South African Safari and Yoga Retreat May 2 - 12 2012
- Safari Description
- Details, Payment & Cancellation Policy
How do I get there?
Experience adventure with the wildlife of South Africa and relax through the practice of Yoga and mediation - Only 4 spaces remain!
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| Where: | A tree house in the lowveld bush of South Africa near Kruger National Park |
| When: | May 2 - 12 2012 Enjoy 9 days and 8 nights in South Africa |
| Who: | No experience needed! Great for any level of yoga student who enjoys wildlife and nature and has a desire for adventure. |
| Activities: | Two daily activities which get you up close to Africa's amazing wildlife and beautful landscapes including game drives on private reserves and a visit to Kruger National Park |
| Instructor: | Laura DeFreitas |
| Hosts: | Professional wildlife photographer Gregory Sweeney and his wife Karen welcome you to their tree house lodge on a private reserve surrounded by African Bush. |
| Cost: | $3,800 per adult sharing $4,400 Single adult |
| Limited to 8 guests for a very personal experience |
Join photographer Gregory Sweeney and Laura DeFreitas yoga instructor on a very special opportunity to practice yoga while in the wild bushveld of South Africa. Guests will stay in a tree house on a wildlife reserve among free roaming zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, and plains game. Each day is a discovery of lions, elephants, rhino, cheetah, and antelope while your guide takes you into the wilds on game drives , into Kruger National Park, on a canyon boat ride, or a wildlife rehabilitation center. The encounters are up close and at a relaxed pace, with your expert guide sharing their knowledge and stories. Many surprises are instore during your stay.
The daily yoga practice will bring balance and open your mind to the wild spirit of this special place. No yoga experience is required. All yoga classes will be geared to all levels of experience and fitness.
Guests may wish to schedule a special optional activity on one or both of the free mornings. We offer a canopy tour by zipline, additional big 5 game drives or a very special elephant backed safari.
See More Details Including Payment & Cancellation Policy
View a Sample day by day itinerary
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The Lodge |
Guests will have a choice of staying in thatched roof tree houses or in a permanent safari tent. Each tree house has a ensuite bathroom with toilet, sink, a bathtub with a view, and an outside shower. Guests will enjoy spectacular views of the sunset over the mountains and the stars at night. The sounds of the bush surround you. Guests who stay at the tented camp will get a flavor of the classic African safari. The camp is located on a quiet stream surrounded by bush and birds. Each tent has a comfortable bed and ensuite bathroom with bathtub and inside/outside showers. Wander the tranquil walkways and listen to the birds or refresh in the splash pool. |
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Read more about our Tree House Lodge |
Laura's classes are best described as moving meditations. Her signature style marries precision and fluidity in a manner that encourages students to practice deeply, to listen, and to welcome the fullness of each moment just as it is.
Laura came to Yoga after 15 years of disciplined gymnastic training. Yoga is the path that revealed the relationship she had always sought through movement: the inseparable connection of mind, body and spirit. Since completing the Pacific Yoga Teacher Training in 2003 she has been heavily influenced by the Ashtanga and Universal Styles of Yoga. She specializes in Yoga Nidra or Integrative Restoration, a systematic method of complete relaxation that works at the root of stress and allows the release of subconscious tensions and tendencies that prevent us from living to our fullest potential. Through her business, LauraNidra Yoga, Laura offers Yoga and Yoga Nidra meditation class to individuals and groups of all levels of fitness and experience. Laura also leads Yoga Retreats aimed to deepen one's experience by taking the practice beyond the walls of the studio and into daily life.
After many years in Seattle, Washington, Laura recently returned to California, the state in which she was born and raised, in order to join her boyfriend in South Lake Tahoe. When outside the studio Laura enjoys the solace and inspiration she finds in the Nature, Acro Yoga, reflective writing, experimenting in the kitchen and traveling .
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The Activities |
You will be staying in the premier wildlife area of South Africa. Private reserves and Kruger National Park provide the best animal conservation and wildlife viewing for our guests. We will take you on off-road game drives in open safari vehicles to see Africa's big 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant). In Kruger we will see a vast variety of species and landscapes. We will also take you to a wildlife rehabilitation center to witness conservation efforts and a relaxing boat ride through a canyon with hippos and crocodiles. |
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More Yoga Safari Information
The Safari Fee Includes:
- Transfers from Johannesburg airport (JNB - Tambo airport) and return
- Lodging for 8 nights
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner served at the lodge, coffee & tea
- Safari activities and daily yoga instruction
- Admission to parks and reserves, transportation to safari activities, guides
- Wildlife Photographer host and guide and Yoga instruction
Not included:
- Airfare to and from Johannesburg and visa, exit fees, or airport fees, extra luggage charges
- Soft drinks, bottled water*, bar tab, guests may bring their own liquor
- Guests may wish to purchase snacks/meal when we are away from the lodge or during transfers
- Laundry, gift shop purchases, phone or internet charges
- Tips to drivers, guides, and lodge staff
- Travel Insurance (optional but recommended)
- fee for the zipline and elephant safari (optional activities)
- Any surcharge necessary to meet medical or dietary needs (ie vegan diet)
Options:
Single Room - guest will enjoy a room to themselves in the tented camp facility (tree houses will not be available for single booking) $600 per person
Vegan Meals - guest will enjoy meals without the use of animal products for breakfasts, high teas, and dinners served at the lodge $47.00 per person additional
Elephant Backed Safari - Guests will be introduced to a herd of rescued elephants then ride them into the bush accompanied by a driver and guides and using a comfortable saddle. See the bush and interaction with other animals from an elephant's perspective. A very memorable experience. $200.00per person( bookings must be made in advance as reservations are limited.)
Zipline Canopy Tour - slide down the valley on a zipline. Experience the thrill and see the beauty of the trees. Safety is a priority and no special physical fitness is required. Good for all ages. $60.00 per person
Extra Big 5 Game Drive - The reserve is so vast, our scheduled visits will not be enough to cover it all. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhino, and cheetah are all possible on these drives. $50.00 per person
Africa Wild Safaris Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy
Africa Wild Safaris Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy
Payment Schedule:
- $1,500 Deposit due at booking
- 75% of total trip cost 150 days before travel
- Balance due 90 days before travel
Credit card payments will be subject to a 3% processing fee
Late payments will be interpreted as a cancellation
All bank transfer fees are to be paid by the client
The lodges and other providers we work with have strict cancellation policies and advanced reservations are a must, therefore after a certain period of time we are unable to refund deposits and payments in full.
Our Policy
Deposits are nonrefundable
75 % of Tour fee is retained if cancelled between 89 - 60 days before tour date
100% of Tour fee is retained if cancelled 59 or fewer days prior to travel
We must receive formal written notification of cancellation. Late payment is concidered to be a cancellation.
* Travelers are advised to look into travel insurance policies that will refund trip costs should you need to cancel
* Special medical dietary requirements can be accommodated if we are informed before travel. A surcharge may be necessary in order to meet these needs.
* By paying your deposit you are indicating that you are willing to sign the release and assumption of risk document, and you confirm that you are of reasonable fitness and good health and will not in any way knowingly create a risk for yourself or other tour members.
Getting to Your Yoga Retreat and Safari
Getting to Your Yoga Retreat and Safari
Flights to Johannesburg
Guests should plan their travel to arrive at the Johannesburg (OR Tambo) airport.
We recommend guests fly to JNB through New York Kennedy (JFK) airport. This flight offers several advantages over the other options: (see below for other options)
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Non-stop flight. From our years of traveling to Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, it may seem like a long time in the plane, but layovers are far more taxing and add days and dollars to your travel.
- It arrives in Johannesburg in the morning which allows the group to get to our lodge by afternoon and start experiencing wildlife. It also minimizes your time in the less secure city and gets you out into the country where it is more worry-free.
- Easy connections to and from your home city
South Africa Airlines / United Airlines / Star Alliance
Date Flight From Depart Arrive Destination
May 2 SA204 JFK 11:15 am 8:35 am May 3 JNB
May 11 SA203 JNB 20:35 6:40 am May 12 JFK
The return trip is also non-stop and leaves conveniently in the evening. You will be able to enjoy the morning at the lodge and do some activity before departing for the airport
The flight arrives back in New York in the early morning which will allow you to catch onward flight home.
Travel Tip: Often these flights are not available as a points reward, but United has a program for those who have its credit card where you use your points like dollars on any flight. This is a great way to pay for or reduce the cost of the trip.
Travel Tip: We live a 3.5hr flight away from New York and though we could get a very early flight that connects to our JNB flight, we elect to fly to JFK the day before and overnight in an airport hotel . This gets us away from the stress of "getting out of the house" and to NY where we can make sure all our bags are still with us, have a nice meal, sleep, have a slow breakfast and arrive for "the big flight" rested, healthy, and focused.
Other ways to get to Johannesburg:
From Australia: Please choose a flight that arrives before 9:30 am in order to meet up with the group or else we can assist you with a clean, safe, and economical hotel in JNB for the night. We can meet you at the hotel after picking up the guests from the USA/JFK flight
Delta Flights from ATL (Atlanta) or SAA/United Flights from IAD (Washington Dulles)
These flight leave in the evening which is convenient for connected from your home city, but they arrive in JNB in the late afternoon and will require you to arrive a day early and overnight in Johannesburg. We can recommend a safe, economical hotel which is convenient for us to pick you up the next morning after we have collected the rest of the group.
PROS: The advantage here is that you can sleep off the long flight and you will be picked up mid morning with the other guests
CONS: Not a nonstop flight. The stop either on the return or outbound flight will add an hour or more to your time in the plane (and disturb your sleep)
You will need to arrive a day before the rest of the group and stay in an airport hotel in Johannesburg.
Flying through Europe: if you do this I recommend taking a few days in your layover city to break up the flight. Please choose a flight that arrives before 9:30 am in order to meet up with the group or else we can assist you with a clean, safe, and economical hotel in JNB for the night. We can meet you at the hotel after picking up the guests from the USA/JFK flight
Guests who are planning to experience other parts of South Africa or Africa either before or after our safari should look into flying to our regional airport of Hoedspruit (HDS – Eastgate)
Non-stop flight. From our years of traveling to Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, it may seem like a long time in the plane, but layovers are far more taxing and add days and dollars to your travel.
South Africa Airlines / United Airlines / Star Alliance
Date Flight From Depart Arrive Destination
May 2 SA204 JFK 11:15 am 8:35 am May 3 JNB
May 11 SA203 JNB 20:35 6:40 am May 12 JFK
| Date | Flight | From | Depart | Arrive | Destination |
| May 2 | SA204 | JFK | 11:15 am | 8:35 am May 3 | JNB |
| May 11 | SA203 | JNB | 20:35 | 6:40 am May 12 | JFK |
The return trip is also non-stop and leaves conveniently in the evening. You will be able to enjoy the morning at the lodge and do some activity before departing for the airport
The flight arrives back in New York in the early morning which will allow you to catch onward flight home.
Travel Tip: Often these flights are not available as a points reward, but United has a program for those who have its credit card where you use your points like dollars on any flight. This is a great way to pay for or reduce the cost of the trip.
Travel Tip: We live a 3.5hr flight away from New York and though we could get a very early flight that connects to our JNB flight, we elect to fly to JFK the day before and overnight in an airport hotel . This gets us away from the stress of "getting out of the house" and to NY where we can make sure all our bags are still with us, have a nice meal, sleep, have a slow breakfast and arrive for "the big flight" rested, healthy, and focused.
Other ways to get to Johannesburg:
From Australia: Please choose a flight that arrives before 9:30 am in order to meet up with the group or else we can assist you with a clean, safe, and economical hotel in JNB for the night. We can meet you at the hotel after picking up the guests from the USA/JFK flight
Delta Flights from ATL (Atlanta) or SAA/United Flights from IAD (Washington Dulles)
These flight leave in the evening which is convenient for connected from your home city, but they arrive in JNB in the late afternoon and will require you to arrive a day early and overnight in Johannesburg. We can recommend a safe, economical hotel which is convenient for us to pick you up the next morning after we have collected the rest of the group.
PROS: The advantage here is that you can sleep off the long flight and you will be picked up mid morning with the other guests
CONS: Not a nonstop flight. The stop either on the return or outbound flight will add an hour or more to your time in the plane (and disturb your sleep) You will need to arrive a day before the rest of the group and stay in an airport hotel in Johannesburg.
Flying through Europe: if you do this I recommend taking a few days in your layover city to break up the flight. Please choose a flight that arrives before 9:30 am in order to meet up with the group or else we can assist you with a clean, safe, and economical hotel in JNB for the night. We can meet you at the hotel after picking up the guests from the USA/JFK flight
Guests who are planning to experience other parts of South Africa or Africa either before or after our safari should look into flying to our regional airport of Hoedspruit (HDS – Eastgate)