Zanzibar Water-Inspired Women's Wellness Retreat with Rooftop Yoga & Maasai Cultural Ceremony

The retreat is held at a peaceful boutique property on Zanzibar's coastline, described by the organisers as Black-owned and located right along the shore. Rooms are either a private one-bedroom villa suite or a shared room with two twin beds. Each has a private bathroom, air conditioning, free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, a kitchenette with a full-size fridge, a private patio with outdoor seating, daily housekeeping, and an iron with basic essentials. Check-in is any time after 4pm; check-out is before 11am.

The daily rhythm is set around meals and one or two activities. Breakfast is at 8am every day, lunch at noon on most days, dinner at 7pm. Rooftop yoga, meditation and journaling sessions happen in the afternoons (usually 4pm) and are held overlooking the ocean. Day 2 is deliberately kept almost empty — the only scheduled items are meals and an optional wind-down yoga — so people can recover from travel. Day 5 is a full open day. Day 6 has optional excursions in the morning and dinner in the evening.

The two set excursions are the cultural centre of the week. On Day 3 there is a Maasai tribe visit and ceremony at 10am, which the organisers describe as an embodied, respectful cultural exchange rather than a performance. On Day 4, a spice farm tour runs from 9am, followed by a Swahili cooking experience, with a group connection session at 4pm. On Day 7 there is a closing ceremony and celebration before dinner.

The retreat is led by Raquel Nweze, founder and wellness curator of LoveHER Retreats. She is from Houston, Texas, and has over 13 years of experience as a trauma-informed wellness practitioner across several healing modalities. She runs the journaling, meditation and closing ceremony sessions herself. The retreat is explicitly designed as a space for women, with an emphasis on welcoming women from all walks of life.

June is one of the best times to be on Zanzibar. It's the start of the dry season, so you get sunny skies, warm breezes and calm, clear water. Daytime temperatures sit in the mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit, with cooler evenings. The retreat runs on Zanzibar time and the schedule is intentionally loose — if you want to skip an activity and stay by the water, that's fine. Tap water isn't drinkable, so bottled water is the norm. The property is in an isolated spot, so WiFi and cell signal can drop out, and there are occasional short power cuts.

What's included

- 8-day, 7-night boutique luxury accommodation (private villa suite or shared twin room) - Daily breakfast buffet - Nourishing family-style dinners daily - Rooftop yoga, meditation and journaling sessions overlooking the ocean - Maasai Tribe Cultural Visit + Ceremony - Spice Farm & Swahili Cooking Experience - Group connection session - Closing ceremony and celebration - Roundtrip transportation to and from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) - Daily housekeeping - Free WiFi and air conditioning - Welcome gift

What's not included

- Flights to/from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) - Required travel insurance - Spa services - Optional excursions (water-based tours) - Gratuities/tips - Unscheduled activities - Yoga equipment or props (recommended you bring your own) - COVID-19 testing if applicable - Libations - Visa fees (00 e-visa)