Price
1,002 USD
* (See price tab)
Country
South Africa
Duration
6 Nights
Dates
3 May 2023 — 9 May 2023
7 June 2023 — 13 June 2023
25 October 2023 — 31 October 2023
6 December 2023 — 12 December 2023
7 June 2023 — 13 June 2023
25 October 2023 — 31 October 2023
6 December 2023 — 12 December 2023
Safari Type
Lodge and Canvas
Location
Kids Min Age
18
Safari Rating
Find your way back to nature on this 7-day yoga safari retreat in the Selati Game Reserve. A truly unique experience, dedicated to the little things of the environment, but not forgetting the big ones. After all, all Big 5 can be met here! We combine this unique wilderness experience with a yoga retreat and practice meditation, pranayama and asanas while exploring the nature around us.
The Selati Game Reserve is a 27 000 ha Private Reserve situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa with unique biodiversity and unmatched beauty. It is the Ga-Salati River running through it which is a tributary of the Olifants River. Founded in 1993 through the collaborative effort of landowners in the area who shared a common vision, the Reserve plays a vital role in conserving and enhancing the wildlife heritage of South Africa.
The Reserve is home to the Lillie Cycad Reserve which contains the critically endangered Encephalartos dyerianos cycad, which can only be found here. Selati is a Big Five area but also has Cheetah, Black & White Rhino, Hyenas, Hippo and many more. It is also home to the biggest population of free roaming Sable antelope in Southern Africa due to a very good breeding program.
Due to vulture numbers diminishing in Southern Africa, Selati has established a vulture restaurant which feeds vultures on a regular basis, contributing to their conservation. This allows for some of the best vulture viewing opportunities in Southern Africa.
highlights
- 6 nights’ accommodation at a Tented Camp in the Selati Game Reserve
- All Big Five can be met here
- Private vehicles and activities for our small group
- Morning and afternoon activities, yoga sessions, meditation practice, pranayama and safaris on foot and by vehicle
- Small group of 8 max – along with Sabrina and Jan Hendrik as your expert hosts.
- Cycad Reserve on top of Lillie Koppie
- Archaeological Sites
- Vulture Restaurant
map and overview
Day 1 – Arrive in the Selati Game Reserve and meetup with Sabrina and Jan Hendrik to the safety briefing and to discuss the upcoming days.
Day 2 to 6 – Twice daily game viewing and yoga activities in the Selati Game Reserve with special activities like the vulture restaurant and the cycad reserve.
Day 7 – Departure from camp or transfer to Hoedspruit.
guides
Sabrina Krattinger
Yoga is a part of Sabrina’s practice for years. The feeling yoga gives her is the reason why she likes to share her practice with other people. She joined a 200h yoga teacher training in Berne, Switzerland. With it Yoga became an even more important part of her life, not only on the mat but in her daily life.
Visiting southern Africa in 2016 for the very first time Sabrina fell in love with the wild African bush and its inhabitants. Since then she regularly traveled to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and recently to Kenya. The enthusiasm for the bush led her to her Field and Trails Guide training.
Jan Hendrik Hanekom
Jan Hendrik is a passionate Professional Field Guide with over 12 years of experience in the African bush which took him to many countries across Africa.
By walking more than 2’000 hours in over 15 different Reserves and National Parks with Big Five qualified Jan Hendrik as a Professional Trails Guide and Tracker.
He has a passion for birds and flowers. Walking with Jan Hendrik is always an Adventure and his enthusiasm for the African bush is contagious.
detailed itinerary
Day 1
Guests typically arrive in Hoedspruit in the morning and will be met and collected by us at the Rock Fig Center. Followed by an hour vehicle transfer to our camp in the Selati Game Reserve. Or we meet the people directly at the gate of the Reserve.
Guests will have time to settle and freshen-up in their tents prior to a light lunch followed by a safety briefing and a talk about the program for the upcoming days – setting expectations and prepping guests for what will be an epic wildlife and yoga experience.
Then we will depart for a relaxed walk outside of camp, slowly introducing everyone to the environment and stretching our legs after a long day of travel.
After dinner we will have a fire ceremony. Fire is symbolic of change and transformation. We set a personal intention for the upcoming days we spend together.
Day 2
Our days will start early, typically before sunrise, for a meditation practice and a cup of coffee/tea and some cereals prior to meet for our Game Walk. This walk will focus on the introduction of
Selati, the Savanna Biome and the vegetation in this area. We will explain to you the walking technique and the way of finding and approaching animals.
Potential target mammal species in the Selati Game Reserve include: leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, hyena, zebra, giraffe, warthog, waterbuck, chacma baboon, vervet monkey and nyala.
Eventually, we will slow down from chasing down the larger, rarer iconic mammals as we start to focus more on the birdlife and other creatures that call this reserve home.
Target bird species are far too numerous to mention them all, but a few specials include: Greyhooded Kingfisher, Western Osprey, Lappet-faced Vulture, Thick-billed Cuckoo and many more species.
The morning game walks are typically 4-5 hours in duration and consist of a mid-way breakfast break in a nice spot.
Arriving back in camp you will have a chance to return to your rooms and freshen up briefly before a well-deserved lunch around 1pm.
There is then a break during mid-day. You can use this break to relax, to cool down in the splash pool, to read a book or just to observe the animals that pass by in camp.
In the afternoon at around 3 or 4pm we start with a pranayama practice, inhaling the fresh air of the wilderness, followed by a yoga session. Those sessions throughout the week are dedicated to a specific topics. After our session tea and snacks are waiting for you.
After our practice you have time to rest and freshen up prior to dinner and discussions on the next day’s program.
Any changes or additions to the daily routine will be discussed on a day to day bases.
Day 3
As every day we start this day again with a meditation, coffee and tea before we start our morning game walk. On this walk we will teach you different tracks and how to track an animal. If we find fresh tracks we will start following the animal and try to find it.
In the afternoon is another asana practice waiting for you.
After dinner we will have an astronomy talk, where we introduce you to the stars of the southern hemisphere.
Any changes or additions to the daily routine will be discussed on a day to day bases.
Day 4
After coffee and tea we will leave early morning with the vehicle towards the area of an archaeological site. The last stretch we will walk on foot to explore the hill and its surroundings.
After a meditation session on top of the hill we will have our breakfast while enjoying the view.
This place is normally a good area to spot elephants, rhinos and lions.
In the afternoon we will have another pranayama and asana practice.
Any changes or additions to the daily routine will be discussed on a day to day bases.
Day 5
We meet each other early morning for our meditation session while the wilderness around us is waking up. You find coffee and tea ready before we head out for a beautiful bush walk. Today we are focusing on the animal behavior.
There will be another yoga session in the afternoon. After dinner we will head out for a night game drive. We drive with a spotlight searching for some nocturnal creatures. These can include: leopard, lion, genet, civit, various mongoose species, bush babies and much more.
Any changes or additions to the daily routine will be discussed on a day to day bases.
Day 6
After our early morning cup of coffee and some cereals we drive towards the Cycad reserve and stop at the bottom of Lillie Koppie. We will then walk on top, where we visit the ancient cycads and learn more about them. On top of the Koppie on those big rocks we find ourselves a beautiful spot for a guided meditation. Then while enjoying the amazing view we will have our breakfast break.
In the afternoon we will have another pranayama and asana practice.
Any changes or additions to the daily routine will be discussed on a day to day bases.
Day 7
Today marks the end of our trip and will start with a last meditation practice early morning and a full cooked breakfast prior to our departure.
accommodation
price
2023
Safari Tent with en-suite bathroom – single use: R 23’000
Safari Tent with en-suite bathroom – shared: R 19’000
Minimum of 3 – Maximum of 8
Included
- Accommodation as stated above.
- All meals.
- Water, tea, coffee and juices.
- Entrance fee and excursions during these days.
Excluded
- Flights and airport taxes.
- Pre and post safari accommodation and transfers to Selati Game Reserve.
- Other drinks at the Camp.
- Gratuities.
- Items of personal nature (telephone expenses, curios, medicines etc).
- Entery Visa Fees.
- Bank Charges.
additional information
Expectations
- The camp is unfenced and situated within wildlife areas with all sorts of creatures venturing through.
- Expect warm to hot temperatures during the day with cold to very cold nights
- Charging facilities available throughout
- As with any tour, unfortunately we cannot control the weather or indeed the wildlife. The itinerary will be flexible to make the most of the weather and any target species.
- Travel insurance is a must.
Additional Information
- Services subject to availability at the time of booking.
- Times of activities, meals, transfers is subject to change.
- Given the nature of this safari, the age restriction is a minimum of 18 years paying full fare.
- Maximum age is 65. Anyone older than this is required to produce a medical certificate providing that they are physically able to participate in the activities and terrain in which the safari tour will be conducted in.
- PLEASE NOTE that whilst we endeavor to accommodate guests at the above stipulated camp, we reserve the right to replace such with one of a similar standard and location.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- Rates are quoted as per person.
Helpful tips
- Visas/Passport: Please ensure: 1) that you have pre-arranged your entry visa if required; 2) that your passport is valid for at least six months after your scheduled departure date from South Africa; 3) that you have a minimum of 2 consecutive clear pages. If this is not the case, there is a danger of being turned away by the Immigration Service on arrival at the airport – assuming your airline has agreed to bring you and risk a fine in the first place.
- Health: No vaccinations are mandatory but please consult your doctor for medical advice. Parts of South Africa are considered to be malarial so we recommend consulting your doctor about the use of anti-malarial prophylactics (normally Malarone), especially if visiting during the summer (December to April) – subject to advice from your own doctor.
The Accommodation
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