In June 2024 we spent incredible week in one of Kenya’s most prolific wildlife areas and most iconic, award-wining wildlife conservation areas; The Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This was our fourth yoga retreat to Kenya and it felt as much like home to us as it always has and the wildlife was, as usual, absolutely incredible!

Most begun their trip with a night at the Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, which is an historic hotel near the airport that offers views over Nairobi National Park and a convenient location for travellers passing through the city. After breakfast our Kenya Yoga Retreat began! We all met in the hotel lobby and made a swift departure through the city and up into the hills of central Kenya, stopping enroute for snacks and a spot of shopping. We made great time on the four hour drive and arrived at Ol Pejeta to meet our guides from Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages around midday.

*This White Rhino struck a perfect pose for us in the beautiful evening light*

We had our very first game drive into the camp spotting white rhinos, elephants, zebras, buffalo and herds of giraffe enroute. After settling in and a lovely relaxing yoga class we headed out for a game drive and our first sundowner on the plains.

On Safari on our Kenya Yoga Retreat

We woke early each morning to greet the day with a yoga practice on the deck watching the sun rise and were often visited by elephants, giraffe and other wildlife as we practiced. It’s the most magical start to the day and sets everyone off on a good note for the day’s adventures. Our morning game drives were packed with wildlife. As the long rains had just come to a close the plains were lush and green with baby animals prancing about merrily at every turn, enormous herds of elephants and towers of giraffe graced the skylines.

*We were surrounded by a huge herd of giraffe as we watched the sun set. What a moment this was!!*

The lions of Ol Pejeta did not disappoint either. We watched two lion kills during our stay and saw countless prides - the lions are really thriving on Ol Pejeta and it’s a joy to see!

We ate breakfast each day out in the bush after our game drive and the team at The Safari Cottages outdid themselves each morning with homemade granola, fresh fruit, cooked cold meats, pancakes and more. Not to mention the delicious, fresh-brew Kenyan coffee! Ol Pejeta’s wildlife is fantastic and our experiences here are a big reason we keep coming back for our annual Kenya Yoga Retreat - we had almost daily sightings of lions, rhinos, elephants, hyena and plains game. This time round we were also lucky to see not one, but THREE leopard!

*A beautiful male leopard on day one! Photographed by Emma Thomas.*

Lunch time at camp was just as wonderful - colourful salads and delicious desserts served under the shade of the trees overlooking the river. It was a glorious way to ease out of the morning and right over to our patios where we’d then relax with a good book or catch a quick nap listening to the birds and the gentle breeze. After a relaxing afternoon yoga practice we’d then head off for an afternoon game drive and, the highlight of the day, a sundowner - drinks and snacks enjoyed on the plains watching the sun set over the savannah.

*Our community yoga class with the staff at The Safari Cottages is always one of our favourites*

“This was my first yoga retreat and I would love to do it again! We thoroughly enjoyed a couple of days in Nairobi before arriving at Ol Pejeta. Sunrise yoga in the African bush was a perfect way to begin each day. We had incredible wildlife sightings each day, including a leopard cub. The accommodations were spacious and very comfortable, the food was healthy and delicious and the service was outstanding. One of my favorite parts was stargazing on the way to the fire before dinners in the evenings. Laura and Kat did an excellent job teaching the yoga classes and planning optional unique experiences each day. I am confident that this will be one of my favorite trips ever!” - Amy Sanders (Kenya 2024)

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Visiting the Northern White Rhinos & K9 Security Team

A really important part of our retreats is conservation education. We visited the last two remaining Northern White Rhinos on the planet - Najin and Fatu and learned more about the work Ol Pejeta is doing to bring this species back from the brink of extinction. Each time we meet with Zach and “his girls” we’re holding our breath, eagerly awaiting news of a pregnancy, especially after the bittersweet news that emerged earlier in the year following the first successful pregnancy. There was a magical moment where a praying mantis hitched a ride and Zach expertly caught the unique moment on camera :D

*Zach snapping a picture of a praying mantis hunting flies on Najin’s (the rhino’s) back*

We also got to meet the K9 security team - both the dogs and the handlers to see them in action tracking poachers and sniffing out arms and ammunition. These dogs are incredible and they work not just in Ol Pejeta but in wildlife parks and conservancies all around the world! We had an amazing picnic breakfast in the bush, saw so much wildlife and had the most beautiful sundowners surrounded by giraffe, elephant and hyena. It was a magical week!

Here are a few more of my favourite shots from the week…