7 Day Botswana Mindfulness Safari Retreat

Botswana Best Price Guarantee 15 people are interested Eco-friendly

Nov 8th - 14th - 2026

Slow down, look within, walk with the wild.

From game drive to stillness, discover the safari within.

Wild Presence is a one of a kind journey designed for those who feel called to meet the wild not as spectators, but as participants.

Held in the heart of Botswana's savanna, this 7-day mindfulness safari retreat weaves close encounters with wildlife, river and land journeys, yoga, breathwork, and ceremonial integration into a deeply embodied experience.

It's not about chasing adrenaline or ticking destinations, it's about slowing down enough to feel, listen, and remember what the land awakens within you.

Through a carefully paced arc of safari immersion, nervous-system regulation practices, cultural exchange, and elemental ritual, you'll explore the balance of fire, water, air, and earth, both in the landscape and within yourself.

Each day invites you to soften reactivity, deepen presence, and reconnect with instinct, intuition, and clarity.

This retreat is for adventurous spirits, conscious travelers, and seekers who value depth, respect for culture, and real human connection, a space to recalibrate, rewild gently, and return home with a steadier nervous system and a clearer inner compass.

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Highlights

  • Daily yoga, breathwork, and guided meditation practices for nervous system reset

  • NLP inspired sessions to gently rewire patterns and support clarity and focus

  • Chobe River wildlife boat cruise for sunset viewing and soft integration

  • Full day Chobe National Park game drive with packed field breakfast and lunch in town

  • Nature walk and tracking basics with a local guide on safe trails near camp

  • Traditional dances and drum circle with local performers

  • Workshops with local artisans plus a guided community visit and school for disabled children

  • Cooking class with a local chef to explore regional flavors and techniques

  • Sound baths, yin and restorative sessions, integration circles, and closing fire ceremony with take home practices

  • Fresh, nourishing meals that support digestion, energy, and grounded presence

Benefits

  • Feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded in your body and awareness

  • Trade chronic urgency for a steady, natural rhythm shaped by land and wildlife

  • Release what is complete and set intentions rooted in lived experience

  • Reconnect with nature as a daily regulator, not a once-a-year escape

  • Learn simple breath and somatic tools to focus your mind and soften reactivity

  • Leave with practical Inner Landscape practices you can integrate into everyday life, not just on retreat

What makes this retreat special

The Retreat Experience

What's Included

  • ✅

    8 days and 7 nights lodging at an intimate eco safari retreat near Chobe National Park

  • ✅

    Three fresh, nourishing meals daily (arrival and departure days adjusted) plus tea, coffee, and filtered water

  • ✅

    Daily yoga, breathwork, and guided meditation practices for nervous system reset

  • ✅

    NLP inspired sessions to gently rewire patterns and support clarity and focus

  • ✅

    Chobe River wildlife boat cruise for sunset viewing and soft integration

  • ✅

    Full day Chobe National Park game drive with packed field breakfast and lunch in town

  • ✅

    Nature walk and tracking basics with a local guide on safe trails near camp

  • ✅

    Traditional dances and drum circle with local performers

  • ✅

    Workshops with local artisans plus a guided community visit and school for disabled children

  • ✅

    Cooking class with a local chef to explore regional flavors and techniques

  • ✅

    Sound baths, yin and restorative sessions, integration circles, and closing fire ceremony with take home practices

What's Not Included

  • ❌

    Travel insurance

  • ❌

    Visa fee

  • ❌

    Additional activities not included in the itinerary

  • ❌

    Additional spa treatments

  • ❌

    Air fare

the vibe

Retreat Itinerary

Discover the transformative journey that awaits you

Day 1
  • 2:30 to 4:00 pm – Check in and settle into your room
  • 4:30 to 6:00 pm – Welcome circle, orientation, and intention setting
  • 6:00 to 7:30 pm – Nourishing dinner
  • 8:00 pm – Rest and ground
Day 2
  • 6:30 to 7:00 am – Morning refreshments (tea, lemon water, fruit)
  • 7:00 to 8:00 am – Nervous system reset yoga
  • 8:00 to 8:30 am – NLP subconscious reprogramming meditation
  • 8:30 to 10:00 am – Breakfast
  • 10:00 am to 1:00 pm – Rest, pool time, optional massage
  • 1:00 to 7:00 pm – Chobe River experience
  • Transfers to the river and boarding
  • Three hour Chobe River boat cruise for wildlife viewing along the banks
  • Sunset on the water and soft integration on return7:30 to 8:30 pm – Dinner9:00 pm – Rest and restore
Day 3
  • 5:15 to 5:45 am – Early refreshments
  • 6:00 am to 3:00 pm – Full day Chobe National Park game drive
  • Early entry for prime wildlife activity
  • Packed field breakfast
  • Lunch in town before returning to camp
  • 4:30 to 5:30 pm – Gentle stretch, breath, and ground
  • 6:30 to 7:30 pm – Dinner
  • 8:00 to 9:00 pm – Fireside storytelling, stars, and gratitude
  • 9:15 pm – Rest and restore
Day 4
  • 8:30 to 9:00 am – Morning refreshments
  • 9:00 to 10:00 am – Embodied flow yoga
  • 10:00 to 10:30 am – Centering breath meditation
  • 10:30 to 11:30 am – Breakfast
  • 12:00 to 2:00 pm – Workshop: Elemental reciprocity in the Kalahari Basin (honoring land, water, wind, fire)
  • 2:00 to 4:00 pm – High vibe lunch and rest
  • 4:30 to 6:00 pm – Traditional dances and drum circle with local group
  • 6:30 to 7:30 pm – Dinner
  • 8:30 to 9:30 pm – Yin yoga and sound
Day 5
  • 6:30 to 7:00 am – Morning refreshments
  • 7:00 to 8:00 am – Nature walk and tracking basics with local guide (on safe trails near camp)
  • 8:00 to 9:30 am – Breakfast
  • 11:00 am to 1:00 pm – Workshop with local artisans (weaving, carving, or beadwork)
  • 1:00 to 2:00 pm – Lunch
  • 3:00 to 5:30 pm – Community visit
  • Guided village tour and cultural exchange
  • Visit to school for disabled children, optional donations and gentle volunteer support
  • 6:30 to 7:30 pm – Dinner
  • 8:00 to 9:00 pm – Integration circle
Day 6
  • 8:30 to 9:00 am – Morning refreshments
  • 9:00 to 10:00 am – Dynamic flow yoga
  • 10:00 to 10:30 am – Breath meditation
  • 10:30 am to 12:00 pm – Breakfast
  • 12:00 to 3:00 pm – Pool, journaling, optional massage
  • 3:00 to 4:30 pm – Cooking class with local chef (regional flavors and techniques)
  • 5:30 to 6:30 pm – Golden hour lookout, sundowners, soft silence
  • 7:00 to 8:00 pm – Dinner
  • 8:30 to 9:15 pm – Sound bath and nervous system recovery
Day 7
  • 6:30 to 7:00 am – Morning refreshments
  • 7:00 to 10:00 am – Optional second game drive or photography walk
  • 10:30 to 11:30 am – Breakfast
  • 12:00 to 2:00 pm – Free time, packing, pool
  • 3:00 to 4:30 pm – Integration circle, gratitude practice, year ahead intention
  • 5:30 to 7:00 pm – Closing fire ceremony and songs from the land
  • 7:30 to 9:00 pm – Farewell dinner
  • 9:15 pm – Rest and restore

12:00 pm – Check out and transfers

Nourishment

dietary requirement(s) are catered for: 🥬 Vegetarian 🌾 Gluten-free 🥛 Dairy-free 🥜 Nut-free 🌱 Vegan

Retreat Location

🦁 Savanna + River Wilderness 📍 Chobe Region, Northern Botswana 🚤 Chobe River & Floodplains 🐘 Wildlife-Rich Safari Territory 🔥 Quiet, Remote & Immersive
DAVID JIMENEZ CALVO

DAVID JIMENEZ CALVO

Instructor

Accommodation

Surrounded by open savanna, riverine forest, and vast African skies, each room invites deep rest, simplicity, and reconnection with what matters. Nights are quiet and expansive, carried by starlight, distant wildlife sounds, and the grounding stillness of the land.

Private Room

Private Room

$5,090 USD USD

Designed for solo travelers who want privacy, comfort, and space to fully reset. Ideal for those who value quiet evenings, personal reflection, and uninterrupted rest in a natural setting.

reserve with 15% deposit
Double Room

Double Room

$10,110 USD USD

Ideal for couples, partners, or close friends journeying together. This shared space offers comfort and connection, allowing you to integrate the experience side by side while immersed in the rhythm of the land.

reserve with 15% deposit
Shared Room

Shared Room

$4,090 USD USD

A great option for solo travelers who value connection and ease. This room is shared with one other guest of the same gender, creating a supportive, grounded atmosphere while still allowing personal space to unwind.

reserve with 15% deposit

Frequently asked questions

  • No. All practices are beginner friendly and adaptable. You will be guided step by step, with options given for different bodies and energy levels.
  • Moderate. There are early mornings for game drives and some time sitting in vehicles, gentle walks on flat terrain, and daily yoga. You do not need to be an athlete, just reasonably comfortable walking and sitting for stretches of time. You can always skip or modify activities if you need extra rest.
  • Yes, as long as safety guidelines are followed. All game drives, boat cruises, and walks are led by licensed local guides who know the land and animal behavior. You will not walk unescorted into wild areas, and we always prioritize safety over trying to get closer to animals.
  • This is an eco style safari retreat, not a rough camping trip. You will stay in comfortable rooms or tents with proper beds, linens, and essential amenities, plus shared common areas like pool, decks, and fire circle. Simple, grounded, and close to nature.
  • You are very welcome. Many guests join solo. Shared room guests are thoughtfully matched, and the group practices, circles, and meals make it easy to feel included without pressure to “perform” or be social all the time.
  • Meals are a mix of Southern African and international dishes, prepared fresh by the camp kitchen. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options can be arranged if you let us know in advance. We cannot guarantee completely allergen free kitchens but we will do our best to support your needs.
  • There is usually basic Wi Fi at the lodge and some mobile reception, but it can be slower or less reliable than in cities. Think of this as a good chance to unplug. We recommend handling urgent work tasks before you arrive and letting people know you will be less available.
  • Most guests fly into Victoria Falls (VFA) or Kasane (BBK). Once you book your flight, you will send us your arrival and departure details. We will help coordinate transfers with trusted local partners so you are met and guided to the lodge without stress.
  • Strongly recommended. Safari regions are remote and medical evacuation or trip changes can be costly. We suggest a policy that covers health care, evacuation, and trip cancellation or delay.
  • No. This retreat is centered around mindfulness, nature connection, and nervous system regulation. Evenings are quiet, with fireside stories, sound baths, and integration circles rather than loud parties. Alcohol is either limited or not emphasized, and you are invited to treat this as a true reset.

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

M

Miguel

Mexico

David is a great yoga and life teacher. Their experience and sensitivity are evident in guiding truly transformative experiences. This is already my second retreat with Back to the Roots and I can say that it has changed my life. I deeply appreciate his support and highly recommend him to those seeking a path of growth with professionalism and heart.

L

Lotta Karolina

Finland

I had the incredible chance to join a retreat led by David in the heart of the Colombian Amazon – and it’s hard to put into words how much this experience meant to me. David doesn’t just guide the retreat, he is the space: safe, sacred and full of love.His soul is pure light and joy. He’s like the sun warm, present and always shining. There’s so much wisdom in him and he shares it in such a kind and open hearted way. With David I felt truly seen, heard and accepted just as I am. As a yoga teacher he’s completely in his flow – calm, clear and deeply supportive. He also has a real gift for capturing special moments with his camera. The way he does it is something else! This wasn’t just a retreat. It felt like coming home, to myself, to love and to what really matters. I’m deeply grateful. Thank you, David, from all my heart. Highly recommended!

A

Alla Yakovenkko

Washingtonw dc

My experience with David’s retreat in Bali was truly transformative. His incredible skill in spiritual work and inner healing created a safe and inspiring space for deep personal growth. The yoga practices he led were beautifully balanced — both grounding and uplifting — and perfectly complemented the emotional and spiritual journey of the retreat. Everything was thoughtfully organized, from the schedule to the setting, making the entire experience flow with ease and intention. I can’t recommend David enough and truly hope to join more of his retreats in the future.

J

Janice Eusebe

Florida

I went to the Amazon Jungle in Colombia with David. He was very attentive. He made sure that the group was having a good time. He took time to translate information from the Shaman/Taita. He also adjusted the yoga sessions to the level of the group. The location he chose for this retreat was beautiful and the food was great!

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Jacky Arias

Atlanta

I enjoyed a lot the classes that I took with David, he has helped me to learn more about how to control my emotions and anxiety and how to relax and focus on my mind body and soul. I’m looking forward to continuing learning more of each class 🙏🏼 …

M

Monika Kroll

Poland

The retreat was a wonderful experience for me. It was a spontaneous decision to join and it was worth it. Everything, starting from yoga deck with a magnificent view, magical yoga classes, delicious vegan food and extra attractions in our agenda such as hiking of e-bikes, was amazing.. On top of that positive energy and engagement of our yoga instructor was making it a special and unique experience. Best gift I could give to myself. Definitely to be repeated! Thank you. Namaste

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Terrance Prat

Colorado United States

Yoga instruction was incredible and catered to all levels. We were provided delicious healthy meals daily. Our mindfulness and nutrition instructionals were spot on. David and his team put a lot of thought and planning into our retreat. From the beautiful beaches with surfing instructionals, to cultural immersion experiences with Balinese priests and visits to the Uluwatu Temple, David and Frankie left no stone unturned. If the experiences weren't enough, the friendships we formed were priceless. I was apprehensive to book an expensive retreat halfway around the world with people I'd never met, but rest assured, you'll be happy you did. David and Francesca's retreats come highly recommended and we'll be joining them again in the future.

J

Jane Dhin

California 

Everything about this experience was spectacular- from the people, the activities, the location, facilities, and the love energy within everyone i met there. I am forever changed by this experience and the people and memories we made here with the internal spiritual healing and connection within ourselves healed us all as a community. I can't even begin to describe how much gratitude I have for this experience and who it has made me. I have so much love and appreciation for whatever guided me to this retreat. David and Frankie are beautiful souls with good intentions and I thank them for providing the space and intention for so much healing and clarity that has the potential to heal the world.

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Nicole Tishbi

California 

The whole retreat was incredible and I’m still feeling the effects of it today! It’s been about 2 weeks and I feel completely transformed by the experience. The group I was with were absolutely amazing! The food was incredible and super healthy. The space they created for us left us all feeling vulnerable and energized. I especially loved our dance party that was just a beautiful experience with the sunset. The “guardians” that participated on the trip also taught me so much, with life coaching, tarot readings, etc. Overall I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my NYE anywhere else - I feel energized and recharged to make difficult changes this year!

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Blair T.

Ashland Oregon

The Rewild retreat I attended in Desert Palm Springs was wholistic, well planned, and so personal. Frankie and David led us through 5 days of physical reconnection with ourselves, education on ways to care for our health through what we consume, grounding our minds and bodies in gratitude for the earth and our connection to it. The phone call before, the personal connection throughout, and the continued offerings and relationships after make this program really customized to the individual while prioritizing feeling supported by each other. It’s a real community! The food was absolutely delicious and the setting in Sky Valley was gorgeous, and their desire to have us connect with plant medicine respectfully and ecstatically was admirable. I appreciated David and Frankie’s genuine love and care for their participants. Definitely give it a go