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, extraordinary cultural immersion 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, local laughs 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, boutique lodges and amazing treehouses 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 prime views. 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 Samburu locals and bush glamping on a private Maasai Mara conservancy. You’ll hands-on with the baby elephants at the Sheldrick Orphanage and, lucky travelers, get to feed baby giraffes at Reteti. Bask in your animal sanctuary encounters knowing that your dollars are helping them while their 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
Samburu
Maasai Mara
Kenya Yoga Retreat Upcoming Dates
Leslie Sikes
Leslie Sikes
Leslie Sikes is a Cincinnati yoga instructor with over 15 years of teaching in studio, institutional, and private settings. She recently participated in a Travel Yogi trip to the Galapagos Islands. It truly changed her life in many ways.
Leslie teaches yoga studies for The University of Cincinnati. This curriculum allows college students to access yoga and meditation through their college career. She was the driving force behind the creation of a yoga studies certificate that consists of coursework from yoga classes through the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Medicine, and the College of Arts & Sciences – a first of its kind at the University. She also teaches yoga for the UC men’s basketball and UC women’s volleyball teams.
Leslie’s yoga training consists of 200 YTT in Ashtanga Yoga, 300 YTT in Rocket Yoga and certifications in Yin Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Mindfulness. She recently completed her 500 YTT at Modo Yoga Nicaragua and currently teaches hot yoga and workshops for Embra Yoga Cincinnati.
When it comes to teaching, Leslie’s goal is to help students use yoga to stay connected both spiritually and physically, on and off their mats. She loves music and is constantly creating new music playlists to match her teachings, which she subsequently shares with her students. Leslie currently lives in Clifton with her husband and two girls, Lila and Rose.
Leslie’s Galapagos Story
I found The Travel Yogi through the Yoga Journal as a sweepstakes to win a free yoga retreat to Iceland. While I didn’t win, I reached out to the company to see what they were all about. I’m a 42 year old yoga instructor who lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two kids, ages 14 and 11. The Galapagos Island trip had been on my bucket list since I was a little girl. I knew this was the right time in my life to travel again. I decided I should travel as a student first to see the experience from that side. I was completely blown away by my experience! The food, culture, hospitality, yoga practice, local guides of the island, and time to detach from everything at home was crucial for my mental health. I returned home recharged with a fresh outlook on life, and couldn’t wait for the next trip. I made a new group of friends as the Travel Yogi trips seem to attract open-minded, non-judgemental, diverse and friendly people! This is what inspired me to host my own yoga retreat in Panama, the beach lover’s vacation. If you’re looking for a way to detach and “replenish your soul”, come meet me in February 2024. You’ll feel recharged and full of life inside and out.
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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)
- Three nights exclusive boutique safari hotel in the Laikipia region
- Two nights luxury treehouse ‘glamping’ in Samburu
- Three nights exclusive bush camp ‘glamping’ on the Maasai Mara Conservancy
- Private game drive on conservancy land on the Mara
- One night in Nairobi within the Nairobi National Park grounds
- Cultural journey to the extraordinary Singing Wells
- Private visit to Retiti Elephant (and orphaned wildlife) Sanctuary
- 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 a local Samburu village
- Evening celebration with Samburu locals
- Active support of The Long Run conservation initiative
- 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 private 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
Our first night on safari eases us into bush life by melding the tame of comfort-lux with the wilds of Kenya’s most successful rhino sanctuary. With Mount Kenya as a stunning backdrop we’ll practice overlooking a hillside and dam where wildlife frequently gathers. Revel in the delicious food and begin to blow your camera’s memory as we head out on bush walks and game drives. Dig into Kenyan wildlife and conservation knowing that all proceeds from our stay go to the conservation efforts of the conservancy. Having earned The Long Run’s coveted GER® status, you’ll know your adventure at Borana has a positive impact on you and those you meet (four- and two-legged) along the way.
All rooms are unique in their views, layout and structure. Each room offers it’s own boutique charm, en suite bathrooms and fireplace for cozy post-adventure evenings.
SAMBURU
Sarara is a flagship community-driven ecotourism and conservation initiative. These remote treehouses nestled at the base of Warges Peak meld the worlds of conscious tourism and classic safari. The conservancy is home to 23,000 nomadic Samburu pastoralists and “The Sarara Foundation sincerely engages the indigenous Samburu community to preserve their cultural independence and build economic strength…” This community owned project allows us an unadulterated entrance to a unique cultural experience every moment of the day, as well as a chance to dwell among (or above, if they wander under your treehouse) the second largest elephant population, and largest reticulated giraffe population, in Kenya.
Each of the spacious treehouses have en suite bathrooms, solar heated outdoor showers and stunning views of the Matthews Range or Warges Peak.
Olderkesi Conservancy & Maasai Mara National Park
Our time on the Mara is another The Long Run property and the second of only nine GER® certified properties in the world. The Cottar’s tented camp grants travelers 7608-acres of private conservancy for secluded and unobstructed game viewing. With the majority of staff come from local communities, you are guaranteed cultural experiences when out on the conservancy and the Mara as well as at ‘home’. Boasting the highest number of Gold (the highest professional level) Safari Guides at one camp, you can expect to experience and learn the unexpected.
‘Glamping’ isn’t the right term for this lux camp on this Kenya yoga retreat. Having won numerous awards, including ‘Best Tented Camp in the World’, you can be assured of a luxurious home base and unprecedented service. Tents will have either one or two beds, have en suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot and cold running water. Each room also opens out to the conservancy and a one-of-a-kind canvas bath at sunset is a Cottar’s must.
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
- Get some sleep and keep your eyes out for monkeys and the super adorable rock hyrax!
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 and short drive to the hotel (keep your eyes open for rhino, impalas, zebras, etc…)
- Arrival lunch & unpack
- Mid-afternoon yoga session in the open-air tea room
- Early evening game drive and sundowners
- Evening libations at the lodge and group dinner
3
DAY THREE
- Teas, coffees and fruit to start the morning
- Early morning yoga in the tea room
- Head out on the conservancy for a morning game drive
- Staying on a private conservation ensures exclusivity on drives and maximum immersion with wildlife and in nature
- Group lunch and siesta back at the lodge
- Afternoon game drive
- Following the lead of our guide, you’ll head out to a new area of the conservancy or head back to a familiar spot based on game sightings
- Early evening yoga practice
- Drinks and dinner at the lodge
4
DAY FOUR
- Teas, coffees and fruit to start the morning
- Head out for an early morning game drive and breakfast in the bush
- Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk so heading out just after sunrise will maximize sightings and provide the unique opportunity to enjoy breakfast in the wild
- Post-drive head to the largest Permaculture project in East Africa
- Nestled along the banks of the Ngare Ndare River is the Waitabit farm, a passion project of sustainability and ecology that supports not only lodge guests, but the anti-poaching team at Borana as well
- Lunch on the veranda overlooking the neighboring hillside and river (i.e. you’re likely to have a game sighting from your lunch table!)
- Set out on foot for a bush walk to catch a glimpse of the smaller aspects of the local ecosystem
- Yoga practice in the open-air tea room
- Sundowners and farewell-to-Laikipia dinner
5
DAY FIVE
- Dawn arrival of teas, coffees and fruit
- Morning yoga practice and garden breakfast
- Pack up and drive to the airstrip for your private flight to Samburu
- Late morning arrival and drive to Sarara
- Welcome to a whole new way to see Kenya… and lunch, of course
- Afternoon siesta and mid afternoon yoga practice
- Early evening bush walk and sundowners under the stars
- Dinner at the lodge and jungle treehouse soundtrack as you sleep
6
DAY SIX
- Morning tea, coffee and fruit in your treehouse
- Morning yoga session by the pool
- Full lodge breakfast
- Morning game drive to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
- A not-to-be-missed experience, Reteti is home to orphaned elephants and other savannah animals who are nursed, cared for and released back into the wild
- Run by the local Samburu, our private entrance to Reteti gives you full access to the keepers, their amazing songs as they feed the babies and the possibility to feed a baby giraffe, if they have an orphan is there when you visit
- Game drive by Elephant Rock and back ‘home’ for lunch
- Short siesta before heading out for a drive to the unbelievable Singing Wells
- Leave your cameras and phones behind and be ready to be present
- The Singing Wells is an ancient Samburu tradition that is alive and well and amazing to be fortunate enough to witenss
- Evening dinner out in the open at the Sand River and under the stars
7
DAY SEVEN
- Early teas, coffees and yums in your treehouse to wake up
- Morning yoga poolside and a delicious final northern Kenya breakfast
- Pack up and head to the airstrip for your private flight to the gorgeous Maasai Mara
- Short drive to the private Olderkesi Conservancy
- Lunch and settle in to you glamping ‘home’
- Head out for a Mara game drive and yoga on the savannah
- Campfire sundowners
- Dinner at camp
8
DAY EIGHT
- Morning tea, coffee and biscuit tent-side wake up
- Morning yoga and breakfast
- Visit and hang-out with the kids at the Olpalagilagi Primary School
- Every safari goes to support the teachers and local kids who attent Olpalagilagi
- Sit for a lesson and partake in an informal Q&A with the kids… kids ask the best questions and they’re as interested in you as you are in them!
- Enjoy a game drive back for lunch on the conservancy
- Game-to-walk-drive
- Have your swimsuit on as you walk to the waterfalls and swimming pools
- Afternoon tea in the wild and return to camp
- Late afternoon yoga session
- Sundowners and a delicious camp dinner
9
DAY NINE
- Morning tea, coffee and wake-me-up
- Early ‘sunupper’ drive to watch the early morning wildlife and yoga on the Mara
- Brunch back at camp
- Foraging & medicinal plant walk with Letilet
- Free afternoon at camp to book a canvas bath, massage or simply relax and watch the stunning views
- Early evening yoga session
- Sundowners and bush dinner under the stars
10
DAY TEN
- Traditional morning wake-up
- Morning yoga practice at camp & breakfast
- Final bush walk & goodbye to new friends
- Depart for our charter flight back to Nairobi
- Transfer to the Karen Blixen Cottages as a day home-base in Nairobi
- Private entrance and viewing at the Elephant Orphanage & giraffe feeding at Giraffe Manor
- Chance to clean up (the ellies can get muddy) and enjoy lunch at the Cottages
- A few hours to relax or have a swim, swap photos and contact information before departure
- Early final group dinner at a wonderful local restaurant – 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.
