Are you ready for an experience of a lifetime? To make joyful memories that last forever? How about having abundant time to relax and allow the rhythms of nature to gently rock your world?
South Africa is a magical country…from the stunning winelands to peaceful forests teeming with majestic wildlife…to the incredibly warm-hearted people. You will return home happily transformed.
Imagine journeying to the root of the African continent, exploring the stunning beauty of Cape Town and nature reserves teeming with wildlife. Imagine spending time with indigenous healers and learning secrets of ancient wisdom traditions. Your heart and soul begin to dance as you feel the spirit of the people, and the magic of this land.
An African safari has always been a healing experience for many people. The Healing Safari is special in that it marries a traditional African safari with a yoga and wellness retreat.
The Healing Safari is themed around the pillars of joy described in The Book of Joy with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Demond Tutu authored by Douglas Abrams.
Your days begin with guided meditations that help you greet your days with gratitude and wonder. Practice yoga, tailored to your level, with giraffes moving in the distance, inspiring you to flow at your natural pace.
Learn ways to better nourish yourself with effortless ease, while indulging in the bounty of South African foods and gifts of the earth. Enjoy delicious meals made with love by South African chefs crafted with local ingredients, and world-class wines that pair deliciously with the cuisine.
And, imagine getting a glimpse into the traditional healing system of Southern African healers. Learn about ancient wisdom traditions that help you simplify your life as you uncover its profound meaning. All while journeying from the Cape region, to the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains and into the forested nature reserves, home to herds of elephants.
Would you like a chance to step back from your hectic schedule and…breathe, reflect, and get re-inspired? What about waking up feeling deeply rested, and alive?
Do you have a sense that your heart needs some gentle warming up? To be surrounded by amazingly compassionate and caring people?
Have you been saying for a long time now that you want to meditate? practice yoga on a regular basis?
Do you want to learn about the obstacles to joy that keep you from living fully?
And the Eight Pillars of Joy that help us tap into the nature of true joy: Perspective, Humility, Humor, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Compassion, Generosity.
And…have you always dreamed of going on an African safari?
On a Healing Safari in South Africa you will:
- Experience healing practices emanating from nature’s primordial rhythms that you can integrate into your daily life back home.
- Be infused with stunningly beautiful and serene scenes that you can pull up in your mind’s eye even when you are out of Africa.
- Develop a regular yoga & meditation practice guided by the heart.
- Enjoy the bounty of South African world-class wines and cuisine straight from the source.
- Reconnect to your true self and feel the simultaneous bond that develops with your loved ones.
- Learn the Joy Practices as put forth by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
- Meet new soul sisters and brothers who may become life-long friends.
- Go out of Africa re-charged, rejuvenated and transformed.
Top 6 Reasons Not To Miss This Trip!
Awe-inspiring wildlife re-connects you to the Universe
The word safari is a Swahili word that literally means ‘a journey.’ What makes a Healing Safari above and beyond a traditional African safari is that as you embark on an external journey through the wilds of South Africa, you are being gently guided on an internal exploration of your own heart and soul.
As several species are now in danger of disappearing, you are blessed to witness rhinos, elephants and lions and the conservation efforts in place to protect them.
Indulge in the spectacular, world-famous Cape Winelands
Experience the region’s major wine producing areas and visit beautiful wine estates for tastings of truly high quality vintages.
The South African winelands are unique; nestled in valleys surrounded by majestic mountains, the soil produces some of the best wines in the world, many only available in South Africa. Paired with the incredible food crafted out of local vegetables, cheeses, fish and pasture-raised meats, a day in the Cape Winelands feeds your body, and soul.
Nurture a Joyful Yoga & Meditation Practice
Have you been telling yourself for a while that you want to be more consistent with meditating and practicing yoga? Are you seeking a way to include meditation and yoga in your life that fits your schedule and ability?
Great news! The daily meditation and yoga we practice in absolutely gorgeous settings on this retreat is for all levels of experience. Dr. Tanya will show you how to develop a regular home yoga & meditation practice guided by the heart. You will be introduced to Maasai Yoga & Meditation that takes its cues from African landscapes inhabited by wildlife so you learn how to “talk to your own nature”. By the end of the Healing Safari you will have established a regular meditation and yoga practice at a pace and level that is customized especially for you.
Intimate luxury accommodations in three different regions gives you experience of amazing tapestry of the country
You begin the Healing Safari in beautiful Cape Town at a historic, boutique hotel where you begin to settle into life at the root of Africa. Feel the energy of Table Mountain and the power of the Atlantic Ocean as you walk along the seaside. You then travel to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, at the foothills of the majestic Drakensberg mountains where you stay at a luxury hotel and spa in a tranquil country setting. You finish the Healing Safari in the African bush, in a forest lodge, set in a rare and beautiful sand forest. This eco-designed luxury lodge provides you with secluded bliss, tucked away from the rest of the world. You wake to the sounds of birds and the peace and calm you feel carries you through the rest of your day, immersed in the healing womb of Mother Nature.
Experience the power of African ancient wisdom traditions
Have you been trying out all kinds of things over the years to try to be healthier, lose weight, quit bad habits, or solve family problems? Thought you knew everything about natural health…but feel like you may still be missing something that could truly help you and your family?
While there certainly are benefits to all the ‘alternative’ healing modalities available these days, traditional African healing is considered one of the most powerful and transformative. Traditional San, Zulu and Xhosa healers have played important roles in their communities in Southern Africa for centuries and their philosophies on healing are the basis for several modalities currently utilized in Western societies. You will learn about traditional herbal remedies and how to create daily rituals that give rhythm to your day which we practice on the Healing Safari. You learn about African practices for illness prevention, conflict resolution, and fulfilling your purpose in life that you can use for years to come.
Embarking on a Healing Safari is an optimal way to be introduced to the power of African ancient wisdom traditions.
Abundant time to relax and rejuvenate in the most nurturing of environments
A wonderful aspect of being on an African safari is that you have ample time to be with ‘me, myself, and I”, and with loved ones you want to travel with. In the yoga and meditation sessions and on the game drives, are all moments when it is just you, in nature, and you can experience truly priceless ‘me time’.
You will be guided how to use nature’s healing power in the joy practices and how you can tap into this every day when you return home from Africa.
Itinerary
Day 1-4: Cape Town
Welcome to South Africa!
You are warmly greeted at Cape Town International Airport and driven towards Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel. As you drive toward the city, your view from afar will be of Table Mountain, one of the most spiritual places on earth.
Relish in your 4-night stay at this gorgeous, intimate and luxurious hotel, your homebase, as you explore the wonders the Cape region has to offer.
We will spend a full day in the spectacular Cape Winelands, and visit the magical towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These towns provide a delightful glimpse into 17th and 18th century Cape style architecture and boast some world-famous restaurants.
Each day, we will practice meditation and yoga, connecting you to the energies of the root of Africa and launching you into the day full of gratitude and wonder. You have opportunities to visit local spas and healing centres that embrace traditional African herbs, rituals and ceremony.
We will discuss the obstacles of joy and then how to cultivate true joy in our lives.
You will have time to explore the sights and sounds of Cape Town, known as the Mother City, feast on her culinary delights, enjoy museums, art galleries, and her stunning beaches.
There is a reason many people say that Cape Town is their favorite place on earth. Come and see for yourself!
Day 5-8: andBeyond Phinda Forest Reserve
You are collected from Fordoun and driven by road to andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge, located in a massive protected wildlife reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. Here you are fully immersed in the magical African bush.
Dine on an open air deck as monkeys frolic in the branches overhead and an amazing assortment of wildlife grazes on the open plain in the distance.
Practice yoga and meditation with giraffes in the distance to inspire you to move with your natural grace and rhythm.
Dr. Tanya teaches about understanding your mind-body constitution and the dynamics of your relationships within your extended family and your ‘tribe’. In the evenings, experience the healing power of storytelling around the campfire, African-style.
You will go on wildlife viewing drives, bush walks and seasonal river cruises having a chance to spot a plethora of birds and even cheetahs.
At the heart of the lodge is a sparkling rim-flow swimming pool. And an interactive kitchen serving up delectable feasts made with local ingredients.
Our final meal together will be a celebration and closing ritual that honors our beautiful experience of the wildlife, land, people and culture that have helped heal you in the most gentle and profound ways. You depart for Johannesburg and your onward journey home transformed, with Africa in your heart forever.
What’s Included
- 7 nights accommodation at boutique hotel and eco-luxury camp
- All delicious breakfasts and some exquisite lunches and dinners
- All in-country flights
- In-country road transport including airport transfers
- Entrance fees and concession fees for all parks, wildlife viewing areas and nature conservancy
- Expert tour guides, camp staff and security
- All group Yoga & Meditation sessions
- Exclusive tour of the winelands
- Teachings on African traditional healing practices for health and wellness by award-winning author Dr. Tanya Pergola
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Donation to Rhinos without Borders organization for conservation of the rhinos of Southern Africa
What’s NOT Included
- Long-haul flights from home country into Cape Town International Airport and out of Johannesburg
- Some meals, premium brand drinks
- Spa services
- Gratuities and any items of a personal nature
- Visa fees (not required for US citizens)
- Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
Your Guide
Dr. Tanya Pergola was called to Africa in 1999. She first went to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, and, after summiting the mountain, she experienced a profound shift in her perspective on life. Having just completed a PhD in Sociology and Social Psychology, she let her mind explore new territory while on wildlife safaris. She was deeply inspired observing the similarities between the way us humans behave and how the lions, elephants and giraffes behave. For the first time in her life, Dr. Tanya felt completely linked in to nature, to the universe. Through her studies in Environmental Sustainability and Development, she knew this primordial landscape, and the indigenous people who live upon the land, were in danger of disappearing. Fast. She took it upon herself to do something about it.
Dr. Tanya has made it her life’s work to conserve elements of native cultures in Africa that are essential to keeping traditional cultures alive, and can also be useful for modern folks who feel overwhelmed, stressed-out, and generally unwell. She lived in Tanzania for over 7 years and together with her teacher and Co-Director Ole Sululu, founded Terrawatu, a humanitarian organization in Arusha, Tanzania that has been operating since 2001. They have been leading educational and wildlife safaris since 2004.
Dr. Tanya apprencticed with Maasai traditional healers for over a decade, and in 2015 her book Time is Cows: Timeless Wisdom of the Maasai won a Nautilus Book Award sharing some of the secrets for health and happiness that were imparted to her.
Continuing her studies with traditional healers, Dr. Tanya lived and worked in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. She is passionate about sharing this wisdom she was blessed to receive. She created The Healing Safaris to bring to life the teachings she learned during her apprenticeship with African healers, combined with her years of study and teaching traditional Vedic practices – Yoga, Meditation and Ayurvedic Lifestyles – with Dr. Deepak Chopra, Nischala Joy Devi, and other wise elders who she has met over the past 27 years. www.tanyapergola.com
Are you ready?