Join National Geographic photographer Nichole Sobecki and journalist and yoga teacher Jill Filipovic for a nine-day storytelling journey through wine and wild in one of the world’s most spectacular nations: South Africa.

We’ll start off in Cape Town, one of the world’s most stunning cities, where we’ll practice with the city’s best yoga teachers (including the ones who trained Jill as a yoga teacher!); visit Robben Island, the Museum of Contemporary African Art, and other spaces that tell the story of this extraordinary country; and eat at some of the city’s best restaurants. It will be autumn in South Africa, so a particularly beautiful time to be there: Crisp, cool, and lovely.

Then we’ll set off for wine country. On the way, we’ll take a private guided tour of a cheetah sanctuary that rehabilitates these endangered animals and returns them to the wild — and where Nichole has visited in her work for National Geographic covering conservation and the scourge of cheetah trafficking. Once in the Cape Winelands, we’ll practice yoga daily, indulge in farm-fresh food grown nearby, and almost definitely drink way too much wine in vineyards across Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek.

Finally, we’ll fly east for safari, where we’ll stay in a luxury safari camp on a private conservancy near Kruger National Park. Bring your camera and come prepared to see the Big Five and much, much more.

Throughout the retreat, daily yoga will be on offer. Nichole will lead photography workshops — not just how to take a great photo on safari, but how to use visual tools to tell a compelling story. Jill will lead accompanying writing workshops focused on effective storytelling and weaving words with images. And we’ll both work with you individually on your own story-telling project.

-Daily vinyasa flow yoga

-Options for intensive yoga workshops and/or restorative Yin

-Daily workshops in photography and writing

-Individual feedback and edits on writing and photo projects

-Shared accommodations in Cape Town, Cape Winelands, and on safari

-Three nights and four days of luxury safari on a private conservancy

-All transfers and flights within South Africa

-Conservancy fees

-Twice-daily game drives

-Entry to Robben Island and MOCAA in Cape Town

-Optional excursions including a hike up Table Mountain and a trip to Boulders Beach penguin colony

-Bush breakfasts and sundowners (AM breakfast and sunset drinks on safari)

-All meals, including dinners at some of South Africa’s (and the world’s) best restaurants

-Drinks, including juice, soda, beer, and house wine

-Wine tastings and bitings

-and much more

Friday October 13: Arrive in Cape Town + settle in

Saturday October 14: Visit Robben Island + Wander through the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa + Storytelling workshop + Yoga

Sunday October 15: Choose between a Table Mountain hike OR visit to Chapman’s Peak / Hout Bay / Penguins + Storytelling workshop + Yoga

Monday October 16: Travel to winelands + Explore cheetah sanctuary + Storytelling workshop + Slow flow yoga

Tuesday October 17: Wine tasting in Stellenbosch + Storytelling workshop + Vinyasa flow yoga

Wednesday October 18: Wine tasting in Franschhoek + Optional horse riding + Storytelling workshop + Yoga

Thursday October 19: Flight to Kruger National Park + Game drive + Sundowners in the bush

Friday October 20: Morning game drive + Final Storytelling Workshop + Yoga + Afternoon game drive

Saturday October 21: Morning game drive and bush breakfast + Editing sessions with Jill + Nichole + Game Drive and sundowners + Final presentations

Sunday October 22: Breakfast + Departure

Urban retreat right in the creative heart of Cape Town; harmoniously blending simplicity, comfort, world-class service, and an active concern for society and the environment.

Historic boutique hotel in the heart of Franschhoek combining heritage design with local creativity and charm. The public areas of the hotel include bespoke art pieces from local artists and handpicked furniture and fabrics. The original veranda is an oasis of calm and leads to a garden of roses, lavender, and indigenous trees against a backdrop of the Franschhoek mountains.

Exclusive rental of a luxury safari camp and private nature reserve in the heart of the Greater Kruger National Park with 11000 hectares of traverse. Known for its superb game viewing, abundant fauna and flora, and diverse topography, and also includes a spa, decadent kitchen, and all the modern amenities.

Shared double accommodations: Early bird special of $6,250 (valid through March 1), full price of $7,450

Private single accommodations: Inquire.

We are limiting this retreat to 10 participants.

Included in the cost: Accommodation for 9 nights, all flights and transfers within South Africa, 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 / or Nichole.

Option for a shared double room or a private.

Payment plans are available.

What’s NOT included: Roundtrip airfare to Cape Town; travel insurance (highly recommended); staff tips; premium spirits, cocktails and wines; souvenirs, laundry, and other personal expenses; spa services and massage.