Bush Yoga and Big Five Safari Wellness Week on the Olifants River, Greater Kruger

A typical day starts early, which is how the bush works anyway. The morning yoga class is held outdoors, so you practise to birdsong and whatever is moving in the distance. Breakfast follows, and the middle of the day is quiet time. That is when the heat sets in and most animals rest, so you can nap, read on your terrace above the Olifants River, or wander the garden.

In the late afternoon you head out on a game drive in an open vehicle with a guide. This is prime time for seeing elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino. On other days a guided wilderness walk takes you through the reserve on foot. On foot you notice the small things: tracks, dung, birds, plants. A drive goes past most of that.

Evenings end around the fire. Dinner is plant-based and built around what is growing in the permaculture garden on site. The group is small, at most 10 people, so dinners tend to be shared conversations rather than separate tables.

The main difference from other safari-and-yoga trips is the setting and the local angle. You are in a private reserve inside the Greater Kruger area, not a busy public section of the park. The programme also includes a community outreach visit, so you see something of the people who live around the reserve as well as the wildlife. The sound safari is a session spent listening to the bush itself, and few other trips offer anything like it.

Sandhiya leads the retreat. She is a South African yoga teacher who lived in London for 14 years before moving home. That gives her a feel for what international guests expect, along with real local knowledge of the area.

The Olifants River runs right past the suites. It is one of the main rivers in the Kruger region and a draw for animals coming down to drink, so the view from your room can be as good as a game drive.

What's included

- 7 days in a private luxury Riverfront or Garden Suite overlooking the Olifants River - Plant-based meals using produce from the permaculture garden - Daily morning yoga sessions in the bush - Afternoon game drives in search of the Big Five - Guided wilderness walks - Sound safari session - Community outreach visit - Evenings around the fire - Small group of no more than 10 guests

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Transfers to the reserve (confirm with the retreat leader) - Travel insurance - Visa fees, if applicable - Gratuities for guides and staff - Personal expenses and extras - Optional upgrades