Tanzania Women's Yoga + Safari Retreat
A Once in a Lifetime, African Journey into the Wild
All-Inclusive Women's Tanzania Retreat
A few times in our lives, we’re graced with experiences that quietly but completely shift us. Not because we tried to change anything, but because we were placed somewhere that reminded us how to be.
That’s what Africa feels like.
This is Yoga Elements’ first journey to Africa, and from the moment you arrive in Tanzania, something slows. The air feels different. The ground feels steady. The constant hum of everyday life softens, and without effort, you find yourself fully here.
Our journey begins in the town of Iringa, tucked into Tanzania’s Southern Highlands. For six nights, we’ll call a private hilltop retreat lodge, perched perfectly between two worlds. On one side, endless views of the bush stretching into the distance. On the other, the colorful movement of Iringa town below. It’s a place where nature and daily life coexist easily.
Life in Iringa invites connection, not the rushed kind, but the kind that unfolds naturally. We’ll spend time with local tribes and artisans, learning through shared experience and presence. Jewelry making, basket weaving, drumming, traditional dance—each offering an entry point into culture, story, and rhythm that has existed long before us. These moments aren’t performances; they’re exchanges. Human to human.
Yoga during this portion of the retreat is grounding and intentional. Practices are designed to help you land in your body, feel supported by the earth beneath you, and listen more closely—to your breath, your intuition, the quiet wisdom that often gets drowned out back home.
There is space here, too. Space to wander on guided walking safaris, noticing the small details of the land. Space to stroll through Iringa’s markets, letting color, scent, and conversation pull you into the present moment.
And then, once you settle into the land, the journey deepens.
We leave Iringa and head into the bush for two nights of true safari immersion. Our home becomes beautiful canvas eco-lodges, thoughtfully designed with real beds, private bathrooms, and hot water—comfort that allows you to stay present. At night, the sounds of the bush replace the usual noise of the world, and sleep comes easily. Hear lions roar as your lulled off to sleep.
Days here are shaped by safari. We head out to witness elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, and more moving freely through their natural habitat. There’s a humility that comes with watching life unfold this way. A remembering that we are guests here.
One morning, before the sun rises, we gather quietly and lift off in a hot air balloon. As we float above the bush, the land wakes below us. Animals stir. Light spills across the horizon. And in that stillness, something shifts. Perspective widens. The heart opens. It’s one of those moments where you're fully there, without needing a single thing else.
This retreat isn’t about fixing yourself or becoming someone new.
It’s about remembering what it feels like to be present.
To feel small in the best possible way.
To feel deeply connected—to the Earth, to others, to yourself.
Africa has a way of meeting you exactly where you are.
And gently reminding you of what really matters.
If you feel the pull, trust it.
Some journeys speak to us long before we understand why.
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Yoga Styles
Yoga is gently woven into the rhythm of our days in Tanzania, supporting the journey rather than leading it. Each practice is intentional, accessible, and designed to help you arrive more fully in your body and in the experience unfolding around you. We begin with grounding practices that help ease travel and settle your nervous system as you arrive. Morning yoga sessions invite slow, steady movement and breath—sometimes more energizing, sometimes softer—guided by the energy of the land and the day ahead. These practices help you feel awake, open, and connected before exploring Iringa, walking through markets, or heading out on guided hikes. As the journey deepens, yoga becomes more reflective. Yin and restorative practices offer space to integrate what you’re experiencing—longer holds, quiet breath, and time to simply be. After days spent in the bush, on safari, or immersed in culture, these slower practices support deep rest and nervous-system regulation. Yoga Nidra may be offered to encourage profound relaxation, helping your body and mind fully absorb the experience. All classes are open to every level and offered with options, encouragement, and care. This is not about performance or pushing—it’s about presence. Yoga here is a companion to the journey, helping you feel grounded, supported, and deeply connected to the land, the moment, and yourself.
Skill Level
At our retreats, we welcome participants of all yoga levels—from beginners to seasoned practitioners. You don't need to be an expert in yoga; the primary requirement is your willingness to engage and embrace the practice. Each yoga session is designed to accommodate different skill levels and provide modifications so everyone can enjoy the benefits of yoga in a supportive and beautiful environment. While yoga experience isn't necessary, some of our excursions will call for a moderate level of fitness. This means being comfortable with walking for long periods or handling activities that involve a bit of physical exertion, like hiking over uneven terrain. It's not about being super fit, but having the stamina to enjoy activities fully without undue strain. All excursions during the retreat are included in your package, giving you the freedom to decide what you'd like to partake in—no pressure, no worries. Each adventure is an invitation to explore not just the landscapes but also your personal boundaries. However, participation in every activity is completely optional. You’re free to choose your adventures based on what feels right for you each day. Our goal is for you to feel energized, not overwhelmed. So, come as you are, with your spirit of adventure and openness to new experiences. We're here to ensure you have a memorable, enriching, and personally fulfilling journey.
Food
All meals are included throughout the retreat and are prepared by a private chef. Food is fresh, nourishing, and thoughtfully made using seasonal ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. Meals are shared around the table, unhurried and communal, becoming part of the rhythm of our days together. From morning coffee and tea to hearty meals and snacks in between, everything is taken care of so you can settle in, feel supported, and stay present in the experience. Plant-based and other dietary needs can be accommodated.
What Makes This Retreat Special?
This retreat is special because Africa is unlike anywhere else on Earth.
There’s a depth here that’s hard to describe until you feel it—the land, the people, the pace of life. This journey isn’t about checking off experiences. It’s about being invited in.
We spend time connecting with local tribes and artisans, learning through shared presence and hands-on experience. Basket weaving, jewelry making, drumming, traditional dance—these moments aren’t demonstrations or performances. They’re exchanges. Opportunities to sit together, learn from one another, and experience culture in a way that feels human and real.
We also move slowly through the land itself. Guided walks through the bush invite you to notice the small details—the textures, the sounds, the rhythm beneath it all. This is where you begin to feel the heartbeat of Africa. Not as a place you’re visiting, but as something you’re standing inside of.
Later in the journey, we sleep in the bush, surrounded by wildlife. Canvas eco-lodges become home as the sounds of the land carry you into sleep. Lions in the distance. The night alive around you. It’s humbling. Grounding. And something you don’t forget.
This experience is intentionally limited to just 10 women. That intimacy allows space for real connection, for conversations that deepen over shared meals, quiet moments, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Friendships form naturally here, often lasting long after the journey ends.
This retreat is special not because of what we add to it, but because of what Africa offers so effortlessly. Presence. Perspective. And a deep remembering of what it feels like to truly connect.
Just A Few Of The Benefits...
Deep presence through immersion. Stepping away from daily noise and into the rhythm of Africa creates space to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect—with yourself, the land, and what truly matters.
Meaningful cultural connection. Spending time with local tribes through basket weaving, jewelry making, drumming, and shared experience offers a rare opportunity to learn culture from the inside out—human to human, not as an observer.
A felt connection to nature. Guided walks through the bush invite you to move slowly, notice the details, and feel the heartbeat of Africa beneath your feet—grounding you in a way few places on Earth can.
Perspective through wildness. Sleeping in the bush, surrounded by wildlife, brings a quiet humility and awe that naturally shifts perspective and reminds you of your place within something much larger.
Intimate, lasting connection. With the retreat limited to just 10 women, there is space for real conversation, shared moments, and friendships that form organically—often lasting long after the journey ends.
Tribal Arts
We’ll join along to learn tribal art with the Maasai people of East Africa, learning directly from women who carry generations of tradition through their hands. This is a chance to slow down and sit together—working with natural materials, learning patterns and techniques, and understanding the meaning woven into each piece. These moments aren’t rushed or performative; they’re shared, human, and rooted in story. This experience is both creative and connective. As you work alongside these women, you’ll gain insight into a way of life shaped by land, rhythm, and community, while supporting meaningful cultural preservation and women’s empowerment. What you create becomes more than an object—it becomes a reminder of time spent present, learning, and being welcomed into something much older than us all.
Iringa Town
Exploring Iringa is an experience that unfolds slowly. A gentle walk downhill brings you into town, where daily life moves at its own rhythm and the energy feels warm and welcoming. Wandering through the markets, you’ll find vibrant displays of fresh fruits, vegetables, and local goods—simple, colorful moments that invite you to pause, taste, and take it all in. The air shifts as you pass through the spice market, rich with aromas carried in from Zanzibar and nearby regions, and the handmade Maasai market offers a chance to pick up meaningful pieces crafted by hand. These walks aren’t about rushing from place to place—they’re about seeing Iringa through local eyes. Stopping for a samosa, browsing kitenge fabrics, grabbing a coffee or milkshake, or learning the stories held within the old Boma museum. When it’s time to return, you can enjoy the walk back up or hop into a bajaj for an easy ride home. Each outing feels relaxed, human, and connected—an invitation to experience the town not as a visitor, but as someone welcomed in.
Tribal Medicine
The traditional medicine experience is something truly rare. Traveling by 4×4, we journey into a remote tribal community to meet a traditional medicine man who still practices much as his ancestors have for hundreds of years. This is an invitation to listen, observe, and learn—about plants, healing, and the deep relationship between land and wellbeing that has been passed down through generations. This experience isn’t about spectacle or answers. It’s about presence and perspective. Standing in a place where knowledge has been carried through story, ritual, and direct connection to the earth offers a quiet reminder of how healing once looked—and still does here. It’s humbling, grounding, and unlike anything most of us will ever experience again.
Retreat Details
Bush Eco-Lodge
Ruaha is vast, untamed, and deeply alive. This is one of Africa’s most remote wilderness areas, where the land stretches wide and the rhythm of nature leads everything. The Great Ruaha River draws animals to its banks, baobab trees rise like ancient guardians, and the bush feels raw and expansive in a way that instantly shifts perspective. Days here are shaped by slow, intentional game drives—watching large herds of elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife move freely through their natural habitat. Nothing is rushed. You learn to read the land, listen closely, and let each encounter unfold on its own terms. At night, we return to our canvas eco-lodges, where comfort meets the wild. You fall asleep in a real bed, surrounded by the sounds of the bush—sometimes hearing lions calling in the distance as the land settles into darkness. The walls are canvas, the air is alive, and the experience is both grounding and unforgettable. There’s something powerful about resting this close to nature, knowing you’re held safely while the wild continues just beyond your tent. It’s humbling, awe-inspiring, and a reminder of how alive the world truly is.
African Safari
Our safari experiences are as much about connection and story as they are about wildlife. We’ll explore the land on foot and by vehicle, guided by locals who know these paths deeply. One of our walks brings us to Gangilonga Rock, a powerful landmark woven into the history of the Hehe people. Standing at the summit, overlooking Iringa, you can feel the presence of the past and the quiet strength of the land beneath your feet. Another hike leads us along paths to a hidden church perched above the valley—known only to locals and used just a few times a year—peaceful, untouched, and deeply grounding. We’ll also venture into the surrounding nature reserve and the wider Great Ruaha Valley, learning about traditional medicinal plants used in Maasai practices and moving slowly through landscapes that change as we go. Some days include game viewing and exploration by vehicle, with a picnic lunch and plenty of time to take it all in—elephants in the distance, birdsong overhead, sweeping views back toward the retreat. These safaris aren’t rushed or scripted. They’re about feeling the land, listening to its stories, and experiencing Africa in a way that stays with you long after the day ends.
Hot Air Balloon
Before sunrise, we move quietly into the bush for a hot air balloon ride over Ruaha. Wrapped in the early light, we lift gently off the ground and drift above the landscape as the day begins to unfold. Below us, rivers wind through the land, baobabs stand tall and ancient, and the bush stretches out in every direction—wide, open, and alive. From the air, you witness Africa moving at its own pace. Elephants gathering near the riverbanks. Hippos stirring in the water. Big cats returning from the night’s hunt. Birds rising with the sun. There’s a stillness up here that’s hard to describe—a sense of perspective that settles in without effort. For a while, you’re simply floating, watching the wild unfold beneath you, fully present. When the balloon returns gently to the earth, you carry that quiet awe with you—an experience that stays long after the ride ends. This is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Accommodations
Shared Chalet with Balcony
Our shared chalets offer a beautiful balance of comfort, privacy, and connection. Each chalet is spacious and thoughtfully designed for two guests, featuring two single beds. Each chalet boasts a private en-suite bathroom with reliable high-pressure showers and hot water.
Built using locally sourced materials, the chalets feel warm and rooted in the landscape—simple, intentional, and inviting. Inside, a wood-burning fireplace creates a cozy place to unwind in the evenings, while a private balcony opens to fresh air and sweeping views, perfect for quiet mornings or watching the light shift across the land.
Bush Eco Lodge
Our bush stay is at a thoughtfully built eco-lodge in Ruaha, designed for comfort, simplicity, and respect for the land. Solid-wall bathrooms are made from bricks fired in nearby village kilns, with stone from the surrounding mountains supporting stilted canvas structures. Thatched roofs, locally grown teak furnishings, and solar-powered hot water and lighting keep the space sustainable and grounded.
Inside each tented room are two single beds and a 180-degree view through mosquito netting, opening directly onto the surrounding bush. Minimal, quiet, and deeply connected to the land—this is where the wild speaks for itself.
