10 Days Luxury Yoga Safari in Botswana

In this retreat, you will be accommodated in different places; Kalahari Plans Camp, Vumbura Plains Camp, Savuti Camp, and Chobe Savanna Lodge.

Kalahari Plains Camp

You will spend three nights in Kalahari Plains Camp. Situated on an immense plain, Kalahari Plains Camp lies in a remote part of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, a place famed for its outstanding wildlife with vast herds of antelope followed by abundant predators, including the legendary black-maned Kalahari lions and lively honey badgers. This region also offers some of the best summer wildlife viewing in Africa.

Kalahari Plains comprises eight en-suite canvas units, including one family unit, each with a sleep-out area from which to enjoy the night skies. The lounge and dining area has a separate swimming pool and deck. The camp is raised off the ground to catch the breeze and take in the sweeping, spacious views across the Kalahari. Solar power provides electricity and hot water, and the innovative insulated canvas walls and roof keep the temperatures inside comfortable. Guided game drives unlock the wildlife treasures found here, and authentic San Bushman experiences provide insights into the unique culture of this people, their skills and way of life.

Vumbura Plains Camp

You will stay for two nights in this camp. Vumbura Plains is a luxury camp situated in the northern Okavango Delta, comprising two separate satellite camps, each with its own raised dining, lounge, and bar area with a vista across the floodplains. The main area emphasises relaxation, furnished as it is with soft sofas, and idiosyncratic objets d’art.

The 14 rooms, raised off the ground, are unique in contemporary design; the dimensions are square, with extensive use of light, wood, and space. Each suite has a large, comfortable bedroom, sunken lounge with cushions, sala, en-suite facilities, an outdoor shower, private deck, and plunge pool. Two family suites are also on offer with private decks linking the two separate rooms. Vumbura Plains offers both land and water activities, principally game viewing in varied habitats on open vehicles, mekoro and boats, providing an excellent all-round experience. The concession is leased from five villages through the Okavango Community Trust in a partnership that ensures that the benefits of ecotourism are shared with rural stakeholders.

Savuti Camp

You will spend two nights in Savuti Camp. Savuti Camp is set deep in the wilderness on the productive Savute Channel, a refuge for a variety of wildlife. For many years, the channel was dry before the waters returned in 2008, and abundant game congregated around and adapted to their new surroundings. As part of a natural cycle, the channel is dry once more, resulting in a rich feeding ground and corridor between the surrounding mopane woodlands for both plains game and predators. Savuti is about 17 kilometres downstream from the Zibadianja Lagoon, the source of the Channel.

Accommodation comprises seven large en-suite canvas-and-thatch rooms, including a family unit, that are raised off the ground and face onto the Savute Channel. From the thatched dining area, a pool, and large viewing area with fire deck extend outwards on raised wooden decks. Activities on offer are day and night game drives, nature walks with a guide (depending on qualified guide availability), and boating if water levels permit. Two Star Beds, which are Southern Cross and Orion, approximately takes 20 minutes from camp, are a magical and unique way for guests to experience the African bush.

Chobe Savanna Lodge

You will stay here for two nights. Set in a classic African savanna environment with sweeping vistas, the focal point of the lodge is a thatched open sided lodge which commands a 270 degree view over the Chobe River and beyond to the Chobe National Park.

Day 1 to 3 - Central Kalahari Game Reserve

You will be met at Maun International Airport and fly by light aircraft to Kalahari Plains Camp in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, one of the largest conservation areas in the world. Kalahari Plains Camp looks out over an enormous plain, with views of the endless blue skies of the Kalahari. The area is known for its legendary black manned lion, as well as some of the best cheetah viewing in the world.

You will spend your days here on game drives, bush walks, and sleeping out under the immense clear night skies of the Kalahari. Throughout the safari, you will enjoy Restorative yoga practices every morning and calming meditations every afternoon.

Day 4 to 5 - Okavango Delta

On day four, you will leave the Central Kalahari and make your way by light aircraft to the watery wonderland of the Okavango Delta and Vumbura Plains Camp, a luxurious eco-retreat in the Delta that offers the best of the wildlife areas and activities.

In addition to yoga and meditation, you will enjoy both land and water activities here, including game walks and drives, mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) excursions, exceptional birding and fishing, and night game drives in the hopes of spotting some of the rarer nocturnal animals that call this area home.

Day 6 to 7 - Savuti

On day six, you will leave the Delta and make your way by light aircraft to Savuti Camp, located in the private Linyanti Concession along the Savute Channel. This area is known for its diverse and prolific wildlife, in particular its huge herds of elephants, enormous quantities of plains game, many predators, and the rare aardvark and aardwolf.

Savuti Camp is an intimate camp set on the Channel, providing excellent game viewing activities. In addition to morning yoga and afternoon guided meditation, you will enjoy game drives and walks, night drives, and boat excursions. Sleep-outs are also possible, on the camp’s elevated game-viewing platform, and offer an awesome experience of the starry night sky and the sounds of the African bush at night.

Day 8 to 10 - Chobe National Park

Day eight takes you to Chobe National Park, via light aircraft to Kasane and road transfer to the Park. You will spend the next two nights at Chobe Savanna Lodge, which overlooks the vast floodplains of the Puku Flats. Diverse habitats and one of the largest populations of game on the African continent make Chobe a game viewing paradise year round.

Chobe Savanna Lodge is a water-based lodge, which means that in addition to morning yoga and afternoon meditation, you will have a choice of aquatic activities to enjoy. Sunset boat cruises are often a highlight of the entire safari, as many animals come down to the water to drink in the fiery light of a classic African sunset. The safari ends on day ten, when you will be transferred back to Kasane Airport.

In this retreat, you will enjoy both land and water activities, including game walks, game drives, and mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) excursions.

• 

  Jennifer Russell

  Living in Johannesburg, Jenny Russell has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 2009 and has had the privilege of studying with many senior teachers from around the world, as well as travelling to Mysore, India. Teaching since 2011 and in particular at Mysore Yoga JHB since 2014, Jenny hopes to transfer her deep love for Ashtanga yoga and inspire a committed, transformative daily practice.

This retreat takes place in Botswana. You will visit Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and Savuti.

In this retreat, you will be served daily meals and drinks. All dietary requirements are catered for.

• 9 nights accommodation
• Airport transfers
• All game viewing activities
• All national park entry fees
• Daily meals and drinks
• Daily morning yoga practice and afternoon mindfulness meditation
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Laundry
• Light aircraft transfer from MUB to Kalahari Plains Camp, Vumbura Plains Camp, Savuti Camp, and Kasane International Airport (BBK)
• Meet and greet service at Maun International Airport (MUB)
• Personal yoga teacher for duration of the trip
• Road transfers from Chobe Savanna Lodge to Kasane International Airport

• Airfare
• Additional activities
• Personal expenses

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Maun International Airport (MUB). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Made in Africa Tours & Safaris will pick you up from the airport.