It may sound unusual, but in fact, yoga in Africa is a very special experience. There are not many places in the world as awe inspiring as the landscapes of East Africa. You do not need to be a yoga expert or drink herbal tea all day – even people who have been practicing yoga only for a short time can join. Just to sit and let your eyes wander across the seemingly endless plains makes you feel at peace. In the wild places of Tanzania, there is no light other than that of the sun and stars, and there is no sound other than that of the birds and animals. Places untouched – the perfect environment to find your inner balance. Take some time out and let us take you on a journey, visiting some of the most beautiful places in Tanzania, accompanied by a highly qualified instructor.
We can either tailor a private yoga safari or you can join our scheduled yoga safaris as detailed below.
Scheduled Yoga Safari 26 September - 04 October 2010
Planet Africa Safaris is running a scheduled yoga safari this year. The first part of the safari is spent combining relaxation and yoga in and around Arusha with some game activities in Arusha National Park. You then head off to Tarangire National Park to see the elephants & giant baobabs, followed by the wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater. The scheduled safari ends at this point but you have the option to extend and head into the Serengeti or to the beach in Zanzibar, or both! Details of the itinerary and pricing are below - if you are interested please enquire for availability.
26 September
Arrival - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport during the day or in the evening, depending on your flight, you will be picked up and taken to the Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, set in a nice and quiet location, half way between the airport and Arusha town. Spend the afternoon/evening relaxing.
Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge offers a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. There is a pool if you want to go for a swim. The lodge is environmentally friendly, set in a forest reserve, and caters to yoga groups with homegrown fresh vegetables and fruits picked from the trees. The lodge has a fantastic yoga deck set next to a trout farm.
27 September
Relaxing time –Yoga - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
Wake up for your first class on the yoga platform set on the beautiful spring fed lake of Ngare Sero Springs. The monkeys enjoy watching the yoga class and we will have a playful audience mimicking our yoga postures. Most likely, you will feel quite tired after your long flight, so it is probably a good idea to take a day out just to reenergize, spend time at the pool relaxing and adjust…and do a massage if you want.
11 am rejuvenation yoga - light stretching and pranayama to rejuvenate the body.
4 pm rejuvenation class
28 September
Arusha National Park Game Drive - Walk and Yoga Mt Meru – Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
After breakfast, you will go for your first wildlife viewing…a trip to Arusha National Park! Depart around 9am and game drive through the park arriving close to Mt Meru from where you will go on a walk up to the crater. Here you will have a yoga class followed by picnic lunch and some time to relax and explore the crater before returning to the vehicle for a game drive out of the park.
**Please note that if it rains or there is a lot of animal activity it may not be possible to do the walk or yoga in the crater in which case you will do a full day of game driving in the park**.
Return to Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge for dinner and overnight.
12pm Either kundalini, meditation with pranayama or active meditation (weather dependent).
29 September
Relaxing time –Yoga - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
Today can be spent relaxing at the lodge or take a taxi into town and visit the local market.
8am flexion and extension full body
6pm yin yoga
30 September & 01 October
Yoga – drive to Maramboi Tented Lodge – Tarangire National Park – Maramboi Tented Lodge
8am spine twisting series
Have your final yoga class in the morning and after lunch at the lodge you will drive to Maramboi arriving in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Maramboi Tented Camp is a lovely camp located outside the park, but not very far away from the entrance gate. Comfortable, tastefully furnished tents are complemented by tasty food and an incredible view of the Rift Valley escarpment. Maramboi Tented Camp is very conveniently located and can easily be reached by road.
The following morning you will head off early with your driver guide to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire National Park is a unique park, close in proximity to Lake Manyara, and absolutely fantastic at this time of year– you will most likely see many elephants, and innumerous baobabs are always a guarantee. In the dry season the wildlife in Tarangire is just phenomenal – part of the migration actually passes through this park.
02 & 03 October
Mountain biking - Manyara National Park - Game drive – Ngorongoro Crater Game Dr
ive – Plantation Lodge
After breakfast you will head to the Manyara area for a biking trip down the Great Rift Valley escarpment – the view of Manyara Park is just incredible! This ride is an excellent introduction into daily life in a typical Tanzanian village. You will bike in and around the village of Mto wa Mbu. The ride ends at the border of Manyara National Park. Afterwards you will enjoy a flavorful local lunch prepared for you by a lady from the village.
After lunch you will drive to Manyara National Park for an afternoon of game driving. The park is incredible for birds, as well as elephants and other wildlife. The pink of the flamingos on Lake Manyara and the towering wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment create a beautiful backdrop. After visiting the Park you will be taken to Plantation Lodge were you will spend the next 2 nights.
Plantation Lodge is a tranquil small lodge, set in the midst of coffee fields just outside the Ngorongoro Crater. It is a real gem - definitely one of the best lodges in the northern safari circuit! The rooms are all individually decorate
d, set amongst lush gardens with a nice pool. Good food, excellent hospitality with a very personal touch and a very relaxing ambience – Plantation Lodge is one of the best places for an afternoon at ease.
The next day, the Ngorongoro Crater awaits you! This imploded volcano is the world’s largest unflooded complete caldera - the floor lies some 2,000 feet below the rim - not only a stunning landscape, but also brimming with wildlife. You will spend the second night at the Plantation Lodge.
04 October
Relaxing morning – lunch at the lodge – after lunch drive back to Kilimanjaro Airport or go on to the Serengeti or Zanzibar
This morning you can relax at Plantation lodge or go for a walk in the area with the guides from the lodge. Plantation Lodge has a lovely pool. Enjoy a nice lunch at Plantation Lodge and afterwards your guide will bring you back to Kia lodge where you have a few hours and an early dinner before you are dropped off at Kilimanjaro airport in time for your flight home.
Or…. If you have some more time fly/drive onwards to the Serengeti to see the famous wildebeest migration or relax at the beach of Zanzibar!!
Contact Sophie at Planet Africa Safaris for more information about the yoga safari and the possible extensions to the Serengeti and/or Zanzibar! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Pricing for Scheduled Safari (please enquire for private groups):
Total price is US$ 2,375 per person (based on 2 people sharing a room)
Total price is US$ 2,840 per person (in own room – single supplement applies)
Included is:
- Accommodation and transport as per itinerary
- Meals (starting with dinner on first day and finishing with dinner on final day)
- Private safari vehicle with private guide during the safari
- Water and soft drinks in the car during the safari
- All park fees
- All yoga classes and activities as mentioned
- Mountain Biking
- Insurance for Flying Doctors and ambulance transport with First Air Responder in case of an emergency
Excluded is:
- International travel
- Tourist visa
- Drinks at the lodges
- Tips & souvenirs
