Resting in the Full Presence of Nature - at Matetsi Victoria Falls
An exclusive Mindfulness in Nature Retreat at Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
This unique mindfulness in nature retreat at the luxurious Matetsi Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, is an invitation to pause and come home to yourself in one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural settings. Here, beside the Zambezi River and close to the thundering presence of Victoria Falls, one of the world’s great natural wonders, nature becomes more than a beautiful backdrop – it becomes part of your practice.
Here you will slow down, step out of the busy mind and reconnect with the stillness, wisdom and spaciousness that are always available within. Each day offers a gentle rhythm of guided meditation, mindful movement, reflection and time in the wild.
You will learn how to notice the busy thinking mind, how to soften around stress and how to find the place of stillness that is always here, just beneath the surface of our thoughts. Our closeness to the natural world gives us the perfect opportunity to explore the deep interconnection we have with each other and with nature – something that many of us have forgotten in the busyness of our daily lives.
Nature's Full Presence
On this retreat, the wilderness is your teacher. The sound of birdsong at first light; the movement of animals across the plain; the changing colours and currents of the Zambezi. And, of course, the power and majesty of Victoria Falls. All helping us to remember something very simple: we are part of nature too.
Through guided mindfulness practice, you will be invited to slow down enough to be present with what is already here. We will explore how our thoughts can carry us away from the present moment, and how awareness can gently bring us back.
This is a retreat for anyone who longs for more calm, clarity and connection. A mindful holiday for those who want to rest deeply, reconnect with the natural world and themselves.
Set on a private 55,000 hectare wilderness concession beside the Zambezi River, the award-winning Matetsi Victoria Falls offers a rare expression of luxury in one of Africa’s most breathtaking locations.
Just a short distance from the thundering wonder of Victoria Falls, the family-owned lodge combines refined accommodation, warm Zimbabwean hospitality, exceptional dining and immersive safari experiences with the quiet beauty of river, bush and sky. Matetsi offers the ideal combination of safari, river, Victoria Falls and the ultimate destination to relax, meditate and explore your inner world.
Here, guests can wake to birdsong, watch wildlife move through the landscape, drift along the Zambezi at sunset and return to elegant spaces designed for deep rest and connection — a sanctuary where the drama of Victoria Falls and the stillness of the African wilderness come together in effortless harmony.
A Gentle, Accessible Practice
Over the course of the retreat, Gerry Rickard will guide you through simple but meaningful practices that can be carried into everyday life. Morning meditation, mindful walking, sensory awareness, reflection, quiet time and nature-based contemplation are woven into the experience in a way that feels relaxed, grounded and human.
No previous meditation experience is needed. This retreat is not about trying to become someone different, or a “better” version of yourself. It is about meeting yourself as you are, with kindness, curiosity and care.
Step away from the pace of everyday life and reconnect with what is most essential. Set within the extraordinary wilderness that is Matetsi Private Game Reserve, this five-night retreat invites guests to slow down, settle the mind and experience nature with renewed clarity, gratitude and presence.
Retreat Program
Day 1 - Arriving and Grounding
Day 2 - Opening to Awareness
The day begins with guided meditation around sensory awareness, inviting guests to notice the sounds, colours and textures of the natural world as we prepare for our first game drive. Through mindful eating, reflective discussion and quiet time in nature, the practice begins to shift from thinking and doing into presence and being.
Day 3 - Awakening the Senses
A morning practice at sunrise opens the day with stillness, birdsong and spacious awareness. After breakfast, guests then experience Victoria Falls as tourists before returning to the lodge to relax and enjoy its beautiful surroundings on the shore of the great Zambezi. We finish the day with an evening meditation together as the sun sets below the African horizon.
Mindful walking, gentle movement and nature-based contemplation invite guests to explore the changing rhythms of the wilderness. This day focuses on interconnection, impermanence and learning to move through the world with greater awareness, ease and attention. We practice with this during a morning walking safari, with afternoon movement practices and an evening walking meditation. We will be walking without a destination, simply walking, and knowing that we are walking, feeling the connection to the earth and nature.
Day 5 - Gratitude and Presence
This morning we will have a very special mindful trip back to the Victoria Falls where we will walk mindfully, explore with our senses and feel the full presence of nature. After lunch we take a trip from Matetsi on the Zambezi for an afternoon boat tour, offering space for quiet observation, integration and connection and followed by an evening closing reflection to honour the journey.
Day 6 - Sharing and Departure
A final morning meditation helps guests gather the insights cultivated during the retreat as we share our retreat experiences together before our final closing practice.
During this retreat we will:
- Learn how to meditate or deepen your current practice
- Experience how a meditation practice can help you deal with the challenges you face in modern life
- Reconnect with yourself through practicing in the interconnectedness of nature
Date & Location Retreat
Start & End Retreat: Matetsi Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Daily flights into Victoria Falls International Airport. Airport pickup and return included.
Start
- Sunday January 31, 2027
End
- Friday, February 5 2027
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of participants: 8
Price and options
$4,950 per person all inclusive single accommodation
$4,455 per person all inclusive shared accommodation
The retreat will have a maximum number of 8 participants, making it personal and intimate.
*Please note that a private retreat option is also available
Please get in touch about specific details at gerry@mindwise.me
What's included?
- 5 nights single or shared luxury Matetsi River Lodge Suite overlooking a private section of the Zambezi. all suites are air conditioned, each with a private plunge pool and deck area
- Ensuite bathroom with large circular bathtub
- In-room WiFi
- All meals in world-renowned Matetsi restaurant, featuring regionally sourced, exceptional produce.
- House beverages – all non-alcoholic drinks, local beers and a selection of South African wines.
- Fully guided & hosted meditation retreat by a professionally qualified meditation teacher including workbook after the retreat containing theory and practices from the retreat
- 2 visits to Victoria Falls including a meditation and all park entrances
- All guided game drives, including walking safari
- Victoria Falls Airport meet and greet and return airport transfers
What's not included?
- International return airfare to Victoria Falls
- Visas and fees please check this official website for all visa details
- Conservation contribution of $55 per person per night
- Travel insurance
- All other drinks not listed under “house beverages.”