Yoga and Big Five Safari Week in the Greater Kruger

The retreat runs 3–10 April 2027 at Ezulwini Game Lodges in the Greater Kruger National Park. Ezulwini means "Place of Paradise" in Zulu. It's a private reserve, so the game drives — two a day — go out over thousands of hectares of wildlife habitat, and you're tracking the Big Five rather than queuing behind other vehicles.

Mornings: wake to the sounds of the bush, head out on a sunrise game drive, come back for a light bite, then do yoga with Lara. The morning classes are dynamic — she expects you to sweat, challenge yourself, and she gives a lot of hands-on assists. Three sessions during the week are full workshops covering arm balances, inversions and backbends. Afternoons are unstructured by design: pool, reading, or an optional excursion. As the sun drops you do restorative evening yoga, then a sundowner safari, then a farm-to-table dinner under the stars.

You sleep at Billy's Lodge — set beneath towering leadwood trees, overlooking a waterhole that wildlife actually uses. There are spacious suites, some with private plunge pools, an elevated deck for stargazing, and a wine cellar carved into natural sandstone. Some time is also spent at Ezulwini River Lodge on the other side of the property, with details confirmed on-site. Lara Ederer and her cohort will be staying on the other side of the property during the same week.

Food is three fresh, healthy, plated meals daily, cooked by local women chefs. All dietary restrictions are noted and accommodated in advance. You eat under the stars or at one of the lodge's outdoor seating areas. House wines, local beers, soft drinks, coffee and tea are included; imported alcohol and cocktails are not.

Getting there: fly internationally into Johannesburg (JNB), then a short domestic hop to Hoedspruit (HDS), about 1.5 hours. Transfers from Hoedspruit to Ezulwini are arranged for you. External airport transfers, conservation fees for Balule Nature Reserve, massages, laundry, curios and gratuities are all extra.

What separates this from a standard Kruger safari is the yoga being the spine of the week rather than an add-on — twice-daily practice, three technique workshops, and an instructor who actually puts her hands on you to fix the pose. What separates it from a standard yoga retreat is that you're doing it in a private Big Five reserve with two drives a day.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at Billy's Lodge, Ezulwini Game Lodges - Twice-daily yoga (dynamic flow + restorative) with Lara Ederer - 3 immersive workshops: arm balances, inversions, backbends - Two guided safari game drives per day - Three farm-to-table meals daily - House wines, local beers, soft drinks, coffee and tea - Wine tasting at River Lodge Tasting Room or Billy's Lodge Wine Cellar - Ezulwini-branded reusable water bottle to keep - Complimentary Wi-Fi - Transfers between River Lodge and Billy's Lodge - Transfers from Hoedspruit (HDS) to Ezulwini - Full access to all retreat programming

What's not included

- International flights - Domestic flights (e.g. Johannesburg to Hoedspruit) - Imported alcohol and cocktails - External airport transfers - Massages - Laundry - Curios and gratuities - Balule Nature Reserve conservation fees - Optional excursions and related transfers - Travel insurance