Kenya Yoga Safari 12th-21st June 2017

Join me in a truly unique Yin Yoga experience in the African wilderness…

Change 4 Life’s yoga Safari visits two diverse ecosystems in the hands of expert guides and Glenn Walmsley, your Yin Yoga teacher. To start your experience of a lifetime you will drive to Amboseli National Park, where you will enjoy blissfully uncrowded wilderness for several days, enjoying an exceptional yoga retreat and game viewing experience. The safari then takes you flying over the Rift Valley with its bouquet of small lakes dotted along the break line of Africa’s biggest valley, to Kicheche Valley Camp, located in one of the most exclusive conservancies in the Masai Mara, Naboisho for the remainder of your retreat. The Mara conservancies offer a high quality safari experience, with few vehicles permitted access. Here you will witness some of the world’s most spectacular wildlife within dramatic scenery and connect with the heartbeat of Africa via your yoga mat.

 

Day 0 – Arrival at Nairobi @ own arrangement

Upon your request we will happily quote & arrange for you to be met at Nairobi JKIA airport and transferred to your hotel of choice for any overnight stay you may need before joining the group at the start of your adventurous yoga safari. (*We can offer you accommodation options which we can pre-arrange with you)

 

Day 1 – Satao Elerai Camp

This morning you will be met at your hotel for your first safari destination in Amboseli National Park. The journey time is approximately four hours. You’re scheduled to arrive in time for lunch at Satao Elerai Camp. Time to settle in and then enjoy a Yin Yoga session to unblock and free up our bodies and connect with our new environment, until afternoon tea is served. Venture out onto the plains on a game drive in the late afternoon to enjoy the wonderful array of game on offer. Game driving in the Elerai Conservancy is a rare pleasure with few vehicles in the wilderness zone. Upon returning to camp join other guests for a refreshing sundowner drink and a delicious dinner. Overnight at Satao Elerai.

 

Day 2-4 – Satao Elerai Camp (FB)

An early start to the day with piping hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate brought to your banda (room). This morning take a longer game drive and enjoy a sumptuous picnic breakfast out on the plains incorporating an outdoor yoga session. Return to camp for an al-fresco lunch and relax viewing the game and bird life around the area. Each afternoon you will be enjoying a different yin yoga practise, with some meditation and have the option of visiting the ranch, game driving and/or relaxing with a view to what the world looked like during the beginning of Mankind. Drinks tonight around the campfire or in the cosy lounge, dinner will be served to settle your appetite. Each evening throughout the entire safari we will review the next day’s yoga timetable and activities to suit the group and your individual needs. Overnight at Satao Elerai Camp – FB.

Satao Elerai – is an eco friendly camp tucked away in the corner of the famous Amboseli Ecosystem, close to Amboseli National Park. The gorgeous lodge style suites feature gently sloping organic walls, built with natural rocks, acacia wood and a carefully constructed thatched roof; large sliding doors open up to a private verandah overlooking the plains of Elerai Conservancy and the National Park. Each suite has a spacious bathroom with private view of the surroundings, hand crafted bathtub, shower, flush toilet and hand wash basin.The camp has its own waterhole frequently visited by elephants, giraffes, zebra, lesser kudu, eland and the big cats.
Satao Elerai is located in a quiet, unspoilt, unique setting on a 5000 acre private conservation area 10km’s south east of Amboseli National Park on the foot of Africa’s largest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. The land is leased from the local Elerai Maasai community and together wiht the lodge they help protect the land from poachers, charcoal burners and encroachment from agriculture and development. The Elerai conservation area sits in an AWF (African Wildlife Foundation) identified critical wildlife corridor named the Kitenden Corridor which links the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve in Tanzania to Amboseli National Park and beyond. These areas include a rich variety of ecosystems from the semi-arid savanna to wetlands and is home to a diverse collection of flora and fauna.
Amboseli National Park is a flat, semi arid basin lying below the most famous symbol of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro. This majestic giant with its snow-clad peak floating in the stark blue African sky forms a dramatic backdrop behind the abundant wildlife that live in the Amboseli National Park. A large part of the park consists of the alluvial dried-up bed of the seasonal Lake Amboseli, which in the rainy season can transform into a shallow flood whilst the dry season brings strange mirages above the dry shimmering surface.

 

Day 5 – Kicheche Valley @ AI

Today, a last glimpse of Mt Kilimanjaro as you depart after breakfast for your scheduled flight from Amboseli airstrip into Nairobi for your onward flight to Kicheche Valley Camp. Your flight will take about 1 hour with scenic views over the Masai Mara. With some luck you will have aerial view over sections of the wildebeest migration. On arrival a Kicheche guide will be there to welcome you and drive you to the camp whilst enjoying a short game drive en route. At the camp you will be welcomed by the experienced staff and be guided to your luxurious tent accommodation. We will have some time for a yoga session in the outdoor communal lounge area to ground ourselves from this sensory overload, lunch, followed by afternoon tea. Then you will set off for your afternoon game drive followed by evening sundowner drinks overlooking the rolling plains…arrive back in camp in time for showers and drinks around the camp fire. We will share our stories and experiences over a delicious 3 course meal. Overnight at Kicheche Valley – AI.

 

Day 6-9 – Kicheche Valley

Rise early with tea or coffee brought to your tent. Enjoy a full breakfast at camp before setting off on a full day game drive or we will start the day with an energising yoga session overlooking the valley, listening to the sound of the wilderness calling. Whilst on game drives, you will see differing terrain along with plenty of animal and bird species. Take a break in one of the many scenic viewpoints where your picnic lunch will be set out. After your break continue game driving until you arrive back at camp late in the afternoon. Wind down at camp with some more yin yoga  or meditation after an exhilarating day in the field, and gather at the camp fire for an aperitif before dinner is served later in the evening. One afternoon you may also wish to visit a traditional Maasai manyatta (village) or go for a guided bush walk which will allow you to see nature’s little wonders too.  Be assured that each day will be memorably different to the last, with a combination of yin yoga, game driving and activities. Overnight Kicheche Valley.

Kicheche Valley– is an intimate luxury tented camp composed of only 6 tents sitting on platforms amongst the trees and rocky outcrops. The tent decks provide the perfect location to relax and soak in the wilderness as birds fly through and the animals pass by. Each tent is spacious, fully insect-proof and equipped with stylish furniture and en-suite bathroom. Important to note that the camp has been rated GOLD level at it’s latest Ecotourism Kenya environmental assessment.
The camp is set on the Eastern side of the 50,000 hectare Mara Naboisho conservancy in a beautiful secluded valley dotted with Acacia trees. The location is close to both the Enniskeria river region, with it’s stunning granite outcrops and permanent pools popular with the resident wildlife, and the vast plains to the north hosting large numbers of plains game and containing a vital elephant corridor. With strict controls on bed and vehicle numbers in this community driven conservation area, a high quality wilderness experience is assured all year round.

 

Day 10 – Nairobi

Relish your last day with a late check out arranged. There will be time for an additional game drive as well as lunch, followed by a transfer back to the airstrip mid afternoon for your flight back to Nairobi. Meet at Wilson airport and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta international airport for your outbound flight back home or a continuation of your trip elsewhere, with possibly a quick dinner enroute to the airport.

 

Investment: Based on twin share, 10 days/9 nights safari experience is US $5,860 per person
Exclusive: The retreat and camps are limited to 12 participants
Early bird investment: Pay your 20% deposit by 15 March and the cost is $5,460 per person

Your investment includes:  Domestic flights, city & bush airstrip transfers from day 1 onwards, AMREF air rescue, full board accommodation as per mealplan, shared game drives with English speaking guide, night game drives, guided bush walks, picnics, sundowner/s, laundry (at Kicheche) and park/conservation fees.
Elerai is AI = All In, meals and “house” alcoholic drinks included (ltd to one sundowner p/p luxury spirits & champagne not included).
Kicheche is AI = All In, meals and alcoholic drinks included.
NB: Both camps cater to all dietary needs – vegetarian, gluten free etc. please ensure to give us this information on booking.

Does not include: International flights, visa, travel/medical insurance, Nairobi accommodation, shopping, telephone, tips (NB: It is customary to tip your guide and camp staff however it is not compulsory and tips should only be given if you are satisfied with the service provided), optional activities (e.g, balloon rides, Masai village visit), any snacks or drinks enroute from Nairobi to Amboseli, dinner on day 10 in Nairobi.

To Book: Please contact Nathalie* on nathalie@chameleoneastafrica.com and quote “Change4Life Yoga Safari”. A 20% deposit is required on booking, with the balance payable by 1 May 2017.

*Nathalie can also arrange your accommodation on arrival in Nairobi along with any sightseeing or day tours such as visiting the Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphange, and Giraffe Centre, and has several options available for safari participants. We have planned an optional 1 or 2 day sightseeing itinerary in Nairobi for June 10th & 11th (additional charges TBA).
If you would like to plan a trip elsewhere in Kenya, or other countries in Africa at the beginning or end of your yoga experience such as climbing Mt Kilamanjero, or visiting the coast, feel free to contact Nathalie directly or visit Chameleon East Africa Tours for ideas. Nathalie will be more than happy to assist you with suggestions and work with you to create a personalised itinerary.

Flights: There are quite a few options to fly to Nairobi. Emirates is our carrier of choice, though Thai airways, Qantas, Etihad & Qatar also offer flights. The other option you may like to explore is a budget airline out of Australia such as Jetstar or Air Asia to Bangkok and then a flight from Bangkok to Nairobi. We recommend you plan your trip to arrive the afternoon of the 11th of June at the latest, to give you a full  first night’s sleep in Nairobi. Glenn will be in Nairobi from the 9th of June.

If you have any questions in regard to the itinerary or general Kenyan travel enquiries please feel free to contact Glenn on Ph 0425339988 or email glenn@change4life.net.au.