Victoria Falls to Botswana: A Yoga & Safari Retreat
Yoga, Wildlife and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure
Some places deserve more time than a rushed itinerary allows. This nine-day retreat begins with two nights at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), giving guests time to arrive, settle in and experience one of the world’s great natural wonders. Alongside time to explore the Falls, there will be sunrise yoga on the Zambezi River and a relaxed first day together before travelling into Botswana.
The group will then spend six nights at Munga Plains, a private safari camp near Chobe National Park (Botswana). Chobe is home to one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of elephants, with large herds gathering along the river during the dry winter months. The journey into Botswana begins with a safari along the Chobe River, offering the first opportunity to experience its wildlife from the water.
The days in Botswana will combine yoga, game drives, a walking safari, a mokoro excursion and cultural experiences, with all the arrangements taken care of. Yoga will be woven naturally into the schedule, with sessions in an open-air shala overlooking the plains and practices timed around the different activities.
With a small group and a carefully planned itinerary, there will be time to enjoy everything without feeling as though the retreat is simply moving from one activity to the next. The experience brings together two remarkable destinations, with wildlife, yoga and shared adventure at its heart.
9 Days / 8 Nights
16th to 24th July, 2027
What’s Included in Your Victoria Falls to Botswana: A Yoga & Safari Retreat?
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Two Nights at Victoria Falls & Six Nights in Botswana
Choose between shared and private accommodation, with two nights at a four-star lodge in Victoria Falls and six nights of premium glamping at Munga Plains, an intimate yoga and safari camp right by Chobe National Park. All transportation and transfers throughout the retreat are also included, from airport pick-up and departure transfers to the journey into Botswana and transport for all scheduled activities.
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All Meals & Non-Alcoholic Drinks
All meals are included, from lunch on the first day through breakfast on the last day, together with non-alcoholic drinks throughout the retreat. Some meals will be experiences in themselves, including meals served out in the bush and a traditional Botswana dinner.
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Yoga & Mindful Practices
Yoga will be woven naturally into the retreat, beginning with a sunrise practice overlooking the Zambezi River and continuing in the open-air yoga shala at Munga Plains. Sessions will be timed around the safari activities, creating space to move, slow down and absorb everything experienced along the way.
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Victoria Falls & the Zambezi River
The retreat includes a guided visit to Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest, with time to experience one of the world’s great natural wonders. The stay also includes sunrise Yoga on the Zambezi River, offering a very different perspective on this extraordinary setting.
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Botswana Safaris by Land & Water
Experience Botswana’s wildlife from land, water and on foot. The journey to Munga Plains begins with a boat safari along the Chobe River. The adventure continues in and around Chobe National Park with day and night game drives, a guided walking safari and a mokoro excursion.
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Botswana Culture & Local Experiences
Experience another side of Botswana through a local village visit, cultural workshop and traditional Botswana dinner. These experiences offer an opportunity to learn more about local traditions and connect with the communities around Munga Plains.
Your Journey from Jaw-Dropping Victoria Falls to the Wild Heart of Botswana Awaits
What’s Not Included in Your Retreat Package?
To help you budget and plan ahead, please allow for the following additional expenses:
Return flights to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA).
Double-entry visa for Zimbabwe (currently approximately US$45–70, depending on nationality)
Alcoholic Drinks
Optional services and any other personal expenses
Travel insurance – we highly recommend comprehensive coverage for your peace of mind.
Gratuities (optional)
Itinerary
The itinerary for our days at Munga Plains will remain flexible. The order and timing of activities may change according to wildlife movements, weather, seasonal conditions and the recommendations of our local guides, allowing us to enjoy each experience at the best possible time.
DAY 1 - Friday 16th July
Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport, where you will be met and transferred to our four-star lodge. After settling into your room, there will be time to rest and begin getting to know the group before we come together for our welcome dinner, marking the beginning of our retreat and our journey through this extraordinary corner of Africa.
DAY 2 - Saturday 17th July
Begin the day with an unforgettable sunrise Yoga on the Zambezi River experience, practising aboard a boat directly on one of Africa’s most iconic waterways, followed by breakfast served on board.
After returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to relax before gathering for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll set out on a guided visit to Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest, experiencing the extraordinary power and scale of the falls up close.
We’ll then return to the hotel and come together for dinner.
DAY 3 - Sunday 18th July
After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll leave Zimbabwe behind and travel across the border into Botswana.
Following lunch, we’ll take to the water for a boat safari along the Chobe River, where elephants, hippos and abundant birdlife can often be seen along the riverbanks. We’ll enjoy sundowner drinks and snacks on the river before continuing through Chobe National Park to Munga Plains.
After arriving at camp, we’ll settle into our premium glamping tents before gathering for our first dinner at our home for the rest of the retreat.
DAYS 4-8 – 19th to 23rd July
Our days at Munga Plains will find their own rhythm between yoga, safari adventures, cultural experiences and time to rest. Some mornings may begin with practice in the open-air shala overlooking the plains, while others will call for an early start as we head out in search of wildlife.
Across these five days, our experiences will include day and night game drives, including a full-day safari in Chobe National Park, a guided walking safari followed by sundowner drinks and a peaceful mokoro (traditional canoe) excursion through the waterways.
We’ll also spend time learning about life beyond the safari through a local village visit and cultural workshop, followed by a traditional Botswana dinner. Other memorable moments will include an atmospheric bush dinner and yoga and mindful practices arranged around the safari program.
There will also be time to slow down between activities—relax by the pool, enjoy the camp and its surroundings, or simply absorb the experience of being immersed in the Botswana wilderness.
DAY 9 - Saturday 24th July
After our final breakfast at Munga Plains, it will be time to say goodbye to Botswana. We’ll travel together across the border into Zimbabwe and transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for our departing flights, bringing our retreat to a close—with memories of this wild and beautiful corner of the world that we will cherish forever.
Your Retreat Investment
As this retreat is being offered exclusively to our subscribers, the prices below already include your special subscriber discount.
Choose a shared room with another guest, a private room for yourself, or a private room shared with your travel companion.
Shared Room – $4,275 USD per person
Private Room (single occupancy) – $5,275 USD
Private Room for Two – $8,550 USD total
* THE SMALL PRINT THAT IS NOT SO SMALL *
Please take a moment to read the important information below before booking. It explains the payment schedule, cancellation conditions and practical requirements for joining the retreat.
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A non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to reserve your place. The remaining balance is paid in two instalments.
For a shared room:
$1,500 USD non-refundable deposit at the time of booking
$1,400 USD per person due by 15th December 2026
$1,375 USD per person due by 31st March 2027
For a private room with single occupancy:
$1,500 USD non-refundable deposit at the time of booking
$1,900 USD due by 15th December 2026
$1,875 USD due by 31st March 2027
For a private room shared by two guests:
$3,000 USD total non-refundable deposit at the time of booking
$2,800 USD total due by 15th December 2026
$2,750 USD total due by 31st March 2027
Each subsequent installment becomes non-refundable and payable in full on its stated due date. If you book after one of these dates, any installments that have already fallen due must be paid at the time of booking. Your place is only confirmed once the required payment has been received.
Payments can be made via PayPal (USD) or by bank transfer to a Nicaraguan USD account. Any PayPal or bank transfer fees are the responsibility of the participant.
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The initial deposit is non-refundable. Each subsequent installment becomes non-refundable and payable in full on its stated due date, as we make advance financial commitments to the accommodation and local suppliers on your behalf.
If you cancel on or after an installment due date, that payment remains due even if it has not yet been received. To avoid responsibility for an upcoming installment, written notice of cancellation must be received before its due date.
You may transfer your reservation to another suitable guest, subject to our approval and any supplier restrictions or additional charges. The replacement guest must complete their booking and make the required payment before the transfer is confirmed. Once their payment has been received, we will refund the payments you have made, including the deposit, less transaction fees and any non-recoverable costs already incurred. Until a replacement booking is confirmed, the original payment and cancellation conditions continue to apply. A replacement guest or refund cannot be guaranteed.
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This retreat requires a minimum of ten guests to go ahead. You must wait for written confirmation that the minimum group size has been reached before booking non-refundable flights or making other non-refundable travel arrangements.
If we cannot proceed because the minimum number has not been reached, all retreat payments made to us will be refunded in full.
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The itinerary may change because of wildlife movements, weather, seasonal conditions, safety considerations, local availability or the recommendations of our guides. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, but wherever possible, any significant change will be replaced with a suitable alternative.
If circumstances beyond our control ("force majeure") make it impossible or unsafe for the retreat to proceed as planned, we may need to modify, postpone or cancel the trip. Any refund or credit offered will depend on the funds we can recover from the accommodation, local operators and other suppliers, less any costs already incurred.
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As the retreat begins in Zimbabwe, travels into Botswana and returns to Zimbabwe for departure, all guests will need either a double-entry Zimbabwe visa or two separate single-entry visas. The current cost is approximately $45–70 USD, depending on nationality.
Once the retreat is confirmed, you will receive a detailed participant guide covering passport and visa requirements, health documentation and other practical entry information. This guidance will be researched carefully, but requirements can change, and each guest remains responsible for checking the latest official information applicable to their nationality and personal circumstances.
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We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book. Your policy should include cover for trip cancellation and interruption, illness or injury, emergency medical care and evacuation, flight disruption, and lost or delayed baggage.
Please ensure that your policy provides suitable cover for the activities included in the retreat and for travel in both Zimbabwe and Botswana.
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If you reserve a shared room without a travel companion, we will match you with another guest of the same sex. Room allocations will be arranged according to availability and the accommodation configuration at each location.
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The retreat includes safari drives, boat travel, a mokoro excursion, a guided walking safari, border crossings and time in remote natural environments.
Please let Miriam know before booking about any medical condition, mobility requirement, severe allergy or other circumstance that could affect your participation. By joining the retreat, you agree to follow the safety instructions of the retreat leaders, guides, drivers and local activity providers.
Ready to Experience the Magic of Zimbabwe & Botswana?
Is this Yoga & Safari Retreat for me?
It is for you if:
You love the idea of combining yoga, wildlife and adventure, and appreciate the privilege of spending time in the wilderness observing magnificent animals living freely in their natural habitat.
You’re excited to start some mornings early, knowing that the best wildlife encounters rarely happen after a leisurely lie-in.
You like the idea of experiencing two different kinds of comfort: a four-star lodge in Victoria Falls followed by premium glamping in the Botswana wilderness—comfortable and beautifully taken care of, but still under canvas and surrounded by nature.
You’re happy to embrace a fully plant-based menu throughout the retreat. After all, it would feel rather strange to spend our days admiring animals and our evenings eating them.
You’re curious, adaptable and excited to share the experience with like-minded travellers from different walks of life. You also enjoy hugs, because Miriam is a serial hugger. You have been warned ;)
It is not for you if:
You’re looking for a traditional yoga retreat with several classes a day and lots of workshops. Yoga is an important part of this retreat, but it is not the whole story.
You would find an active itinerary involving safari vehicles, boats, walking, border crossings and changing locations tiring rather than exciting.
You’re uncomfortable spending much of the day outdoors. Even our yoga practice will take place outside, and the experience may involve insects, bumpy roads, remote natural environments and being relatively close to wild animals.
You need every detail to happen exactly as planned or expect wildlife to appear on demand. Nature, unfortunately, has not agreed to follow our itinerary.
You prefer to travel completely independently and do your own thing. There will be time to breathe, but this is a shared group adventure, and much of the experience will be enjoyed together.
Meet Your Host
Miriam Rodríguez Márquez
After an international career in aviation, a documentary about veganism inspired Miriam to rethink the way she wanted to live. She became a certified Health Coach specialising in plant-based nutrition, trained as a 500-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher in India and eventually settled in Nicaragua, where she co-founded Villa Laguna, a vegan retreat centre on the shores of Laguna de Apoyo.
Now based in Nicaragua for over a decade, Miriam shares her home with a rather sizeable family of rescued animals and brings together her background in yoga, health coaching and retreat hosting to create thoughtful, welcoming experiences.
Her retreats are intentionally judgement-free spaces where everyone matters and people can leave the pressures of everyday life behind and come exactly as they are. Her classes are gentle, accessible and suitable for all levels, while her work is deeply connected to ethical travel, local communities and animal welfare.
Much of the woman Miriam is today—and the work she has chosen to create—was shaped by the loss of her daughter, Aixa, in ways she could never have planned. Aixa remains at the heart of what she does and the life she has built.
This retreat has a particularly personal story behind it. The photograph you see here was taken during Miriam’s first visit to Victoria Falls in 2012, when she remembers dreaming of the day she would make it to Botswana. Her love of seeing animals living freely has taken her on safaris in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa. During the years she lived in the DRC, she was also fortunate enough to encounter gorillas in the wild in two different parts of the country. For someone whose life is so closely shaped by veganism and animal welfare, spending time with animals in their natural habitat feels both a privilege and a natural extension of her beliefs. Returning to Victoria Falls and finally experiencing Botswana—this time with a small group to share it with—makes this retreat especially close to her heart.
What Previous Guests Have Said
“Traveling with Miriam makes everything easy- she's so detailed, delivers hospitality like no other, and is full of positive vibes that your adventure is sure to be a memorable one. I don't know how she does it, but everyday was perfect - from the food, to the sights and even her power to make the weather cooperate! I'd go anywhere in the world with her and can't wait for the next trip!”
— Kelly Y. (USA)
“This retreat was exactly what I needed. The yoga, daily tours and experiences, and fully plant-based meals were all exceptional and I say that as a non-vegan. The host is genuinely one of a kind, warm and welcoming in a way that made her feel like a friend from the very start, and the group of participants she brought together were equally kind and authentic. I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone looking to reset and recharge.”
— Betty T. (USA)
