On the Ground: Kenya
March 6-15, 2026
Join award-winning journalist Jill Filipovic and 600-hour certified yoga teacher emily shapiro for a ten-day storytelling journey across city, safari and sea in magical kenya.
Join journalist Jill Filipovic, National Geographic photographer Nichole Sobecki, and yoga teacher Emily Shapiro for an extraordinary ten-day adventure across Kenya.
We begin in Nairobi, Kenya’s humming capitol, where we’ll practice with one of the city’s best yoga teachers, meet some baby elephants, and visit a giraffe sanctuary. Then we’ll be off to Ol Pejeta in Kenya’s Laikipia region for four days of safari, yoga, meditation, horse rides with rhinos, sundowners, and more. Finally, we will head to Lamu on the Kenyan coast for poolside yoga, fresh-caught seafood, evening dhow rides, long beach walks, and the ability to explore one of the most stunning and special places in the world.
Throughout the retreat, Jill will lead writing workshops focused on effective storytelling. Nichole will teach photography as both skill and artform. Emily will teach daily vinyasa yoga classes in extraordinary settings. This is not your typical drop-into-a-beautiful-place yoga retreat: Jill and Nichole both spent several years living in Nairobi, and will be taking you to their very favorite places that may not be on the typical tourist agenda. And they will work with you individually on your own story-telling projects.
What’s Included:
-Daily vinyasa flow yoga
-Options for intensive yoga workshops and/or restorative Yin
-Daily writing workshops
-Daily photography workshops led by a National Geographic photographer
-Individual feedback and edits on writing and photo projects
-Shared accommodations in Nairobi, Ol Pejeta, and Lamu
-Three nights and four days of safari
-All transfers and flights within Kenya
-Conservancy fees
-Unlimited game drives, including night drives
-Visits to the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre in Nairobi
-Bush breakfasts and sundowners (AM breakfast and sunset drinks on safari)
-All meals
-Drinks, including juice, soda, beer and wine
-Sunset dhow cruise
-and much more
Sample Itinerary
Friday 6 March:
Arrive in Nairobi, settle in, dinner for whoever has arrived early enough
Saturday 7 March:
9am Breakfast
10am Meet in the hotel lobby for group transport for the day
12pm Visit to the Nairobi giraffe sanctuary
1pm Group lunch at the Talisman restaurant
2:30pm Storytelling workshop
3:30pm Soft yoga, breath, and meditation practice
7pm Dinner at Beit e Selam
Sunday 8 March:
7am Depart for Ol Pejeta
11am Game drive
1pm Arrive at the Safari Cottages, lunch, storytelling workshop
3pm Vinyasa flow yoga
4pm Game drive + Sundowners
6pm Drinks around the fire
7pm Dinner
Monday 9 March & Tuesday 10 March:
7am Game drive
9am Bush breakfast
11am Storytelling Workshop
1pm Lunch
3pm Vinyasa flow yoga
4pm Game drive + Sundowners
6pm Drinks around the fire
7pm Dinner
Wednesday 11 March
7am Game drive
8am Bush breakfast
11am Flight to Lamu
3pm Settle into Lamu houses
5:30pm Sundowners at Forodhani
8pm Dinner at Forodhani
Thursday 12 March:
8am Yoga
9am Breakfast
10am Storytelling workshop
3pm Optional yoga
5pm Sundowners at Peponi
7pm Dinner at Peponi
Friday 13 March:
8am Yoga
9am Breakfast
10am Storytelling workshop
5pm Sunset dhow cruise
7pm Dinner at Forodhani
Saturday 14 March:
8am Yoga
9am Breakfast
10am Storytelling workshop
5pm Sundowners and Work Showcase at Kasbah
8pm Swahili seafood feast at Kasbah
Sunday 15 March:
8am Yoga
9am Breakfast
1pm Depart for NBO
Investment
Shared double room in Nairobi and on safari (separate beds), single room with private bathroom in Lamu: $7,950 per person
Shared double room in Nairobi and on safari, single room with shared bathroom (maximum 4 women to one bathroom) in Lamu: $7,650 per person
Shared double room, sharing a bed (for a couple or close friends who sign up together): $7,450 per person
Shared triple room (separate beds, must sign up as a group of three): $7,250 per person
Included in the cost: Accommodations, all flights and transfers within Kenya, all meals, drinks including beer and house wine, daily yoga, daily storytelling workshops, twice-daily game drives while on safari, yoga workshops, and private editing sessions with Jill and Nichole.
Payment plans are available:
What’s NOT included: Roundtrip airfare to Nairobi; travel insurance (highly recommended); staff tips; premium spirits, cocktails and wines; souvenirs, laundry, and other personal expenses; spa services and massage; optional lunches out in Lamu.
$1,500 nonrefundable deposit is due to secure your spot. Nonrefundable 50% of the remaining retreat cost is due November 1, 2025, and full nonrefundable payment is due January 1, 2026. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance.