SOUTH AFRICAN GROUP RETREAT
4-11 May 2027, South Africa
explore, unwind, create
what’s included
🇿🇦 7 nights in an exclusive, luxurious safari lodge in South Africa, located inside an off-the-beaten-track private game reserve.
🦒 Morning and evening safari game drives every day with experienced rangers.
🎨 Relaxing daily paintings sessions in the studio alongside Sophie - any artistic abilities are welcome!
🖌️ Professional-grade art materials (unless you would prefer to use your own).
🍔 All meals, drinks, and snacks throughout your stay.
🐘 Fun, educational and ethical experiences with elephants and pangolins.
✈️ Return airport transfers from King Shaka International Airport.
💃🏻 All activities and excursions (unless stated as optional extras).
Non-participating friends/partners are welcome to join and enjoy the daily game drives, without participating in the daily art sessions.
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what to expect
the setting
Zebra Hills Safari Lodge
Manyoni Private Game Reserve spans 23,000 hectares of KwaZulu-Natal wilderness and is home to the Big Five, over 400 species of bird, and some of the most paintable landscapes in South Africa.
You will spend the week at a luxurious safari lodge inside the Manyoni Reserve, surrounded by wildlife and friendly nyalas.
accommodation
The lodge boasts luxurious and spacious bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. Rooms have a private outdoor deck with sun beds and a private outdoor shower. Hostesses are available 24/7 to ensure your stay is comfortable.
The lodge has a cosy shared living space, games room, swimming pool and an evening fire at the boma.
food & drink
Enjoy authentic South African cuisine during your stay, wine and as many snacks as you need from our ‘snack bar’ throughout the day. You will be treated to a three course meal every evening and breakfasts at the Half Lodge in the middle of the game reserve, surrounded by South African wildlife.
itinerary
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Welcome to South Africa!
Transport from King Shaka International Airport (3 hrs) to the venue will be arranged. We recommend arriving in South Africa a day before the retreat starts to account for any delays and adapt to the local time zone.
On arrival, you will be shown to your room and given some time to settle in. There will be welcome drinks and a tour of the venue.
A delicious welcome dinner will give you the opportunity to get to know the group, whilst enjoying some local wine. After dinner, you may wish to join the group at the boma for a cosy fire under the stars.
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We will start the day off with an early morning game drive, where we will hopefully see some of the big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants and African buffalo), as well as some of the hundreds of species of mammals and birds that South Africa has to offer! You may wish to bring your camera to capture some reference photos for your art.
We will stop in the half lodge in the middle of the reserve for a tasty breakfast, before heading back to the lodge.
After breakfast, you will join Sophie in the studio for an introductory art session. This will give Sophie the opportunity to get to know everybody’s artist backgrounds and interests. We will then get the paints out and start painting together!
After lunch, we will continue our paintings in the studio, before having a bit of down time, ready for our evening game drive. We will then enjoy a delicious 3 course meal and gather around the fire pit to unwind.
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After another morning game drive and breakfast, we will head back into the studio for another relaxing art session.
This afternoon, we will have an exciting and unforgettable elephant experience, where we will learn all about the plight of the mighty African elephant.
After our evening game drive, we will gather for another delicious, 3 course dinner and finish the evening off around the fire pit.
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This morning, following our usual game drive, we return to the studio to work on our paintings.
We will spend as much time as we’d like in the studio today. You may wish to have an optional wine tasting session, relax by the pool, or go to the games room, before heading back to our rooms at leisure to prepare for our evening game drive.
Game drives are always optional but most guests like to make the most of being on safari - you never know when the group may experience a rare animal encounter whilst on a game drive!
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This morning, after exploring the South African wilderness some more and enjoying a breakfast in the bushveld, we will meet back in the studio to continue our art sessions.
After lunch, we will have another fun and educational experience. Manyoni, in partnership with the Zululand Conservation Trust, serves as a release site for Temminck’s ground pangolins, rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We will learn all about pangolin behaviour, diet, and the conservation challenges they face.
After our evening game drive, dinner will be served with local wine and we will relax by the fire pit to close off the day.
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Today, we have another relaxing day of exploring the South African bushveld and painting in the studio.
This afternoon, you may want to spend time working on your painting, relax by the pool, or spend time with the lodge’s friendly nyala, before joining the group for an evening game drive and dinner.
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After our morning game drive and enjoying a delicious breakfast in the bushveld, we will gather in the studio to discuss the week’s progress and reflect on the sessions. After lunch, we will then have our ‘group exhibition’, where we will enjoy and critique each other’s work.
Following our evening game drive, we will come together for our special Zulu farewell dinner, share stories and reflect on the week around the fire pit.
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All good things must come to an end!
After breakfast, it will be time to say our goodbyes.
We will gather for a group photo, before transfers to King Shaka International Airport.
studio sessions
During your stay at Zebra Hills Safari Lodge, you will join Sophie in the studio for daily art sessions. These will be laid back, fun and (hopefully) relaxing.
The aim of these sessions is to build confidence and skill, as well as inspiring anybody who wants to be more creative. These will not be intensive lessons and any artistic ability is welcome.
Life on safari is quite full on, so sessions will run for a few hours each day and you will get the opportunity to watch Sophie work, ask questions about her technique, inspirations and career, as well as practise your own small-scale paintings on canvas using acrylic paint.
Sophie will give everybody regular individual feedback and will model common methods such as the grid method, colour-mixing, sketching and using reference photos.
You can expect these art sessions to be laid back and supportive, with the feel of a ‘shared art studio’, rather than a classroom. There’s no pressure to attend if you’d rather have a nap or go to the pool! Sophie enjoys chatting or listening to music whilst painting, or perhaps a podcast!
pricing
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Large, air-conditioned, luxury ensuite bedroom, shared with a friend (old or new).
€3,600 per person (approx. £2,660)
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Single occupancy luxury double room with private en-suite.
$4,000 (approx. £2,960)
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Large, air-conditioned, luxury ensuite bedroom, shared with a participating friend.
Friends or partners who do not wish to participate in art sessions are welcome to join.
Food/drink/accommodation and activities are included.
$3,240 (approx. £2,395)
Reserve your spot today with a $1,000 (approx. £740) deposit today.