YogaKoh and First Light Safaris have partnered together to bring you a retreat like no other. Journey to Africa with us on this Yoga meets Safari Retreat, 'A Celebration of the Earth'. The African experience is a choreographed dance of the senses and we can think of no better way to experience and enhance the connection with nature than to combine the ancient practice of yoga with the abundance of life that surrounds you in the African wilderness. In Zimbabwe we will stay at Somalisa Camp which is leading the way in eco-friendly safari accommodation and has been awarded the first GOLD Green Tourism Certification in Zimbabwe. We will have 2 night in Victoria Falls at the beginning of the trip, and take an iconic bush flight between the 2 locations. An adventure that will inspire you to celebrate this beautiful earth we call home.
Somalisa Camp - African Bush Camps
ACCOMODATIONS
Somalisa Camp Hwange is known as ‘the land of the giants’ for its big elephant herds and Somalisa, set on a private concession in the heart of Hwange National Park is famous for its up-close encounters with elephants that love to drink from the pool in front of camp. Tucked away under the dappled shade of an acacia grove, along the edge of an ancient seasonal flood plain, Somalisa provides guests with breathtaking views of the golden savannah plains of Hwange. Somalisa has only seven, elegant tents and is a place of simple luxury where the focus is on the guest experience to ensure a safari adventure that exceeds your dreams. This intimate bush camp is perfect for relaxing with friends and loved ones.
Your tent is replete with modern appointments such as a fan, a battery charging station, and private viewing deck. Your bathroom, worthy of a special mention, is inspired by the romance of yesteryear, boasts an indoor and outdoor bathroom, and features a copper slipper-style bathtub and endless views across the vast plains beyond.
With a full solar power farm and water purity system which allows the camp to recycle 80% of its water used, Somalisa Camp is leading the way in eco- friendly safari accommodation and has been awarded the first GOLD Green Tourism Certification in Zimbabwe.
YOUR RETREAT INCLUDES:
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All accommodation:
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2 night in Victoria Falls @Batonka Lodge
6 nights in Zimbabwe @Somalisa
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Single or shared accommodations at Somalisa (Zimbabawe)
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Shared accommodations only at Batonka Lodge (Victoria Falls)
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Hwange Park and conservation fees
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All meals and drinks (minus bottled wine and some premium spirits) at Somalisa
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Breakfast at Batonka Lodge
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Daily safari activities at Somalisa
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Daily yoga practices and workshops at Somalisa
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Professional yoga instruction
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Bush flight to and from Somalisa
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Airport, lodge, and camp transfers
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Daily laundry
YOUR RETREAT EXCLUDES:
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Round trip International flights. To Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls
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Tips recommended $30 per person per day (half to camp staff and half to guide). Tips in USD. Dollar bills should be new and crisp.
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Travel and Trip Cancellation Insurance
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Activities and park fees in Victoria Falls
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Lunch and Dinner in Victoria Falls
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Drinks in Victoria Falls
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Items of a personal nature
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Zimbabwe Visa $30
AFRICA
The Africa experience is a choreographed dance of the senses. When you set foot in the bush, there is a sense of familiarity, as if deep
down within our genetic makeup we know this is where we evolved as a species. YogaKoh and First Light Safaris have partnered together
to bring you a retreat like no other. Breathe into the day as Mother Nature springs to life. Spend your days in the company of incredible
wildlife and mesmerizing landscapes, all-the-while sharing it with amazing people.
We will be immersed in the wild beauty of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. The park is the size of Connecticut and is home to almost
30,000 elephants, lion, leopard, painted wolves, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, impala, sable and roan antelope, Cape buffalo, a myriad of colorfulbird species, and other incredible animals of all sizes. We will be in a special and private wilderness area within Hwange, the part o f the park with the largest concentration of animals. Our host will be African Bush Camps and their award-winning camp, Somalisa.
The wilderness around Somalisa has special significance. It was home to a famous lion called Cecil that met an untimely death at the
hands of an American trophy hunter. Though Cecil may be gone, he is not forgotten as his story will forever be told by the Somalisa
guides. Cecil’s legacy does live on in the new generation of lions that call this area home. As we pay homage to the Earth and its wild
inhabitants, the spirit of Cecil will no doubt be with us as we celebrate the beauty and power of nature.
The Daily “Routine” and Activities
Our day starts before first light with a morning practice to wake the senses and body, all the
while listening to the orchestra of life as it welcomes a new day in the bush.
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After a quick yoga session, we’ll have breakfast and depart for our morning safari activities. Agame drive, a walking safari, or both in search of incredible wildlife.
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We will return to camp for lunch and some downtime. Relax at the pool, chill out at your tent, grab a siesta, meditate to the natural sounds around camp, or whatever your heart desires.
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About an hour before we leave for our afternoon wildlife viewing, we will have an afternoon practice and/or workshop.
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After our practice, we will head out for an afternoon game drive to see what nature has in store for us.
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Before sunset, we will stop for a bush tradition called a Sundowner. Our guide will find a placeto watch the sunset as we sip on gin and tonics (or your drink of choice), snack, and toast away the day as it gives way to night.
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We arrive back at camp after dark and have an amazing dinner and relax around a campfire for a great conversation and company.
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We will retire to bed around 9pm (or later for those who like to enjoy the campfire or a cocktail a little longer)
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With our group having full and exclusive use of the camp, we can adjust the schedule as we see fit. We may even decide to spend the entire day in camp and slow things down and just enjoy the serenity of the world around us.
RATES
$5,395 per person – single
$4,895 per person – twin share
20% deposit due to secure your spot
ITINERAY:
March 24th – Arrive in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from Johannesburg, South Africa for 2 nights at the Batonka Lodge. There are quite a number of activities and tours to choose from which we can book upon our arrival at the hotel.
March 25th – Explore Victoria Falls.
March 26th – Fly to Hwange National Park for 6 nights at Somalisa Camp.
March 27th to April 1st – Somalisa Camp with daily game drives, walking safaris, yoga sessions, sundowners, and incredible wildlife viewing.
April 1st – Fly back to Victoria Falls to connect with international flights home.
WHY MARCH IN ZIMBABWE?
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Victoria Falls is at its most powerful and spectacular.
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The area around Somalisa Camp is a private area only for Somalisa guests.
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The wildlife viewing is good year-round at Somalisa since the area has the largest concentration of wildlife in the park
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Lots of baby elephants. Green and beautiful landscapes. Few people. Great birding. Plenty of resident wildlife including lion, leopard, several species of antelope, buffalo, giraffe, wild dogs, cheetah.
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Somalisa is located in a special wilderness area that includes open plains, acacia woodlands, and beautiful wildflowers this time of year. Plus, the grasses do not grow tall, making wildlife viewing much easier.
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Hwange is home to almost 30,000 elephants.
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Hwange is the home of Cecil the Lion and his legacy lives on in the Somalisa area.
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Weather at the end of March is beginning to transition over to the dry season. Though thunderstorms are possible on any given day. Temperatures are pleasant with average highs in the mid 80's and lows in the low 60's.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
TOM MAZZARISI
Tom graduated from University of Colorado in Boulder with a degree in environmental conservation and biology. His lifelong passion has been wild animals. During college, Tom spent his summers working in Yellowstone National Park. Upon graduating, he embarked on a career as a park ranger in Yellowstone, spanning 12 years. In 2013, Tom had an incredible opportunity to spend a year living in the African bush as a camp manager in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. The experiences he had there are
worthy of a BBC nature documentary. It inspired Tom and in 2015 he created First Light Safaris. Today he carefully plans wildlife viewing safaris for his clients as well as leading trips to the best wildlife areas in Africa. Tom lives in Kalispell, MT with his wife Amy. In addition to First Light Safaris, Tom works as a seasonal park ranger in Glacier National Park.
JOLIE MANZA
Jolie also graduated from The University of Colorado at Boulder with a BFA in Dance and Movement studies. She took her education and began teaching and traveling around the world practicing different movement modalities all the while making space for her passion to bring it all together one day.
With that was the birth of YogaKoh her yoga and movement based school and company that roots itself in community, travel, personal growth and service.
Jolie met Tom during one of the workshops she taught in Montana, and they became fast friends who were able to bring their passions of yoga, wildlife and travel together. This will be the second African Safari x Yoga experience they have offered.
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