Zen in the Wild: Yoga, Stillness, and Safari in Perfect Balance

There’s a kind of silence only the bush can offer. It’s not the absence of sound, but the presence of something deeper—the rustle of dry leaves as a puku passes, the distant whoop of a hyena at dusk, or the way your breath slows when you realise you’re part of it all.

That’s the kind of presence Zen in the Wild offers.

Held from May 16–18, 2025, this immersive three-day yoga and wellness safari invites you to unplug and truly arrive. No demands, no noise—just breath, movement, stillness, and the steady rhythm of the wild.

The Setting: Luxury Meets Wilderness

Hosted at the award-winning Ila Safari Lodge in Zambia’s Kafue National Park, the retreat blends eco-conscious design with raw natural immersion. Think solar-powered luxury tents overlooking the Kafue River, open-air rain showers, and communal spaces crafted from sustainable materials.

Whether stretching into your morning asana on sun-warmed decking or sipping a post-yoga smoothie while hippos grunt below, every moment invites you to remember what it feels like to simply be.

Your Guide: Movement, Energy, and Intuition

The retreat is guided by Ruth Odendaal, whose teachings span India to the UK. With training in Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini, and Ayurvedic practices, Ruth brings a rare balance of structure and intuition. Her sessions are deeply embodied, respecting alignment, but always led by what the body needs that day.

Ruth doesn’t just lead yoga. She holds space. Her signature Cacao Ceremony—what she calls heart archaeology—is a slow, grounding invitation to soften emotionally and reconnect with the earth beneath your feet.

Alongside her yoga and ritual offerings, guests will experience a bush-held sound bath which will combine Himalayan singing bowls, tuning forks, and nature’s own frequency to create a meditative, full-body experience. Many describe it as a reset, not just of the mind, but of the soul.

The Flow of Your Days

This isn’t a wellness escape packed with back-to-back schedules. It’s a rhythm that aligns with the land:

• Mornings begin with pranayama and Ashtanga flows as the bush wakes around you.
• Afternoons invite stillness through Yin yoga, journaling, or Marma point massage to release tension.
• Evenings offer space for integration: sunset boat cruises, fireside chats, or silence under the stars.

You’ll move. You’ll rest. You’ll be.

Ceremonies That Open You

Two experiences define Zen in the Wild:

The Cacao Ceremony

Led by Ruth using ceremonial-grade cacao, this is a meditative ritual of emotional softening. Not dramatic or performative—just deeply human. A chance to listen inward, with nature as your mirror.

The Sound Bath

Held in Ila’s open-air lounge, the sound bath isn’t your average studio experience. Here, sound meets sky. The bowls vibrate through your body and the bush. It’s immersive, sensory, and often deeply clarifying.

What Makes This Retreat Different

This is not a retreat with yoga imposed on nature. It’s one where nature becomes your co-teacher:

• Meditation dissolving into birdsong.
• Safari drives as mindful movement.
• Silent walking safaris that feel more like prayer than exercise.
• Naps to the rhythm of the river.
• Meals sourced locally, shared slowly.

It’s slow, sensory living. The kind that rewires your nervous system from the inside out.

Who Attends?

Everyone from burnt-out nurses to Zambian artists has attended past retreats. Some come seeking clarity. Others simply crave stillness. No experience is required—just a willingness to let the wild work its quiet magic.

Practical Magic

Dates: May 16–18, 2025

Location: Ila Safari Lodge, Kafue National Park

Getting There: ~3.5 hours from Lusaka—rugged, but grounding

Cost: $475 (includes luxury accommodation, all meals, yoga, and activities)

Booking: +260 979 312 766 / ✉️ reservations@greensafaris.com

To Wrap It Up

You won’t leave with a perfect handstand or a curated reel. You’ll leave with something quieter, deeper—a body that’s remembered its rhythm, a mind softened by stars, and a heart cracked open by stillness.

This is the wild as you’ve never felt it: not as a backdrop, but as a guide.