A holiday in Africa that gives back
- Lucy Dunnett
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
We are thrilled to be sending you the impact of our Safari and Yoga Retreat last year. Our trip raised a total of US$ 13,673 for local conservation charities and community empowerment projects in the Maasai Mara. A huge thanks to the wonderful guests who came on the trip. The local community is over the moon!
$8,960 of this went to wildlife conversation, to preserve the 35,000 acres of ancient wilderness in the Siana Conservancy, and to protect the abundance of African wildlife living within it.
$480 was donated to Orboma village in the form of new cooking pots, cooking oil, maize flour, wheat flour, rice and warm blankets for 20 beautiful families living in the village, many with 8 or 9 children!
$4,233 was donated to a Girls Rescue Centre built by Entumoto Safari Camp to offer a safe haven for girls escaping early marriage, FGM and abuse. There are now 70 girls living at the centre. Donations go towards the upkeep of the centre, the gorgeous staff who take care of the girls, food and clean water, school fees, and fun things like balls, skipping ropes and craft activities.
This year two of our guests also offered to buy the girl's first-ever choir uniform! See pic above. Don't they look amazing! The dresses were sourced and made locally. It's something they've always wanted. They sing and practice together every week, and they're starting to go out and perform in public. These dresses will give them so much confidence and joy. They now feel part of a group of beautiful, powerful women, raising their voices in harmony with one another and sending their message into the world.
Testimonial
To give you an idea of the lasting feeling of connection and happiness that is created from our retreats, I'm sharing here an email received from one of our guests after we were sent pictures of the choir dresses...
"Oh Lucy how wonderful!
I am so glad they love their uniforms. The colour itself is soooo glorious and to see all their smiley faces brings me so much joy!!
It's been a long wait and they have been so patient but I am just so happy that they have something to define their special group and to link them all together in such a special way, as they are truly amazing women!
I so loved meeting them and spending time with them... it was a very special trip we all did together and indeed something that will stay with me always.
I shall be very jealous of you all going again on the next trip! One day, hopefully I shall return!
Hope all is well with you and your family and thank you for giving us such an amazing experience.
xx"
- Eddy -
Family Easter Trip
In April we held our first family trip. 12 days in Kenya during the Easter holidays. It was a huge success, a proper adventure! A few pictures below. The trip included:
3 days in the Main Maasai Mara Reserve, in a luxury camp next to a river with waterfalls and fishing nearby.
3 days in a private conservancy, where game drives and walking safaris could take them off the beaten track.
5 days on the beach with watersports, sailing, snorkelling, seafood etc.
A final day in Nairobi feeding the giraffes at Giraffe Manor and visiting the baby elephants at the orphanage.
Kids activities and childcare available at each location, including beadwork, archery, spear making, fire making, guided nature walks, Maasai dancing and singing, and much more!
As this was a complex trip to put together, and we wanted to make sure children and parents felt safe and well looked after, we worked closely with a safari company on the ground called Mark Boyd Safaris. A huge thanks to you and your team Mark. We are so grateful for your support.
Family Trip Testimonial
This message was sent from an 83 year old grandmother who came on our family trip with her daughter and two grandchildren:
"Thank you SO MUCH for organising our trip. We had the most wonderful time. What an experience these two children had. Everywhere we went was beautiful.
At the beach we took TukTuk's with my grandson up front. He loved it. And my granddaughter kept wanting to buy bracelets from the market stalls!
I even did the river float with them. I caused a lot of laughter as I was so light, so I kept floating away from the group! They had to give me extra noodles and hold on to me hahaha ;)
It was all brilliantly organised, the lodges, the delicious food, the safaris, the easy transport between each place, the kids activities. We fell in love with all the staff and guides and saw every animal too - a huge pride of lions with cubs. Please pass on our thanks to everyone who made it all possible. "
- Maureen -
Check out more pictures here!
Our upcoming trips
8th - 15th November 2025 - Adults Only
This November we're hosting our third Safari and Yoga Retreat. Lisa Butler will be joining us again, to offer her much loved yoga. Our guests enjoyed Lisa's yoga so much that some of them are returning to Kenya this year, and others have started to do classes with her back in the UK.
Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or new to the practice, Lisa offers something transformative for everyone.
22nd - 29th November 2025 - Families
7 day family retreat - ideal for Home Education families or US citizens on Thanksgiving break. Family safaris, kids club activities and childcare, while parents relax with yoga, sauna, pool and treatment tent.
30th March - 9th April 2026 - Families
We are hosting our second family adventure during the Easter holidays next year.
2 days in the Maasai Mara, 2 days in a private conservancy, 5 days on the beach, 1 day in Nairobi.
Places are limited! If any of these spark something in your heart, please send an email to lucy@safariandyoga.com or visit our website.
Thank you!
Thank you for sticking with us. It means a lot to know our work is reaching far and wide. Please connect with us on Instagram too @safariandyoga.
Any questions or ideas, please send them our way. We've been organising a few bespoke trips for private groups too, so if you're considering going on a private holiday in Kenya we'd love to help.
With love and adventure,
Lucy and Clémence
Lucy Dunnett and Clémence Duvent
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