Product Description

Women’s Recharge and Re-Awaken Safari Retreat
Length – 8 days, 7 nights

This November, take the chance to “Recharge and Re-Awaken” with a small group of like-minded women on a 7-night hosted safari retreat in Tanzania, from 8-15 November 2023

The Program – This retreat is for you if:
You wish to discover or revisit the beauty of the Tanzanian landscapes and abundant wildlife.
You yearn to change perspective and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
You desire positive, transformational changes in your life.

We will:
Journey OUTWARD, learning from nature and the wild: We find common ground with our surroundings to reconnect with ourselves and others, gaining fulfillment in our relationships and being in our element.
Journey BACKWARD, reviewing our beliefs and patterns. We face our fears, limitations, and histories head-on, to confront them and let go.
Journey INWARD, seeking understanding, and then we release. After reflection, we rewrite our stories and return to our center. We delve into discovering who we are and our core needs and desires so we can lead an authentic life by staying true to ourselves.
Journey FORWARD, embrace light, and clarity. We accept new-found knowledge of our reawakened self to forge a new pathway forward.

Hosted by:
Gayle Higginbotham, the founder of Oculus Travel, designs bespoke itineraries for regenerative travel journeys across Africa. As a dedicated and caring host, Gayle eagerly looks forward to supporting you through your African adventure.
Vivian Temba, owner of KantabileAfrika, is our in-territory host. She will provide logistical support for the entire retreat and host four nights of the itinerary at her beautiful Aurari Camp in the Serengeti.

Facilitated by:
Nathalie Sommer, a Relationship Coach specializing in emotional empowerment and life transformation, with over eight years of experience hosting group retreats, loves to help clients rediscover themselves, and to support them as they embark on the life they seek.
Melanie Angerer, specializes in holistic integration through nutrition, movement pedagogy, massage therapy, and the psychology of eating. She is passionate about creating joyful coaching conditions that allow individuals to share and sparkle uniquely.

Our Itinerary
Summary:
Each morning will present opportunities to connect with the landscape and encounter wildlife, observing behaviors and interactions that shed light on our patterns and mannerisms. The nurturing environment, in combination with the daily coaching support from the retreat facilitators, host and camp staff, and the camaraderie from the rest of the group, will provide the perfect setting for you to reconnect with yourself, allowing you to be comfortable, in your element, able to reflect, renew and regenerate.

Detailed Itinerary:
November 8, 2023
Participants will arrive in Arusha by the 7th of November under their private arrangements.
We will gather early on the morning of the 8th of November to meet our wonderful host and facilitators, who will take care of us for the 7-night retreat.
We embark on an early morning 1h40 scenic flight to reach the northern part of Serengeti National Park. This renowned wildlife sanctuary is home to Earth’s most significant terrestrial migration.
Our safari guides will be eagerly awaiting our arrival at Kogatende Airstrip. We will then take our first game drive in the Mara River area as we make our way to Aurari Camp, our home for the next four nights, arriving in time for a delicious lunch, followed by an afternoon of introspection with our seasoned facilitators.

November 9, 2023
This morning, we can liberate our souls by floating in the skies in a hot air balloon at dawn to soar above the wild expanse of the Serengeti.
After a morning of discovery, an afternoon game drive, and retreat activities, we finish our day with a mesmerizing dinner under the stars.

November 10, 2023
We wake up to the crisp air amid the un-spoilt wilderness and enjoy an al fresco breakfast at Aurari Camp in the warm embrace of the stunning rising sun.
Today, we venture out into the bush with a hamper lunch, for a day’s adventure on the plains, where we shall have our retreat session at a private site near the Mara River.

November 11, 2023
After a restful night, we enjoy a slow morning of self-reflection and take our last opportunity to explore the Serengeti before leaving the area.
Shortly before sundown, we will gather at Simba Kopje, a natural rock formation near Aurari Camp, to reflect upon our time in the Serengeti with our retreat facilitators and companions.

November 12, 2023
After breakfast, we bid farewell to the gracious crew at Aurari Camp before returning to Kogatende Airstrip. During our shared charter flight, we will be treated to marvelous views of the Serengeti plains, Ol Donyo Lengai volcano, and the Great Rift Valley landscapes, before landing at Lake Manyara Airstrip.
Our road transfer to Gibb’s Farm—a working farm located amidst lush coffee plantations at the fringe of Ngorongoro Conservation Area—will take about an hour.
We will be treated to a farm-to-table lunch, relaxation at our charming cottages, and a chance to interact with women from the Maasai tribe—a famous semi-nomadic tribe in East Africa—from the nearby villages.

November 13, 2023
Today, we embark on a memorable visit to Ngorongoro Crater—a UNESCO World Heritage Site dubbed Africa’s Eden.
The Ngorongoro Crater is thought to have formed about 2.5 million years ago when an active volcano’s cone collapsed inward after a massive eruption. The enormous, unbroken caldera we see today is the main remnant of this implosion. Scenic grandeur and stunning views are the hallmarks of this wonder of the world. It is a rare gem inhabited by all the African Big Five animals—Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Black Rhinoceros.
We celebrate the last of our safari adventure with a hot cook-out lunch on the crater floor.

November 14, 2023
We have left the itinerary for this last day of our retreat open, to allow time to integrate and recharge before returning home.
We shall be free to explore the expansiveness of the serene sanctuary at Gibb’s Farm, with sustainability projects, medicinal walks, and artist-in-residence programs on offer.
Today provides an opportunity to reconnect with your facilitators and fellow participants or indulge in a post-retreat massage at Gibb’s Farm.

November 15, 2023
Today, we say goodbye to our host, facilitators, fellow retreat participants, and the Tanzanian staff who have generously welcomed us with their warm hospitality for the past seven nights, with our hearts full of gratitude.
We take a 3-hour scenic drive to reach Arusha town, where we can take a flight and continue our journey if we have opted for a relax-and-recoup extended holiday to Zanzibar, or we will continue to drive for another 90 minutes to reach Kilimanjaro International Airport to board our flight home.
Kwa Heri & Safari Njema!

Pricing Details, Inclusions & Exclusions:
Pricing: USD 9,850 per person sharing. A single supplement of USD 5,000 applies.
Optional extra: Hot Air Balloon Ride at $600
Includes: 7 nights’ accommodation on a full board basis with standard drinks package, all internal flights and road transfers, entire retreat program, all safari and game viewing excursions, park fees and permits, farm activities at Gibbs Farm
Excludes: International flights to/from Tanzania, visas, travel insurance (personal illness or cancellation), tips and gratuities, optional excursion Hot Air Balloon Ride ($600), elective spa treatments, meals post the retreat, any extensions to Zanzibar or onwards post-retreat travel, any one-on-one sessions outside of the retreat

FAQs
Are solo travelers welcome? Absolutely, yes. There is a single-room supplement for those who wish to keep accommodation private. For participants who are happy to share, we will do our best to pair everyone up to share as comfortably as possible.
Why is the Hot Air Balloon ride an additional cost? If some participants would prefer not to participate in this activity, we decided not to make the Hot Air Balloon ride an integral part of the retreat program. Thus, it makes sense to have this as an optional add-on.
What is the policy regarding alcohol for this program? We will serve a standard alcoholic beverage package at sundowners and meals (~2 drinks per person). Since this is a retreat, we support those who might want to abstain or keep alcoholic intake low, and, therefore do not expect indulgence in alcohol to be a dominant feature on this journey.
What if I want to travel elsewhere in Africa after the retreat? We can help you arrange onward travel within Tanzania or connecting with the rest of Africa. An extension to the Tanzanian coast or Zanzibar is very popular so we’d be very happy to help arrange any extensions before or after the retreat.

For any other questions contact Gayle at gayle@oculustravel.com. She’d be delighted to help you address any concerns. We look forward to welcoming you to Tanzania!