenirs
meals at Crowne Plaza Hotel
Terms & Conditions:
You have two options for payment.
Option 1: Pay in full, $4,995. This payment is non-refundable, but it is transferrable, if you're unable to go and can find someone to take your spot.
Option 2: Payment plan. The payment plan comes with a $250 convenience fee and is as follows: Fill out the form below and add Jan(at)yogabycandace.com to your email address for instructions on how to send a $250 deposit. The deposit is non-refundable. From there, you will be sent an email link that you will use monthly to make equal payments of the full $4,995. Any payments you put towards your spot are non-refundable. A late payment will result in your spot being released. Should something come up and you are unable to go, you are not obligated to pay the remaining amount. The balance needs to be paid in full by February 3, 2019.
No reimbursement will be granted in case of early departure.
We accept no liability for loss, damage, injury or illness, which may occur during the retreat or traveling to or from the retreat.
All students are strongly recommended to have their own travel insurance to cover any loss or injury, including repatriation if necessary. It is advisable to take out travel insurance in the event that you have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.
We reserve the right to make any changes to our program, accommodation, courses or teachers. Alternative arrangements are offered to the best of our ability but if not taken up, we do not accept responsibility for any costs incurred, including airfare.
We take every step to ensure that students are not stretched beyond the limit of their capabilities. We ask that you speak up if you have any particular pre-existing injury or illness that is relevant. We advise that you always listen to your body, and if you are feeling any pain or illness during the class that you stop and rest.
Our retreats are super relaxed and laid back. You can think of them as a vacation with a side of yoga with a like-minded group of #YBCyogis. Our vibe attracts our tribe, and you can generally expect a mix of kind, open-minded people from all over the world - many of whom travel alone - who enjoy yoga and fitness, but not to the point that they would swear off coffee or turn down a chocolate dessert! While friends and couples are welcome, the majority of our participants are solo travelers. People often make fast friends, and wind up staying in touch after the retreat. Check out #YBCkenya on instagram for past photos. This retreat has limited spots, so sign up today!