Root to Rise Retreat
Cape Town, South Africa
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2nd - 8th November | Starting at £1,995A 7-day luxury yoga retreat through wild nature, ocean wonder, and grounded celebration.
Experience the richness and diversity of South Africa during this exclusive yoga retreat in the city of Cape Town and the surrounding wilderness of the Western Cape region.
Held in November, a moment of gentle transition between spring and summer, this retreat unfolds at a time when the land feels open, alive, and quietly abundant. The days are warm without intensity, the evenings long and golden, and the natural world carries a sense of ease and renewal. Set between wild mountain landscapes, open ocean, and lush green valleys, this journey moves between two carefully chosen sanctuary locations. Here, nature and refinement exist side by side: stillness and celebration, simplicity and comfort, solitude and connection.
The retreat begins slowly, allowing the body to land and the nervous system to settle after travel. Mornings are spacious, practices are grounding and accessible, and there is time to rest, reflect, and simply be. As the days unfold, movement becomes more expansive, energy begins to rise, and space opens - both around you and within you.
This is not a retreat to escape life… It is an invitation to reconnect with it.
To move with greater clarity, to breathe more fully, and to return home feeling grounded, steady, and alive. Through thoughtfully sequenced yoga, time spent in nature, and moments of quiet luxury, you are gently supported back into rhythm with yourself and the land.
The Western Cape offers a rare and powerful backdrop for this journey. Vast skies, rugged coastlines, ancient mountains, and a deep sense of freedom. Combined with intentional practice and shared experience, it creates a beautifully held space for reflection, integration, and renewal.
You will be held every step of the way.
❋ Thoughtfully sequenced yoga
❋ Nature immersion and soulful travel
❋ Quiet, considered luxury
❋ Genuine connection and integration
A retreat to come home to yourself — grounded, clear, and renewed.
❋ Aquila Private Game Reserve
Our journey begins where the land opens wide and life moves to an ancient, instinctive rhythm. Set within the vast wilderness of the Karoo, just under two hours from Cape Town, Aquila Private Game Reserve is a place of scale, silence, and soul. Here, the horizon stretches endlessly. The sky feels impossibly big. At night, stars spill across the darkness, uninterrupted and alive.
This is not simply a place to stay, it is a place that recalibrates you. The moment you arrive, something shifts. The nervous system registers the openness. Breath deepens without instruction. Perspective widens. The urgency of everyday life loosens its grip.
Surrounded by mountains, wildlife, and vast open landscapes, Aquila invites you to slow down and reconnect with something older and deeper than routine. Game drives across the reserve offer encounters with elephants, giraffes, rhino, lions and more. Not as spectacle, but as a reminder of the powerful intelligence of the natural world. Between these moments of exploration, there is space to soften. Time to rest. Time to wander. Time to feel the quiet rhythm of the land.
Luxury shared accommodation, nourishing meals, and the calm sanctuary of the Tranquila Spa provide comfort and ease, allowing the body to fully settle into retreat space.
Our Locations
The first three days: landing, grounding, settling
The opening days of Root to Rise are devoted entirely to arrival. Not arrival as an event, but as a process.
Each morning begins with grounding yoga, practiced in the stillness of early light as the land awakens. These sessions are breath-led, accessible, and deeply anchoring, offering a steady foundation before the day unfolds.
From here, the rhythm of the reserve gently takes over. Safari game drives invite moments of awe and presence, while spacious afternoons allow time to rest, visit the spa, journal, or simply be. Workshops during these days introduce the deeper themes of the retreat, exploring breath, awareness, nervous system regulation, and the quiet art of slowing down.
As evening falls, the energy softens. Gentle yoga and restorative practices invite the body to unwind and integrate the richness of the day.
These first days create the foundation for the journey ahead: grounding the body, settling the mind, and opening space for connection — both with yourself and with the land that holds the retreat.
❋ What you can expect
As these first days unfold, something subtle begins to shift. Breath deepens. The body settles. The mind grows quieter. Clarity emerges. Not through effort, but through presence and spaciousness.
❋ Grounding morning yoga as the land awakens
❋ Gentle evening practices for rest and integration
❋ Safari game drives through the vast Karoo landscape
❋ Time at the Tranquila Spa or simply resting in nature
❋ Long pauses for stillness, journaling, and quiet reflection
❋ Star-filled nights beneath the expansive African sky
❋ Nourishing meals shared slowly and with care
❋ A growing sense of connection — to self, to land, and to one another
By the time we leave Aquila Private Game Reserve, the nervous system feels steadier, the heart more open, and the body deeply grounded.
From this place of arrival, the retreat begins to expand — carrying us forward into the next chapter of Root to Rise in Cape Town with greater ease, clarity, and connection.
❋ Vida Nova Retreat, Hout Bay
The second phase of the retreat unfolds at a Vida Nova Retreat - a carefully chosen luxury location nestled between mountain peaks and the Atlantic Ocean.
After the vast openness of the Karoo, the journey continues to the coast. Vida Nova offers a gentle re-entry, a space of calm, beauty, and gentle grounding. Surrounded by lush gardens and natural landscapes, it is a place designed for reflection, connection, and renewal. Here, the rhythm shifts once again. Where Aquila invited us into the raw power of wilderness, Hout Bay offers a softer landscape, one that holds space for integration, rest, and deeper presence.
Morning light moves slowly across the mountains. The ocean air carries a quiet stillness. The sound of birds and rustling trees replaces the noise of everyday life. This setting becomes the heart of the retreat. Days unfold gently between practice, conversation, exploration, and spaciousness. Time moves differently here… slower, fuller, more intentional.
Shared accommodation continues to support the spirit of the retreat. Community forms naturally through shared meals, shared practices, and the quiet intimacy of stepping outside familiar routines together. Here, the deeper transformation of retreat begins to unfold.
The final days: integration, joy, and connection
These days are designed to support embodiment and expression - taking what has been uncovered in the stillness of the first part of the retreat and allowing it to move, breathe, and live more fully.
Yoga practices here become more fluid and expansive, encouraging confidence, openness, and a sense of joy in the body. Mornings are bright and energising, while evenings invite softness and rest. There is space for laughter, shared experiences, and gentle celebration - without losing the grounded presence established earlier in the week.
This phase of the retreat includes time beyond the mat. These experiences are not rushed or packed - they are woven in thoughtfully, allowing you to remain present, relaxed, and connected.
By the final day, something subtle has shifted. The body feels lighter, the mind clearer. Connections both within ourselves and with others feel deeper and more genuine. Root to Rise becomes not just a retreat, but a shared journey.
❋ What you can expect
Accommodation offers a choice between shared and private rooms (Please note private rooms are limited and priced separately), giving you the opportunity to enjoy both community and personal space as the retreat draws to a close. It is here that many guests feel a renewed sense of balance - rooted yet open, settled yet inspired.
As the retreat comes to an end, attention turns gently towards integration: reflecting on what has shifted, what feels clearer, and how to carry this sense of grounding and vitality back into everyday life.
❋ A trip up Table Mountain offers sweeping views across the city, coastline, and surrounding mountains — a moment that captures the vast beauty of the Cape from above.
❋ A journey along the spectacular curves of Chapman’s Peak Drive before visiting Boulders Beach, where African penguins nest among white sand and granite boulders along the Cape Peninsula.
❋ An afternoon in the historic Constantia Valley and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where vineyards sit beneath dramatic mountain backdrops and the region’s long tradition of winemaking invites slow afternoons of tasting and conversation.
❋ What’s Included
Your retreat investment includes a fully hosted, thoughtfully curated experience designed to allow you to arrive, soften, and be completely held throughout the journey.
❋7 days / 6 nights luxury accommodation
❋ 2 nights at Aquila Private Game Reserve, immersed in the vast wilderness of the Karoo
❋ 4 nights at Vida Nova Retreat in Hout Bay, a tranquil sanctuary nestled between mountains and ocean
❋ Daily yoga practices (morning and selected evenings), thoughtfully sequenced to support arrival and grounding, nervous system regulation and strength, openness, and integration
❋ Workshops and guided mindfulness sessions exploring breath, awareness, and embodied presence
❋ Multiple safari game drives offering the opportunity to encounter South Africa’s extraordinary wildlife in its natural habitat
❋ Day trip to Boulders Beach, home to its iconic penguin colony and pristine white sands
❋ Cable car journey up Table Mountain, offering panoramic views across Cape Town, the ocean, and beyond
❋ Visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world
❋ Exploration of the historic Constantia Winelands, one of the oldest wine regions in the Southern Hemisphere
❋ All meals throughout the retreat
❋ All transfers between retreat locations and included excursions
❋ Curated welcome ritual pack
Yes! All of the above is included in the price!
❋ What’s NOT Included
To keep the retreat flexible and transparent, the following are not included in your retreat investment:
❋ International flights to and from Cape Town - Suggested airlines include British Airways (direct), Norse Air (direct), Qatar Airways (via Doha), Emirates (via Dubai), and KLM (via Amsterdam)
❋ Pre-retreat and post-retreat accommodation if arriving earlier or leaving later (we can help find the best prices for accommodation upon request)
❋ Private airport transfers outside of scheduled group transfers
(These can be arranged on request at an additional cost)
❋ Taxis or Uber outside of the included group excursions
❋ Laundry services
❋ Gratuities (tips)
❋ Spa treatments (Massage or wellbeing treatments may be available at an additional cost)
❋ Independent yoga classes done outside of the retreat at local studios (for those who want to practice more)
❋ Alcoholic beverages, speciality drinks and food outside of included experiences (including Mini-bar or incidental charges at the accommodation)
❋ Personal purchases or souvenirs
❋ Travel insurance (essential) - All guests must have comprehensive travel insurance
❋ Medical insurance (essential) - Including cover for overseas medical treatment and emergency care
❋ Costs incurred due to personal changes to travel plans
❋ Liability for personal injury, illness, or loss of personal belongings
❋About your Retreat Host
This retreat is guided with deep respect for the body, the land, and the quiet, often unseen layers of healing that reveal themselves when we slow down and truly listen. You’ll be supported throughout your journey by Maz, alongside a collective of carefully chosen local teachers and guides, each bringing their own depth, perspective, and connection to this place. Together, they create an experience that is both grounding and expansive… holding space for restoration, presence, and meaningful transformation.
Maz Bryden - Founder of Cuoro Yoga · Retreat Host & Yoga Teacher
Maz is a yoga teacher, retreat host, and the founder of Cuoro Yoga. Born and raised in South Africa, her connection to its land, rhythm, and spirit runs deep. Hosting this retreat is both personal and meaningful for Maz. It is an honour for her to share the love, respect, and reverence she holds for her country with others, and to offer guests the opportunity to experience the Western Cape not just as a destination, but as a place of grounding, healing, and perspective.
Her teaching is intuitive, grounded, and breath-led, blending mindful vinyasa, slow strength, and nervous-system-aware sequencing. Maz encourages students to move with awareness and choice, placing an emphasis on sensation, presence, and self-trust rather than performance or shape.
As your host, Maz is present throughout the entire retreat - from airport arrival to closing circle - holding the container with warmth, clarity, and care. Her approach is unhurried and deeply human, allowing space for both stillness and expansion, connection and solitude.
This retreat reflects Maz’s belief that true wellbeing is found by returning to rhythm - with the body, with nature, and with the deeper intelligence within.
£1995 per person — shared accommodation - Please enquire about Single occupancy (limited availability)*
❋ Securing Your Place: A £150 non-refundable security deposit is required to secure your space on the retreat. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the arrival date. The balance may be paid in full or spread over instalments by prior arrangement. See our FAQ here.
❋ How to Book: To reserve your place or to receive further information, please contact Maz directly via email at marian@cuoroyoga.com. Maz is happy to support you with: Booking the retreat and securing your deposit; Payment options and timelines; Guidance on the best international flights to book; Any additional questions you may have about the experience.
❋ A Gentle Note: Places are limited, and this retreat will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis once deposits are received. If this retreat is calling you, we encourage you to reach out early to avoid disappointment.
❋ Anyone and everyone is welcome to take part, regardless of age, though you should be over 18 years old and have a good basic level of physical fitness. The retreat is not designed to accommodate children. The trip is ideal for couples or friends travelling together. Non-yogi partners are very welcome, and they do not have to take part in the yoga practices, but can still enjoy an amazing African experience, as well as fantastic golf courses, walks and shark cage diving!
On confirming your interest in this retreat, you are asked to share a few details with us:
❋ A brief bio about yourself and why you want to join us in South Africa
❋ Your level of Yoga experience (eg. beginners, intermediate, advanced, teacher)
❋ Any physical issues, including accidents, injuries or mental or physical illness
❋ Any specific allergies and dietary requirements
❋ Any other specific requirements
* Please note: Single-occupancy accommodation is available at both locations. Single or double beds can be arranged at your preference for shared accommodation.
❋ Prices & Booking
This retreat is intentionally small and carefully held, with limited spaces to preserve depth, connection, and quality.