Kenya Yoga & Wellness Retreat: Safari to Sea

The retreat is hosted by Dr Rebekah Jade, a medical doctor who is also a senior yoga and breathwork teacher and the founder of Pana. She leads the daily practices herself — morning vinyasa to build strength and energy, evening yin or restorative work to wind down, and short breathwork and meditation sessions. Classes run with options for every pose, so complete beginners and regular practitioners are in the same room without it feeling like a compromise for either.

A typical day starts with tea or coffee at 6.30am, yoga at 8am, breakfast at 9am, then free time or an organised activity. Lunch is at 1.30pm, the evening practice is at 5.15pm, and dinner is at 7.30pm. The one fixed structure is arrival day: check-in and lunch at 2pm, a welcome circle and yoga at 5pm, then welcome dinner. Everything else has gaps built in — afternoons are for reading, walking to the beach, or doing nothing.

The food is plant-based and pescatarian, cooked with local and seasonal ingredients. Breakfast is a spread of fresh fruit, juices, tea and coffee, and eggs made to order. Two group lunches are included on top of the daily meals, and there are herbal teas, fresh juices, and snacks around. Watamu Treehouse is set up for dietary requirements — vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, allergies, intolerances — as long as you tell them in advance.

Watamu Treehouse itself is the reason people come back. It's built high in the trees, surrounded by forest, with sunrises over the sea on one side and sunsets over the forest on the other. There's a pool, and a private forest path that takes you straight to the beach. Rooms are ensuite and simply designed, with mosquito nets, towels, toiletries, and drinking water. Upper rooms are bigger, open-air, with sweeping views of both sea and forest. Lower rooms are cosier and more sheltered but still have serious views.

The optional safari is the bit that makes this different from a standard beach yoga week. You fly into Mombasa, transfer to a hotel for the night, then spend two full days game-driving in Tsavo East — Kenya's largest protected area, with elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species. You stay at Satao Camp with full-board meals, and on day four you're transferred straight to Watamu Treehouse. Add it on and the whole trip goes from seven days to ten.

What's included

- 7 days, 6 nights of luxury accommodation at Watamu Treehouse - Daily yoga sessions (vinyasa and yin) - 1 x 60-minute massage at the treehouse - 2 x daily meals of freshly prepared pescatarian food - 2 x additional group lunches - Daily early morning fruit and freshly squeezed juice - Daily sundowner with snacks and smoothies - Stand-up paddleboarding and nature walk - Paddleboard yoga - Cultural tour of the local village - Morning mangrove float and beach breakfast - Housekeeping, towels, yoga equipment, and wifi - Welcome gift on arrival

What's not included

- All flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra cost) - Travel insurance - Safari experience (optional add-on from £1,300 per person) - Additional food and drinks