Kenya Yoga & Seva Retreat

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Mar 18 - Mar 24, 2024
MAIN TRIP INCLUSIONS: airport transfers in Nairobi and Lamu, meals as listed, roundtrip flights to/from Lamu, 6 nights accommodations, daily yoga, training towards 300 hour certificate, coordination of all Community Seva Activities, sunset dhow trip, Samosa Class and Swahili Dinner, day trip on Hippo Dhow, and all bank/wire processing fees.

At The Village Experience, travel inspires impact. To date, TVE has operated over 800 responsible tourism programs around the world. Our programs have immersed nearly 3,000 travelers into our partner communities and impacted more than 25,000 people on the ground. Together, we have implemented programs to tackle social justice issues such as access to education & healthcare, women’s empowerment, and sustainability in these communities.

It is only through this unique relationship of responsible travel + philanthropy, that we have been able to raise $3,500,000 for our partner communities. You inspire and contribute to the impact…so keep traveling with The Village Experience!



Flex Yoga Wooster’s Kenya Retreat will be led by Emily Moorefield Mariola in partnership with The Village Experience.
This retreat is one path to completion of the Flex Yoga 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. It is open to other participants as well. Students can expect daily yoga sessions, workshops, community Seva activities, and exciting island tours.

EMILY MOOREFIELD MARIOLA

Emily Moorefield Mariola, ERYT-500,  is the founder of Flex Yoga Wooster and is a certified Yoga Instructor through Amazing Yoga Studios of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Emily took her first yoga class in 2004 and has been hooked ever since. Emily uses her understanding of competitive athletics and awareness of physical capabilities to enhance her yoga practice as well as her teaching. Emily teaches a Power Vinyasa Flow style of yoga that integrates the physical poses (or asanas) with the breath (or pranayama) in a fluid and powerful way. Emily traveled to Kenya in August 2022 and is excited to bring a group on this retreat!

FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT

We are asking that as part of your commitment to this trip, you are prepared to raise at least $250 in donations for our Community Seva Activities to support the community partners we will interact with on this trip. You can make the donation yourself, you can host fundraisers, you can ask your friends and family for support, or work with Emily and Kelly to come up with other ideas.


MAIN TRIP

 

Pricing

$2999 per person – double occupancy
$3699 per person – single occupancy
$1000 deposit and copy of passport due upon registration

Final balances, flights and travel insurance due: January 3, 2024

Itinerary

March 18
Arrive to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Meet your hotel representative and transfer to hotel for the evening.

March 19
Meet your group in the lobby and transfer to the airport for flight to the Lamu Archipelago. Meet your Village Experience representative upon arrival and transfer via boat to Shela Village. Check into your Swahili accommodations and enjoy lunch. Spend the afternoon in your introductory yoga training session. Beach walk from around 5-6:30 p.m. (B,L)

March 20
8 a.m.
– Breakfast at the house
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Morning yoga and training time
12 p.m. – Lunch at the house and break time (optional henna session)
3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Community Seva Activity with the kids of Ubunifu Lamu Initiative. Teach a group yoga class and enjoy a snack together at the new Arts Center in Mararani. (B,L)

March 21
8 a.m. – Breakfast at the house
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Morning yoga and training time
12 p.m. – Lunch at the house and break time
2-4 p.m. – Community Seva Activity with SERG. Work alongside the community to help clean up the village.
5 p.m. – Sunset sail on Hippo Dhow. (B,L)

March 22
8 a.m.
– Breakfast at the house
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Morning yoga and training time
12 p.m. – Lunch and break time (optional  massages can be scheduled)
3 p.m. – Shela Walking Tour and artisan shopping tour.
4-6 p.m. – Community Seva Activity with the Shela Women’s Association.
6 p.m. – Evening Samosa Making Class and Swahili Dinner. (B,L,D)

March 23
8 a.m. – Breakfast at the house
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Morning yoga and training time
12 p.m. – Board Hippo Dhow for a day of sailing, fresh fish bbq, and swimming in the Indian Ocean
4-6 p.m. – Community Seva Activity with the Masai Community of Shela Village.
7 p.m. – Special Farewell Dinner in the evening. (B,L,D)

March 24

Morning transfer to the airport via boat for flights back to Nairobi. Connect to international flight home or stay and enjoy safari. (B)


MASAI MARA EXTENSION

 

          

 

Pricing

$2199 per person – double occupancy
$2599 per person – single occupancy

*minimum of 4 passengers

Commitments due: October 1, 2023
Payment due: January 3, 2024

Itinerary


March 24
– Arrive to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from Lamu. Transfer to hotel and check in for the evening. (B)

March 25 –  Meet your safari guide in the morning and depart for Lake Nakuru National Park. Check into lodge in time for lunch. Enjoy an afternoon game drive to go in search of black and white rhino, lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra, and the famous pink flamingos of Nakuru. All meals at lodge. (B,L,D)

March 26 – Early morning game drive. Enjoy breakfast. Depart for the Masai Mara National Reserve. Check into tented camp and settle into your new surroundings. Enjoy the bonfire in the evening. (B,D)

March 27 & 28 – Game drives throughout the day to go in search of the Big 5 – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant. All meals at camp. (B,L,D)

March 29 – Morning drive back to Nairobi. Connect to evening flights home. (B)

Inclusions

Airport transfers in Nairobi, meals as listed, private safari vehicle, private safari guide, all game drives, all park entry fees, and all bank/wire processing fees.


YOUR TRIP GUIDE

DANSON

Danson has served as the main safari guide for The Village Experience for the past 10 years.
He is a certified naturalist and bird watching specialist. Danson has traveled to America, Europe, and Thailand
learning new tourism initiatives and meeting with clients as part of The Village Experience Kenya team. He assists in ground operations and projects throughout mainland Kenya and is happy to welcome Village Experience passengers to Kenya.


Flight Reservations

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi

Vaccinations

Visit the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date requirements (www.cdc.gov) and/or speak with a local travel doctor regarding vaccinations.

We also advise that you speak with your doctor regarding a prescription for an antibiotic to combat food and water borne illnesses.

Recommendations for Kenya include:
Hepatitis A & B
Polio
Typhoid
Yellow Fever

To learn more go to the Health Information for Travelers to Kenya page on the CDC website.

Required Documents

  • Passport
  • eTA (replaced eVisa) – All passengers are required to obtain Electronic Travel Authorization. Apply here: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en
  • Travel insurance -Medical evacuation, repatriation and medical coverage are required by The Village Experience. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.