If the daily grind has you aching for a mindfulness escape, one of the many wellness retreats in South Africa might just be what you need to reset and rejuvenate. From the calming rhythm of ocean waves to the serene stillness of the bush or the charm of a countryside hideaway, the country offers a wellness experience for every kind of traveller. Here are some of the top retreats and getaways to consider.
Wellness retreats in Gauteng
Wellness Retreat at Woodlands Spa
Nestled on tranquil riverfront grounds, Woodlands Spa offers far more than health and beauty treatments. Here you can look forward to a true state of well-being that nurtures the body, uplifts the spirit, and invites personal transformation. Guests are encouraged to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what truly matters: inner peace, health, and happiness.
The spa’s signature wellness retreat is the getaway your soul has been craving – a chance to step away from screens, noise, and daily demands. Think a serene environment that encourages rest, reflection, and gentle renewal, making it ideal for those seeking stillness and mindful self-care.
Accommodation is provided at the Space Between Guesthouse, located on the same peaceful estate as the spa. The retreat house features four en-suite bedrooms, each offering quiet comfort and shared communal spaces that foster connection while maintaining a sense of privacy and calm.
Cost: R3,100pp single or R2,900pp sharing. Includes 1-night accommodation, meals, spa treatments, yoga classes, and opportunities to explore the spa’s facilities. Enquire or book via [email protected]
When: No set dates, guests can book any time for any length, all year round
Where: Woodlands Spa, R114 (next to Avianto), Muldersdrift, Gauteng
Wellness retreats in the Kruger National Park
Rewilding Your Soul – a Soulful Safari Retreat
The serene embrace of the Sashwa River of Stars on the banks of the Olifants River in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park invites you to slow down and reconnect with the rhythm of the wild. Through guided bush walks, mindful game drives, shamanic meditations, and sensory explorations, you’ll rediscover harmony, presence and connection at this wellness retreat.
Guests enjoy organic plant-based meals, yoga, sauna, and time to unwind by the pool, riverfront deck, or creative studio. Optional wellness treatments, such as star baths and massages, deepen the restorative experience.
More than just a personal journey, the Soulful Safari Retreat also supports community upliftment towards Sashwa’s profits fund, Koru Camp, which provides wildlife and conservation experiences for disadvantaged youth and women.
Cost: From R8,000pp single or R6,500pp sharing, depending on the package you choose. Includes a 3-night accommodation, meals, game drives, yoga classes, and opportunities to explore the lodge’s wellness offerings. Enquire or book via [email protected]
When: From 30 January to 1 February 2026
Where: Sashwa River of Stars, 44KU Struwigrus, Greater Kruger National Park
Yoga Safari Retreat
Into the wild with Kristi Tate and Joëlle Sleebos for a four-night luxury Safari Yoga Retreat at Sashwa River of Stars in the Greater Kruger, South Africa. This is a rare chance to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with yourself in nature.
Each morning begins with energising Vinyasa yoga, and evenings close with restorative Yin sessions led by Kristi and Joëlle. The retreat is open to all levels, offering a balance of movement, mindfulness, and quiet reflection.
Between sessions, explore the bush on guided safari drives, where elephants gather along the Olifants River and the sounds of hippos and lions echo at night. Sashwa’s luxury suites are designed for deep rest, blending seamlessly with the surrounding wilderness. Dine on a nourishing plant-based menu, paired with local wine and beer.
Cost: From R38,000pp to R29,000pp sharing, depending on the package you choose. Includes a 4-night accommodation, three meals a day, two game drives a day, two yoga classes a day, and opportunities to explore the venue. Enquire or book via [email protected]
When: From 21 to 25 May 2026
Where: Sashwa River of Stars, 44KU Struwigrus, Greater Kruger National Park
Wellness retreats in the Western Cape
7 Day Yoga and Burnout Recovery Retreat
The Burnout Recovery Retreat is one of those wellness retreats in South Africa that is on offer throughout the year, and at your convenience. This experience in the tranquil surroundings of Knysna’s lush forests offers a restorative space to address the physical, psychological and emotional effects of stress. The programme is curated with an integrative biopsychosocial approach, combining evidence-based therapies with mindful, nature-led practices.
Through yoga, meditation, cold exposure therapy, somatic healing, and life coaching, participants learn to understand and manage their stress responses while rebuilding inner resilience. Guided forest immersions, grounding sessions, and hiking trails support gentle reconnection with the body and the earth.
All meals are wholesome and nourishing, prepared to replenish both energy and balance. Guests can also enhance their stay with optional treatments such as massage, reiki, art therapy, or breathwork.
Cost: From R3,450pp per night, includes all meals, drinks and snacks, twice-daily meditation and yoga, ice baths, saunas, hikes, a coaching session, a somatic workshop and a Forest Immersion. Retreats of fewer than 3 nights don’t include a coaching session or forest immersion. Enquire or book via [email protected]
When: No set dates, guests can book any time for any length, all year round
Where: Vala House, Highway Rd, Rheenendal, Knysna
SOMA and SOUND: Women’s Retreat, Asana, Breathwork and Soundscape
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful nature reserve in Swellendam is one of the few women’s wellness retreats in South Africa, set on vast, sacred land surrounded by ancient mountains, rivers and wildlife. Here, the stillness of nature mirrors helps to navigate an inner journey where you can awaken the wonder and power within. This is an intimate experience for just 16 women, centred on self-study, rest, and renewal.
The retreat is hosted by Ilana Fintz and Deborah Bagg, both highly experienced facilitators. Expect two daily sessions combining dynamic morning asana, somatic evening explorations, meditation, and soundscapes.
Between sessions, enjoy hikes to waterfalls, swims in rock pools, and time for reflection or stillness. Chef Marlien prepares organic, farm-to-table meals, rich in South African flavour, with vegetarian and meat options available.
Cost: Cost on request. Enquire or book via i[email protected]
When: From 18 to 23 February 2026
Where: Private venue in Swellendam
Yoga Connection Retreat Bodhi Khaya
Join renowned yoga teacher Joëlle Sleebos for an intimate two-night wellness retreat at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat in Stanford, a quiet sanctuary nestled at the foot of the Witkransberg in the picturesque Overberg region. This encounter is designed to inspire rest, renewal and reconnection with nature with mindful movement, nourishing food and restorative stillness.
Guests will enjoy a balance of energising Vinyasa sessions in the morning and gentle Yin practices in the evening – suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Between classes, unwind with hikes through the indigenous forest, swims in natural ponds, or peaceful moments in the wood-fired sauna.
Accommodation options range from cosy single rooms to shared or en-suite doubles, with five wholesome vegetarian meals lovingly prepared by Bodhi Khaya’s chef. Optional extras such as private yoga sessions and massages offer an added layer of self-care.
Cost: From R 4,700pp to R 10,900pp, depending on the package you choose. Includes a 2-night accommodation, vegetarian meals, yoga classes, and opportunities to explore the venue. Enquire or book via [email protected]
When: From 5 to 7 June 2026
Where: Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat, R43 Grootbos Rd, Stanford
Wellness retreats in the Eastern Cape
Return to the Heart: Flow into Self-Love and Presence
A Return to Self is a three-day immersive retreat created to help you reconnect with your heart, body and inner stillness. The destination in the Kromme River in the Eastern Cape, on the banks of a flowing river – warm sun, cool waters and the grounding calm of the bush. Each day unfolds at a gentle pace, inviting deep rest and renewal and some time to reflect on your own.
You’ll stay in riverside log cabins, enjoy nourishing meals, and take part in daily yoga, meditation and breathwork. The programme also includes cold-water therapy, guided bush walks, and interactive wellness workshops, including Art Therapy and a Tea Ceremony. Both sessions encourage mindful creativity and sensory awareness, helping you tune into your inner world through expression and ritual.
Cost: R8320pp. Includes a 2-night accommodation, meals, yoga classes, holistic wellness workshops, bush walks and beach trips, and opportunities to explore the venue. Enquire or book via [email protected]
When: From 13 to 15 February 2026
Where: River Lodge, Kromme River, St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
