Set within one of Africa’s last unfenced wilderness areas, Under the African Sky will combine safari experiences, breathwork and personal development at Nambwa Tented Lodge next July.
As wellness tourism continues to evolve beyond luxury spas and traditional retreats, a growing number of travellers are seeking experiences that combine personal wellbeing with meaningful connections to nature. In Namibia’s remote Bwabwata National Park, where elephant herds still move freely across ancient migratory routes, and the Kwando River winds through vast floodplains, a new retreat aims to do exactly that.
From 3 to 8 July 2026, Retreats In The Wild will host Under the African Sky, a five-night wilderness retreat at Nambwa Tented Lodge, bringing together just 15 guests for an immersive experience centred on nature, storytelling, breathwork and conscious living.
Located within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), the largest conservation landscape on Earth, Bwabwata National Park offers a setting far removed from the distractions of modern life. Here, there are no fences separating wildlife from the landscape, and little to interrupt the rhythms of nature.
The retreat will be facilitated by Brett Shuttleworth, Joe van Niekerk and Tinolla Rodgers, whose diverse backgrounds span professional sport, hospitality and personal development.
Shuttleworth, a former professional rugby player, model and actor, has spent more than two decades facilitating consciousness-based retreats and transformational programmes around the world. Van Niekerk, best known for his distinguished rugby career with the Springboks and French club RC Toulon, now works in the fields of breathwork, somatic practice and conscious leadership. Rodgers, founder of African Monarch Journeys, has built a hospitality brand rooted in conservation, community development and experiential travel within Namibia’s wild landscapes.
A harmonious schedule
Rather than following a tightly structured schedule, Under the African Sky is designed to unfold in harmony with its surroundings. Daily experiences include guided breathwork and somatic sessions, reflective storytelling, wilderness immersion and opportunities for quiet contemplation in nature.
Guests will also participate in traditional sweat lodge ceremonies, bush walks, game drives and sunrise boat excursions on the Kwando River. A private island dinner beneath the stars and an art session hosted by The Sijwa Project, African Monarch Journeys’ community initiative, form part of the programme.
For Rodgers, the retreat reflects a belief that nature itself plays a central role in personal renewal.
“I believe nature remembers what humanity has forgotten. When people feel safe enough to soften and reconnect to themselves, the process happens naturally,” she says.
Conservation and community
Beyond the personal benefits for participants, the retreat also contributes directly to local conservation and community initiatives. 12% of every booking is reinvested in the Mayuni Conservancy through The Sijwa Project, which supports skills development and sustainable community programmes in the region.
The venue itself is part of that model. Nambwa Tented Lodge operates as a joint venture with the Mayuni Conservancy, ensuring that tourism revenue supports both conservation efforts and local livelihoods.
Widely regarded as one of Namibia’s most distinctive safari lodges, Nambwa offers just ten elevated tented suites overlooking floodplains frequented by elephants and other wildlife. The absence of fences creates a rare sense of immersion, allowing guests to experience the wilderness as it has existed for generations.
As travellers increasingly seek experiences that combine wellbeing, purpose and authentic connection, retreats such as Under the African Sky highlight a broader shift in African tourism, one where conservation, community impact and personal enrichment intersect in some of the continent’s most remarkable natural settings.
Retreat details
Dates: 3–8 July 2026
Location: Nambwa Tented Lodge, Bwabwata National Park, Namibia
Capacity: 15 guests
Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth, Joe van Niekerk and Tinolla Rodgers
The retreat package includes accommodation, meals, guided game drives, boat cruises, bush walks, retreat facilitation, participation in The Sijwa Project, park fees and sustainability levies. International flights and transfers to Nambwa are excluded.
Getting there
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