Africa Changed Me. Let It Change You, Too.
On falling in love with the continent, finding my favorite kind of travel, and why I keep bringing our community back.
A young monk running late for his lecture
In February of 2020, Ryan and I packed up and moved to Cape Town, South Africa. What we didn't know — what none of us knew — was that the world was about to completely shut down just a few weeks later.
What could have been a stressful ordeal became one of the greatest gifts of my life. We got "stuck" in South Africa for months. We explored more of the country. We ate, wandered, and sat with the slowness that the pandemic forced upon all of us. And in that stillness, in that land, something shifted in me.
I had been to Morocco and Egypt before — and loved every moment — but getting to experience sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, with its wildlife and wild open spaces, was something else entirely. It became, without question, my favorite kind of travel in the world.
"The first time you see a massive elephant in its natural habitat is an experience that can hardly be put into words."
Or seeing giraffes towering over the treetops for the first time. Baby warthogs trotting behind their mom. Hippos resting in a glassy pond. A lioness with her cubs playing in golden afternoon light. It is, truly, magical — and I mean that in the most literal sense. It touches something ancient and wide open in you.
I knew I had to bring our community there.
Kenya: Our Sacred Return
In 2021, I organized and led our first retreat to Kenya. This October will be our fourth time returning to the same retreat center, run by the most extraordinary family. It's one of those rare places where luxury meets genuine warmth — where you feel the full aliveness of the Bush without sacrificing a single comfort.
The stars above our camp are brighter than anywhere I have ever been in my life. We are right on the equator, and on clear nights you can see several of the planets with the naked eye. The food is incredible. The stillness is profound. And every single person who has joined us over the years has said the same thing: it was the best week of their life.
That is not a small thing. I don't take it lightly. And it keeps me coming back.
Our beloved annual return — four years running
Yoga, safari, connection, and the Bush. Nights under equatorial stars, mornings on the mat, and days that will stay with you forever. This is our most beloved retreat, and for good reason.”
Namibia: The Bucket List
and then there is Namibia.
Namibia has been on my personal bucket list for a long time. Tucked just above South Africa, it's a country of staggering, otherworldly landscape — vast desert plains, ancient rock formations, and one of the most dramatic skies on earth. It is also home to the rare black-maned lion, and a safari experience unlike anything in East Africa.
For this retreat, we have the entire property of Our Habitas Namibia — one of the top luxury safari resorts in the world. We are talking 11 private casitas, an infinity-edge pool overlooking open safari plains, a five-star restaurant with gourmet food rooted in Namibian tradition, lounge areas, tea ceremonies, and a yoga deck sitting directly in the middle of the wilderness. This is the kind of place that stops your breath.
This retreat is a one-time offering. We are not planning to return. If Namibia is calling you, this September is your moment.
Namibia Safari & Culture Retreat
A one-time, once-in-a-lifetime experience!
The landscape, the black-maned lions, the artistry of Our Habitas — 11 private casitas, an infinity pool overlooking the plains, and a yoga deck in the heart of the safari. We have the whole property to ourselves. This is the one.
Africa has a way of reordering your priorities. It reminds you of how vast and alive this world is, how small your worries are, and how deeply we are all connected — to each other, to the animals, to this earth. Every retreat I have led there has changed me a little more. I believe it will change you, too.
I would love nothing more than to share it with you.
