Wilderness Pilates & Wellness Safari in Northern Kenya

The retreat takes place at Sasaab, a lodge on the edge of Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya, home to the Samburu people — known locally as the 'Butterfly People' for their bright traditional dress and their connection to the land. That idea runs through the programme, which was built around the idea of emerging renewed at the end of the season. The retreat is a set departure in January, with private retreats arrangeable on request (minimum four people, four nights).

Each day starts early, before the heat builds. Karina Walsh takes the first Pilates class in the dry Ewaso Nyiro riverbed below the lodge — this is a sand river, and elephants frequently come through it, so sessions are often watched by wildlife. From there the day moves between runs and walks with Samburu warriors through the surrounding bush, stretching and strength work in the swimming pool, and hikes up Sundowner Rock. Sundowner Rock sessions end in the evening with sunset views over the desert, and Heather provides detoxifying elixirs to drink at the top.

Karina is one of Kenya's top professional personal trainers and Pilates instructors. She focuses on strength work and Pilates, and the sessions are scaled so beginners can take part while experienced exercisers still get pushed. If your fitness is limited, the walking and the riverbed classes are low-impact enough to manage, and you can sit out the pool strength work. The three-day-a-day fitness schedule is real, though — this is not a retreat where Pilates is an optional extra.

Heather Cuthbert is the other half of the team, and she's a nutritional therapist as well as a therapeutic chef. All cooking for the retreat is organic, gluten-free and designed around cleansing, and she runs a cooking class and demonstration during the stay. Example dishes from the retreat kitchen include cauliflower bagels with smoked salmon. You'll eat her food at all meals, and the retreat is explicitly sold on the combination of strengthening and nourishing the body at the same time.

Beyond the fitness programme, the safari element is woven through the four days. Sasaab's location gives access to Samburu National Reserve and wildlife unique to this part of Kenya — Grevy's zebra, oryx antelope, Somali ostrich, gerenuk and reticulated giraffe among them, plus leopard, cheetah and lion if you're lucky. Elephants often visit the river right in front of the lodge. Devices are discouraged and the retreat is pitched as a disconnect from screens and a reconnect with nature.

Time is also set aside for SpaSaab, the lodge's spa, where a complimentary massage from the in-house therapist is included. Additional treatments can be booked, and each room has a private plunge pool if you'd rather soak the day off. The retreat is genuinely all-inclusive in terms of food, workouts, spa treatment and game viewing — this is a small set departure in a remote part of Kenya, so you should expect to arrange international flights to Nairobi yourself, but the lodge handles the rest once you're there.

What's included

- Four-day Wilderness Wellness Retreat at Sasaab - All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) prepared by Heather Cuthbert — organic and gluten-free - Daily Pilates classes with Karina Walsh in the dry riverbed - Runs and walks with Samburu warriors through the wilderness - Stretching and strength training sessions in the swimming pool - Hike up Sundowner Rock with detoxifying elixirs at sunset - Cooking class and demonstration with Heather Cuthbert - Complimentary massage at SpaSaab with the in-house therapist - Game drives through Samburu National Reserve - Private plunge pool with your room - Access to SpaSaab and the lodge's facilities - On-site lodge transfers and guiding during the retreat

What's not included

- International flights to and from Nairobi - Domestic flights to the Samburu area - Travel insurance - Additional SpaSaab treatments beyond the complimentary massage - Alcoholic drinks and personal bar bills - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Tips and gratuities - Anything not listed as included