Tsavo East National Park, Kenya: Yoga, Breathwork and Wildlife Safari

This yoga and breathwork retreat combines daily practice with a wildlife safari in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. It is written for the person who has long dreamed of Africa, and especially for someone who has spent years caring for others and is now choosing to put themselves first. Dana Damara leads the week, which is based at Galdessa Camp and includes an elephant adoption through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Voi Reintegration Unit.

It runs for six nights and seven days, and is offered on two departures in 2027, one in late August and one around the September autumn equinox.

What to Expect

The week begins on the evening of arrival with a night game drive, when the park comes alive after dark, followed by dinner and an opening circle.

Days follow a steady rhythm. Mornings are given to game drives through different regions of Tsavo East, and may include a bush breakfast or a quieter visit to the Elephant Reintegration Unit. After the drive, yoga and breathwork help settle the body. Sessions are scheduled around the wildlife program, so timing can shift on any given day. Midday visits to the Reintegration Unit let you meet your adopted elephant and see how the orphans are guided back to the wild. Afternoons are open for the infinity pool, rest, or conversation with fellow guests. Sunset game drives end with sundowners, shared with camp staff and other travelers.

Before you arrive, you receive a personalized adoption certificate for the elephant you choose, along with access to the Keepers' Diaries, videos and monthly updates about the elephant and the sanctuary's work.

About Dana Damara

Dana Damara calls herself "The Practical Mystic," bringing inner wisdom into daily life through astrology, movement, breathwork and sound. For more than 25 years she has explored what it means to live an embodied life, pairing ancient wisdom with practical tools for the body, breath and nervous system. Her work focuses on presence, resilience, clarity and connection.

She is a retreat leader, keynote speaker, author and mentor, and the founder of the Embodied Practice Academy, which offers yoga teacher trainings, breathwork and sound healing training, and mentorship. She is listed as an ERYT-500, a certified leadership coach and a breathwork facilitator, and has led retreats in Costa Rica, Bali, Tulum, Hawaii, Peru, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Egypt and elsewhere. After visiting Kenya and seeing the work of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, she committed to dedicating one journey each year to supporting it.

The Setting

Galdessa Camp sits inside Tsavo East National Park. It is a conservation-focused lodge operated in partnership with the Sheldrick Trust, so a stay supports wildlife preservation and projects across the park. The rooms are elegantly appointed, and the camp has an infinity pool. Three gourmet meals a day are prepared by Safari Catering Co., and all non-alcoholic drinks are included.

Travel between Nairobi and Voi is by train, and the train fares are covered.

Before You Go

Included are accommodation at the camp, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, daily yoga and breathwork, park entry fees, guided daily game drives, exclusive access to the Voi Reintegration Unit, the elephant adoption, and the train transport.

Not included are international flights, hotels in Nairobi before and after the retreat (recommendations are provided), alcohol, the Kenya visa, travel insurance (strongly recommended), hotel staff tips and tax, and select excursions, transport and tips. Astrology readings, private coaching and a concierge service for trip planning and documents are available as add-ons.

No required level of yoga or breathwork experience is stated, so ask the host if you are unsure. The retreat is held in English.