What to expect on AJO Zanzibar Exploration and Wellness Retreats
With warm weather all year round, a fusion of island flavors and immersive experiences with locals; there is so much to look forward to on our retreats.
Here’s a few things you’ll get to enjoy while there…
Beach Yoga
Taking the time to stretch, focus on your breathing and the space you are at present is a beautiful thing. Whether you’re completely new to yoga or a seasoned yogi, you will love to space we get to centre ourselves on our mats. Mainly the beach! Depending on the tides, we will enjoy sunrise yoga or big farewell to the day at sunset.
Swahili Cooking
Time to grab your roller, knead some dough and make your very own chapati and samoosas at local Muhammed Okala’s restaurant. Do it in true Swahili style on a floor mat while chopping delicious vegetables and mixing spices harvested on the island. When all the food is complete dine on fish masala, coconut crusted fish, mango chutney, vegetable samoosas and more.
Try SUPPing
Ever tried stand up paddle boarding? No worries if you haven’t- but Zanzibar is one of the best places to try. Without the wind, the calm warm ocean is a wonderful place to stand up and paddle gently along the coast. Definitely a great way to work those core muscles and get some exercise in after all the delicious local cuisine you will be eating.
Stay right on the beach on Jambiani Island
Barefoot and relaxed doesn’t come better than staying right on the island of Jambiani. This is the place to lay your burdens down and go barefoot. Sip a cocktail while watching locals play soccer on the beach, grab a swim before anyone else is up and fall asleep at night to the soothing sound of the ocean. This is a no-frills place offering the chance to unplug, relax and get those feet sandy.
Jam Session and Beach Dinner
Look forward to one candlelit dinner on the beach with bonfire, music and dancing. And if we’re lucky to have a retreat falling on a Monday night- best bring your dancing shoes and jam the night away as musicians from the island and abroad come together to jam and enjoy the tropical night air.
Island Hopping and Snorkeling
The beach bliss doesn’t end with your time at the lodge. We set aside time to explore a few lessor-known islands with local and marine conservationist Okala who loves his homeland and is passionate about showcasing it in an eco-friendly way. Snorkeling in crystal clear ocean, enjoy fresh fruit on the boat and relax on a deserted beach just for us, ahead of a seafood barbeque. Island life doesn’t get better than this.
Mindfulness and Journaling Sessions
As we head into a New Year, it’s a wonderful time to set new intentions of the year, taking stock of past decisions, triumphs ( maybe even failures) and focus on daily gratitude, new routines you’d like to take into the new year and what you desire for your life moving forward. We encourage daily journaling, as well as a few minutes of mindfulness each morning to start each day. And perhaps this is a practice that you can take home with you once you leave…
Health Tips
As the Founder of Ajo, Bisi, is a healthcare practitioner with a heart and passion for preventative diseases, she takes an hour in one session to highlight signs to look out for early on in your life to look out for ( including family diseases) and moves into a few tips on measures you can already start taking to prevent or assist with your overall health.
Relaxation Time
The whole point of our getaways is that you find a place to retreat, to refresh and reclaim your energy, your zest for life and return home relaxed ( not exhausted from another holiday). Each day involves a portion of free time left for you to sink into a beach lounger, snooze in your room or enjoy a bit of nothingness. This time is about YOU. Life has a way of keeping us busy at every single hour, so while we have optional activities on this retreat, you can decide what you’d like to do or opt out when you’d rather do nothing. Plus we open the space to do just that.
A meander around Stone Town
While the retreat will take place on the coast of Jambiani, an hour and half away from Stone town; we will spend an afternoon wandering through the alleyways of this romantic, intoxicating little town with its Arabic, Portuguese and African influences and see the city through the eyes of a herbalist and local.
A visit to the Seaweed Ladies
Meet the ladies who grow seaweed and harvest it to use for making natural skin and body products to sell to hotels and sell abroad. Watch how they attach the seaweed to ropes in low-tide conditions and sample some of the amazing work they do.
