Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat — Stanford, South Africa

A nature retreat in the Walker Bay Conservancy, Stanford, South Africa

Bodhi Khaya sits on Grootbos Road outside Stanford, at the foot of the Witkransberg Mountain, in the Walker Bay Conservancy, an area its pages describe as having some of the world's richest biodiversity. The proposition is plain: rest, and remember that you are a connected part of the ecology of the land. The main centre is built around a meditation hall with a high, curved bamboo ceiling. Guests sleep in the Cloister, twelve monastery-style single rooms around a central courtyard, or in the Courtyard rooms, named for garden flowers: Fern, Wild Olive, Morning Glory, Orchid and Poppy. There is also a communal Farmhouse with a fireplace lounge and a library, and four Garden Rooms, each with its own personality. Over 30 km of trails run through milkwood and fynbos. A three-hour round trip leads to the summit of God's View, with a 360-degree outlook. Spring-fed mountain dams and a wood-fired sauna serve those who prefer water to altitude. The daily rhythm is morning and evening meditation, beginner-friendly yoga with resident teachers, and Qi Gong. Meals are vegetarian, drawing on vegetables from the retreat's own garden, with kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut made in-house. Guests can book a two- or three-night Personal Retreat, join a facilitated retreat, or bring their own group. The main centre holds up to 35 people if all are sharing, excluding camping, and up to 50 with camping. Two further spaces extend the property. The Wild Pod, in a remote corner among the forest, offers A-frame cabins, a yoga deck and a meditation hall for smaller groups. It sleeps up to eight, or sixteen with the two neighbouring cottages. A stone's throw from the main centre, Bodhi Forest Retreat is a newly renovated sister space with six rooms, a self-contained flatlet and The Barn, a workshop space for movement, art, food workshops and talks. It carries forward the retreat's dedication to conserving the Uilenkraal Valley. Cape Town is about two and a half hours away by road, without traffic.

Traditions: Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, Yoga, Qi Gong

Programs: Personal Retreat (2 and 3 night stays), Facilitated Retreats, Morning & Evening Meditation, Beginner Friendly Yoga, Qi Gong, Private Yoga Class, Private Cooking Class, Massages