THE TRAVEL YOGI
Kenya Yoga Retreat Adventure
Trip in One Word: Bountiful
What You’ll Experience in Kenya
Bring out your inner Nat Geo explorer for this adventure! This Kenya yoga retreat adventure is the journey of a lifetime: intimate safari trips, guided walks with a naturalist, wild animal encounters, glamping, bush yoga, and baby elephants. (I know, we had you at baby elephants, but keep reading…) We’ve planned every small detail to ensure that this is the bucket list natural adventure you’ve always imagined. Experience unparalleled safaris without the “safari crowds”—while rooting yourself daily with quiet, outdoor yoga sessions. This trip combines The Travel Yogi’s greatest passions (and we bet they’re yours, too): authentic yoga, natural retreats, wildlife photography, and global travel. Savor ten full days on your Kenya yoga retreat with top guides who know how to ensure epic animal encounters, sundowners, sun-uppers, and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. We’ll tread lightly on this adventure as we experience the bounty that can only be found in Kenya.
How You’ll Experience Kenya
You’ll stay in lux private glamping camps and boutique lodges before heading off to secluded nature reserves and conservancies for awe-inspiring nature sightings and interactions. You won’t waste time with long drives between camps (we charter flights!) and everyone gets window seats on every safari drive. Time and visibility are key assets on safaris, and we make them a priority on your once-in-a-lifetime Kenya yoga retreat adventure. You’ll also enjoy a life-changing celebration with Maasai locals, while bush glamping next to a Maasai Mara Conservancy. Next, you’ll visit the baby elephants at the Sheldrick Orphanage. Bask in your elephant encounters knowing that your dollars are helping them while the elephants’ giddy, childlike nature lightens your heart.
How You’ll Feel When You Return Home
When you return from this Kenya yoga retreat adventure, you’ll feel wild and free! You will have stoked your inner explorer, witnessed the glorious presence of nature’s craziest animals, soaked up sunrises and sundowns you’ll never forget, and grown to appreciate the stillness of nature like never before. Caution: you may find yourself setting your alarm early for sunrise or practicing yoga outside to keep the dream of Kenya alive.
Adventure Details
NAIROBI
Laikipia
Masai Mara
Kenya Yoga Retreat Upcoming Dates
STAY TUNED
In the meantime check out other great Yoga Adventure locations. Join our newsletter for the latest updates and new adventure location dates.
STAY TUNED
In the meantime check out other great Yoga Adventure locations. Join our newsletter for the latest updates and new adventure location dates.
What's Included
- Ten days with a naturalist trained and approved safari guide
- Yoga while out on safari (see the full itinerary for hotel, camp and bush yoga schedule)
- Window seats for all yogi travelers in safari vehicles(!)
- Four nights exclusive boutique safari hotel in Laikipia region
- Four nights exclusive bush camp ‘glamping’ next to the Maasai Mara Conservancy
- One night in Nairobi within the Nairobi National Park grounds
- Unlimited guided day & night game drives on your Kenya yoga retreat – itinerary drives plus options during rest times
- Multiple guided safari walks
- Full meals each day including excursion picnics (excluding lunch on the final day)
- All non-alcoholic drinks
- Beer and house wines at camp and our two boutique accommodations
- Horseback & camel safari option
- Sunupper excursions
- Sundowner excursions
- Cultural excursion to the local Maasai village
- Evening celebration with Maasai locals
- A $50 per person donation (in the form of goods requested by the school) to the Mpopongi School
- Private entrance, donation & time with the baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi
- All conservancy, community & national park fees
- Final night dinner and drinks at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden
- All charter flights within Kenya
- Customs & Immigration and baggage assistance upon arrival in Nairobi (arrival/departure days only)
- Complimentary wifi our first night in Nairobi (please note that internet service is not available on safari)
What's Not Included
- Flights to Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)
- Lunch on the final day in Nairobi
- Passport & visa fees ($50US visa-on-demand in Nairobi upon arrival)
- Premium alcohol
- Optional activities
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, etc)
- Travel Insurance (required)
Kenya Yoga Retreat Accommodations
NAIROBI
Our Kenya yoga retreat adventure trip begins with a safari bang as we leave the airport and settle into the hum of nature. Begin your safari on our drive to our hotel and from your room’s verandah. The Nairobi National Park is only 7km south of Nairobi but hosts an incredible variety of animals and is one of Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries.
Laikipia Region
Mara Siana Conservancy & Maasai Mara National Park
‘Glamping’ isn’t the right term for this lux camp on this Kenya yoga retreat. All tents can accommodate one or two beds, have en suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot and cold running water and, obviously, electricity. Each room also opens out to a large verandah which looks out over the exclusive Siana Conservancy. The benefits of being on the Conservancy go far beyond the amazing animal diversity and include walking safaris led by a local Maasai warrior and the ability to attend a local market day.
Our private and secluded location and drives on the Conservancy also increase the chance of spotting a richer diversity of animals including the resident predator population of lion prides and numerous cheetahs and leopards. Glamping never looked so good!
Itinerary
Below is a sample of our Kenya yoga retreat adventure itinerary but we will augment based on wildlife movement in order to provide the best sundowners, game drive/walk times and experiences on the Mara.
1
DAY ONE
- Arrival at Jomo Kenatta International airport in Nairobi
- Assistance upon departure, through Customs & Immigration and baggage claim
- Transfer to the Emakoko Lodge through the Nairobi National Park (the safari begins!)
- Group dinner at Emakoko
- Meet up with our private guide with a briefing of the adventure ahead
2
DAY TWO
- Early morning game drive through the Nairobi National Park
- Breakfast at Emakoko
- Transfer to the airport for our charter flight to Laikipia
- Arrival lunch
- Afternoon game drive
- Evening yoga session at the open-air pool house
- Evening libations at the lodge and group dinner
3
DAY THREE
- Teas, coffees and fruit to start the morning
- Early morning yoga at the pool house
- Option of a bush/waterfall walk after practice
- Morning game drive to the tranquil Hippo Pools and breakfast in the bush
- Experienced riders can also choose to get to the Hippo Pools via horseback
- Group lunch and siesta back at the lodge
- Afternoon game drive to the Labaai River
- Early evening yoga practice
- Drinks and dinner at the lodge
4
DAY FOUR
- Teas, coffees and fruit to start the morning
- Morning yoga session
- Lodge breakfast
- Group excursion to the Samburu village
- Lunch on the veranda and a few hours to swim in the pool, the river (no crocodiles here!) or relax
- Optional river tubing if the river is high enough
- Late afternoon camel game walk to Acacia Dam – zebra & elephant watering hole
- Yoga practice in the wild at the Acacia Dam platform
- Sundowners and bush dinner under the stars
5
DAY FIVE
- Dawn arrival of teas, coffees and fruit
- Drive to Baboon Rock for sunrisers (tea and coffee while watching the sun come up)
- Guided safari walk back to the lodge and breakfast
- Late morning yoga practice
- Picnic lunch and swimming on the river
- Afternoon tea and early evening game drive
- Evening yoga practice in the bush
- Farewell to Laikipia dinner at the lodge
6
DAY SIX
- Morning tea, coffee and fruit
- Morning yoga session at the open-air pool house
- Full lodge breakfast
- Morning game walk
- Depart for our charter flight to Siana Mara Conservancy
- Game drive transfer to our ‘glamping’ camp adjacent the Maasai Mara
- Lunch and orientation
- Early afternoon yoga session
- Afternoon game drive on the Conservancy
- Sundowners overlooking the savannah
- Night game drive
- Dinner at camp
7
DAY SEVEN
- Early (5:15am) teas, coffees and fruit to wake up
- Full day game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve – breakfast and lunch in the bush
- Late afternoon return to camp to relax
- Early evening yoga session
- Campfire sundowners
- Dinner at camp
8
DAY EIGHT
- Morning tea, coffee and fruit
- Morning yoga practice
- Game walk with brunch in the bush
- Visit to the local school
- Each retreater has a donation to the school and students built-in with their retreat cost
- Afternoon snacks at camp
- Late afternoon yoga session
- Walk to the local Maasai village
- Game drive to sundowners on the savannah
- Dinner at camp
9
DAY NINE
- Morning tea, coffee and fruit
- Early ‘sunupper’ to watch the early morning wildlife
- Morning game drive on the Conservancy & morning yoga on the savannah
- Optional game walk back to camp and a late breakfast
- Breakfast back at camp
- Full day game hike – multiple sighting possibilities as we hike along the plains, riverbeds and hill tops
- Camp lunch
- Afternoon yoga session
- Sundowners and bush dinner under the stars
- Evening celebration with the Maasai
10
DAY TEN
- Morning tea, coffee and fruit
- Morning yoga practice at camp
- Breakfast at camp
- Final bush walk
- Depart for our charter flight back to Nairobi
- Transfer to the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden or optional shopping at Marula Studios
- Private entrance and viewing at the Elephant Orphanage
- Early final group dinner – hugs, loves and goodbyes
- Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for flights home
TESTIMONIALS
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll be flying into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. You will want your fight to come in no later than 5pm on Day 1 so that you don’t miss our first group dinner. If you’d like to come in a day early to acclimate, please let us know and we’ll help you get a pre-night booked. *Please note that transfers are only included if you are staying at a hotel pre-booked through The Travel Yogi for pre and post stays.*
A valid passport and a tourist visa is required for U.S. citizens traveling to Kenya. All passports must be valid for at least six months AFTER your expected return date to the U.S. Please check your passport expiration date, and, if your passport will expire within six months of your return date you must have your passport renewed, no exceptions. In addition, when traveling to East Africa, all passports must have at least two consecutive blank pages for each country you plan to visit (not including endorsement pages). Pages must lie side by side when the passport is open (i.e. a left and a right hand page). We highly recommend that you also have two extra consecutive blank pages in case regulations change or your itinerary is rerouted for any reason. If you are a non-U.S. citizen, it is imperative that you check with your local authorities regarding documents required for entry into Kenya/East Africa. Entry requirements for your specific country may be different from those previously listed and it is the traveler’s sole responsibility to ensure that they have proper and correct entry documentation. Please note that entry information can change so please visit the State Department’s website for up to date information.
Yup, but it’s easy. Single entry tourist visas are $50USD (amount subject to change at any time without notice). Unless you are extending your stay in Kenya beyond our itinerary, you will only need a Single-Entry Visa. As of September 2015, all travelers are requested to process their visas via the Kenyan government’s new e-visa service. Getting your visa ahead of time will greatly expedite your arrival in Nairobi and will quickly get you out of the hustle and bustle of the airport. All travelers are strongly urged to use this new service to process their entry visa. Because the online option is new, Kenya will still accommodate the purchasing of visas in the Nairobi airport upon arrival. Visas must be paid for in CASH (U.S. dollars only) so please make sure that you have enough money on hand upon arrival to cover this expense. If you choose to purchase your visa upon arrival, there is no application to fill out; you will simply need to fill out a form at the airport and present it with your passport, appropriate cash amount and your landing card, which will be distributed on the plane before arrival. Passport-style photos are not required for Kenyan visas purchased upon arrival as your picture will be taken by immigration officials. Again, if you are a non-U.S. citizen, it is imperative that you check with your local authorities regarding documents required for entry into Kenya/East Africa. Entry requirements for your specific country may be different from those previously listed and it is the traveler’s sole responsibility to ensure that they have proper and correct entry documentation. Please note that entry information can change so please visit the State Department’s website for up to date information.
Wow, just about everything! This is a big adventure and we’ve got you covered from a lux hotel in Nairobi on National Park grounds (to start the adventure off with a bang), expert guides for the best animal viewing and best information, amazing yoga (of course), private group time at the Elephant Orphanage and the coolest glamping safari tents you’ve ever seen. We’re hitting the best spots with the smallest group to experience the absolute best of Kenya. Scroll up to “What’s Included” to get all the good stuff. We’ve even got your evening cocktails included on this one…. sundowners anyone?
Oooh, the fun part! You can bank on elephants seeing as how we have a private entry to the elephant orphanage and out in the wild, although we can’t guarantee any one species specifically, you should draw your list up to include:
- Giraffes
- Zebras
- Elephants
- Wildebeest
- Antelope
- Lions
- Rhinos
- Hippos
- Gazelles
- Ostriches
- Cheetahs
- Hyenas
- and on and on and on… this is Africa after all!!
The main supply of electrical current in Kenya is 220 volts (compared to 110 volts in the U.S.). You will require a converter to reduce the voltage and an adaptor to plug anything in. Many electronics are now dual voltage which would negate the need for a converter, but please double check any electronic item you wish to bring. Electrical sockets in Kenya accept plug types G and M. Please bring those two plug adaptors with you to charge your items. Please note that our camps generate their own electricity through solar panels or generators while out on safari (generators will only be turned on while we are out on game drives so that camps will be quiet upon our return). Hairdryers and electric razors cannot be used while on safari.
Yes! Without a doubt. Our yoga retreat and safari goes to remote locations (that’s the point, right?) and, as such, travel insurance is required for this adventure. Once you are booked we will send you a link to a travel insurance group that we know and trust but you can use any travelers insurance company. Please note that we will require proof of your insurance before you depart and you must carry the proof with you to Kenya.
When we are in Nairobi, yup, there will be internet access. When we are out on safari our glamping location does have a wifi tent, but connection can be spotty and unpredictable so please plan accordingly when deciding whether or not to bring your laptops/wifi electronics.
Our camps will provide plenty of fresh and filtered drinking water. You will want to bring a reusable water bottle with you for daily use and while out on walks and drives. Please note that plastic water bottles are NOT recycled in Africa so it is important to avoid using them when possible.
Please do plan on brining your mat and any accessories you’ll need for your individual practice. We’ll provide amazing locations and views for yoga but we will need you to bring your mat.
This trip is fully itinerized leaving only minimal time unscheduled. We will be moving and exploring so much that we recommend you chill out and relax when there is downtime. The one exception is the hot air balloon ride option that does fill up early. You would miss a day of safari, but it is a beautiful experience. If you are interested, please contact The Travel Yogi well ahead of time to discuss the cost and logistics for booking.
An extensive recommended packing list will be sent out to booked yogis. A good camera, binoculars and sturdy walking shoes are a must. Plenty of other necessities and recommendations will follow all bookings and The Travel Yogi team is always here to answer any questions!
Kenya requires a Yellow Fever vaccine for all international travelers coming from Yellow Fever endemic countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. This includes stopping in one of these countries for a layover of 12 hours or more or if you leave the airport vicinity. If you will be arriving into the international airport in Kenya directly from a European country or staying for less than 12 hours and not exiting the airport, a Yellow Fever vaccine is not required at this time. However, requirements can change at any time without notice so we recommend that all travelers get the vaccine regardless. This precaution will minimize the likelihood of being denied entry and will guarantee you are covered in the event of a last minute change to requirements and/or itinerary rerouting. Other immunizations should be discussed with your personal physician prior to departing for Africa.
Yes! Of course. Once you’re booked you’ll receive an email with important logistical information and a link to your invoice. You can pay any amount at any time on the invoice; you can use it as a payment plan or leave it alone until the final due date. Remember that deposits are non-refundable so, on all trips, we recommend purchasing travel insurance.
