The Yoga retreat and itinerary

Feb 6th - 12th 2011

The African Wellness Safari is a retreat set in the heart of nature.  This safari will take place in two of Tanzania most spectacular protected areas: Mt. Meru and the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands.  Under the guidance of Dr. Freedom and Leela, who have over 50 years of combined wellness and lifestyle experience, the retreat will offer the opportunity for self reflection, inspiration and re-connection of body and mind. There will also be plenty of laughter and relaxation while absorbing the essence of Africa.  We will have the chance to do both game walks and drives in Arusha National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation area of Tanzania. 

Come celebrate your personal strengths. Watch yourself improve, maintain and reclaim your self. Challenge your inner critic and connect with your body and higher self!

 Day 1: Itikoni Private Luxury Camp.  From the airport you will go directly to our private luxury camp inside Arusha National Park.  On the 90 minute drive to camp we can open the game at 6,000 feet, we are surrounded by monkeys, hornbills, and forest animals of all kinds.  Our tents are large canvas wall tents with en-suite showers and toilets.  Time permitting, Freedom and Leela will lead an introductory “unwinding, stretching and relaxation session” and center you for you upcoming transformational experience in Tanzania.

Day 2: Itikoni Private Luxury Camp:  Limber the body, mind and breath with gentle deep breathing, and passive and active mobility postures prior to exploring Arusha National Park on a game drive.  Arusha National Park has a very diverse ecosystem and you will visit open grass plains, dense montane forest and beautiful lakes ringed with water birds of many kinds.  Our evening wellness session will invigorate, align and stretch the body in areas of common strain.  We will be focusing on the back, neck, and hamstring muscle groups.  Weather permitting, this session may be on the ridge above camp watching the alpen glow colors light up the western slopes of  Mount Kilimanjaro.

Day 3Itikoni Private Luxury Camp:  This is the last day in our forest camp.  Arusha National Park is one of the few parks in Tanzania that allows walking inside the park.  We want to take advantage of this opportunity and do as much hiking as the group would like.  There are many options, but one interesting hike is into the old volcanic caldera of Mt. Meru, the 16,000 foot volcano that looms above our camp.  Weather permitting we could do a yoga\wellness session on the floor of this ancient volcano rediscovering the power of sound and breath.  Reconnect with yourself, develop a positive self image and let go of limiting beliefs. After our session you can choose to hike back to camp or catch a lift in our safari car.

Day 4:  Msigiyo Private Luxury Camp:  After leaving the forests of Mt. Meru behind we drive to Tanzania’s largest intact volcanic caldera, Ngorongoro Crater, home to an extensive population of African wildlife species.  Our camp is set high on a ridge in the Ngorongoro Highlands over looking Lake Eyasi and the Great Rift Valley.  We will arrive in camp in time for a yoga\wellness session before dinner that will emphasize gentle, yet effective yoga and wellness stretches to open the hips, low back and shoulders.  Overlooking the wonders of nature will be a perfect way to end a day of traveling through Tanzania.

Day 5:  Msigiyo Private Luxury Camp:  The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a “multiple-use area” where the wild animal population co-exists with the indigenous Maasai pastoralist. Today, we will have the opportunity to meet and spend time with a Maasai elder and clan leader Sanguyan Ole Dorop.  Ole Dorop will welcome us into his “boma,” the traditional Maasai style home, and we can share with Ole Dorop and other members of his extended family in a traditional “Olpul,” or meat eating ceremony.  The ceremony will be followed by singing and dancing with both Maasai Morans (young warriors) and young women clad in hand made bead work.  Today’s yoga\wellness sessions will include balance, standing, and focusing postures with the use of Masai Stick Technology Techniques and could take place in any number of beautiful areas with vast views of the Ngorongoro Highlands, the Serengeti Plains or the Great Rift Valley.  

Day 6:  Msigiyo Private Luxury Camp:  This is the last day of our safari and the day has been reserved for a game viewing adventure onto the floor of Ngorongoro Crater.  There will be time for an early yoga\wellness session before breakfast. This morning we will emphasize postures that bring blood flow to the brain and head allowing you to rediscover the power of your mind and vision. We then head off with a picnic lunch for a day of watching the spectacular wildlife inside the Crater.  Hopefully you will get close enough to wildlife to take great photos that will remind you of this wonderful and unique African adventure.

Day 7:  Day room and transfer to the airport. There will be time for a yoga and wellness session in the morning, at which time you will have the opportunity for a final reflection and reviewing of the week-long experiences, to imprint these positive memories as permanent lifestyle changes.  Depending on the groups desires you can stay in the camp and have lunch or you can leave earlier and have time to explore and shop in Arusha before heading to your hotel for a final shower and early dinner before leaving for the airport. 

Costs
5 to 8 people $3350 each including park fees
8 + people $3100 each including park fees

This include both Dr. Freedom and Leela as yoga \ wellness teachers. Full board luxury camping inside Tanzania's National Parks. All transport and hotels.

For more information:

www.soundbodyyoga.com             
               OR
wkrause@africanenvironments.co.tz

Yoga course
Itikoni camp
Itikoni dining tent
Yoga course
Game viewing
Yoga course
All content © African Environments 2007