WISDOM OF WHALE SHARKS
YOGA RETREAT
4 - 11 December 2026
Mafia Island, Tanzania
SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS
Join us on Mafia Island, Tanzania, for an unforgettable 8 day retreat combining daily yoga, ocean adventures and five days of swimming with whale sharks.
Move, breathe, rest and experience the quiet magic of these gentle giants in one of the world's most beautiful marine environments.
Slow down & come home to yourself
MAFIA ISLAND - TANZANIA
Remote, peaceful and largely untouched, Mafia Island offers a slower pace of life and a chance to truly switch off.
Surrounded by turquoise water, coral reefs and white-sand beaches, it's the perfect setting to reconnect with nature, spend time in the ocean and enjoy a week away from the demands of everyday life.
It's simplicity is part of its magic.
WHY WHALE SHARKS?
Whale Sharks are the largest fish on the planet, yet they move through the ocean with remarkable calm and grace.
Swimming alongside them is a humbling experience. Time seems to slow down, distractions fade away and you're invited into a rare moment of presence and awe.
An experience one will not easily forget.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Slow mornings • Ocean adventures • Connection
A week designed to help you unwind, reconnect with nature and experience the magic of swimming alongside whale sharks and other marine life.
Daily Morning Yoga
Start each day with gentle movement, breath work and meditation.
These practices help you arrive fully in your body, calm the mind and prepare for another unforgettable day on the ocean.
5 Unforgettable Days of Whale Shark Encounters
After yoga and breakfast, we head out onto the turquoise waters of Mafia Island in search of whale sharks.
With experienced local guides, you'll have the opportunity to snorkel alongside these extraordinary animals in their natural environment. Every encounter is unique. Some days are quiet and reflective, while others bring multiple sightings and moments of pure wonder.
Gentle Giants
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean and completely harmless to humans. Watching them glide effortlessly through the water is both humbling and unforgettable.
The Experience
Swim, observe, rest and simply enjoy being out on the ocean. The boat remains nearby at all times, allowing you to participate at your own pace.
Each Day is Different
Nature leads the way. Weather, sea conditions and sightings vary, making every excursion a unique experience.
Workshops & Ceremonies
Throughout the week, we'll explore a range of practices designed to help you slow down, reconnect and create space for reflection.
Expect breathwork, mindful movement, cacao and a Baobab ceremony, inspired by the wisdom and traditions of East Africa.
These experiences are offered gently and with no pressure. Take what resonates and make the retreat your own.
OUR SEASIDE STAY
For seven nights, we will call this beautiful beachfront lodge home.
Wake to the sound of the ocean, enjoy fresh meals overlooking the sea and relax in comfortable air-conditioned bungalows just steps from the beach.
Simple, peaceful and surrounded by nature, it's the perfect place to slow down and fully immerse yourself in island life.
INVESTMENT
Included
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7 nights accommodation in a beachfront lodge
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Airport Transfers and all transport for scheduled activities
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Daily breakfast, light lunch and 3 course dinner
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Water, coffee and tea
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Five whale shark excursions
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One Mange Sandbank Trip, including snorkelling and lunch
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Workshops and ceremonies throughout the week
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Daily yoga
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Complimentary use of kayaks
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Retreat goodie bag
Not Included
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Flights & visa
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Travel insurance and travel expenses
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Spa treatments
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Additional scuba diving & activities
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Optional staff tips
€2950 SEA VIEW - SINGLE
€2700 SEA VIEW - SHARING
€100 off per person if you book with a friend
NOT SURE YET?
If you have any questions, you're welcome to message me on WhatsApp or book a free discovery call.
GETTING HERE IS EASY
Getting here is easier than you might think.
1) Fly to Dar es Salaam (DAR)
Most international visitors will arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This is the main gateway to Mafia Island, with flights from Europe, the Middle East and various African countries.
2) Take a short flight to Mafia Island
From Dar es Salaam, it's just a scenic 30–40 minute flight to
Mafia Island Airport (MFA).
Airlines operating daily flights:
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Coastal Aviation
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Auric Air
3. Transfer to your accommodation
Once you land, we'll arrange your transfer to the lodge. The drive takes around
10 - 15 minutes, so you'll be settling into island life in no time.
YOUR HOSTS
We're passionate about creating an experience that brings people together through nature, adventure and genuine connection.
Throughout the week, we'll guide your yoga practices, workshops and group experiences while ensuring there's plenty of space to relax, explore and enjoy the magic of Mafia Island at your own pace.
Karin Schulte
Karin Schulte loves to co-create magic with fellow souls on the path. She facilitates events with elements of Yin Yoga, somatic and intuitive movement, Sound Journeys, and energy alignment. Karin is devoted to holding spaces where people can return to inner stillness, reconnect with their bodies, and experience the gentle power of deep presence. A lover of silence and going within, she finds as much fulfilment in quiet introspection as she does in connecting and sharing transformative experiences with others.
The ocean has been one of her greatest teachers. Time spent close by, in, and under the water is among her favourite meditative practices where she feels spacious and deeply attuned to life itself. In 2024 Karin hosted a yoga retreat in Zanzibar, which strengthened her love for facilitating retreats by the ocean. In 2025 she attended a Swimming with Dolphins retreat with Maja in Egypt, a transformative experience that touched her profoundly on many levels and ultimately led to co-hosting this Swimming with Whale Sharks retreat with Maja. Her reverence for the ocean and its magnificent beings forms a core part of the retreat she now helps to create.
Karin’s journey has been shaped by inner exploration, resilience, and a sincere longing to live in alignment with her truth. Through sound, stillness, and intuitive energy work, she offers nurturing environments where others can soften, reset, and rediscover their inner light.
Maja Mika
Maja Mika is a yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, author, and retreat creator devoted to guiding others on their path of inner healing and spiritual awakening. She is an ocean baby and a true lover of all marine beings, Maja feels most at home in the water. She has swum with dolphins many times and has previously shared the ocean with the majestic whale sharks; experiences that have deepened her connection to the sea and shaped the heart-centred retreats she now leads.
Her own journey began in a place of deep struggle, moving through depression, anxiety, and self-doubt in her youth. Through the transformative practices of yoga, breathwork, and introspective healing, she rebuilt her inner landscape and learned to live in alignment with her truth.
Maja’s mission is to remind others that they are the creators of their own lives, capable of rewriting their stories, embracing both shadow and light, and stepping fully into who they are meant to be. Through her grounded, compassionate presence, she creates nurturing spaces where individuals can reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and awaken their inner wisdom. A mermaid at heart, Maja brings the gentle, fluid, intuitive energy of the ocean into all her teachings. She believes that when we trust ourselves and tune into our natural rhythm, we access a profound sense of clarity, purpose, and inner peace.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to have yoga experience? Not at all. This retreat is suitable for all levels. Daily sessions are gentle and adaptable, offering support whether you're new to yoga or have years of practice. Everyone moves at their own pace.
What if I come alone? Most participants join solo and leave with new friends. The small group size encourages connection, yet there's plenty of space for reflection and personal time.
Is swimming with whale sharks safe? Absolutely. We follow all local safety guidelines and are accompanied by experienced guides. Whale Sharks are gentle giants - they swim calmly and will not touch you. You'll be supported every step of the way.
How fit do I need to be? Moderate fitness is sufficient. Nothing strenuous is required. The focus is on connection, presence and experiencing the environment, not endurance.
What should I bring? We'll provide detailed guidance once you reserve your spot.
Is this retreat suitable for families or children? The retreat is designed for adults, but families with teenagers are welcome if they're mature enough to fully enjoy the experience. It remains a small, intimate group focused on personal growth and connection with the ocean.
Do I have to take part in every activity? Absolutely not. While we encourage participation in most experiences to get the full benefit of the retreat, you are always free to sit out or step back from any activity if you don't feel comfortable. You remain fully in charge of your experience and sovereign in your choices.
"My retreat with Karin in Zanzibar felt like a breath of fresh air, and it was the first retreat that helped me unwind and transform myself with gentleness and kindness instead of the forceful efforting so common with similar retreats.
Her seamless management of logistics in the background, her bright playful energy, her wide open heart and the general lightness of the atmosphere she created made my body exhale on much deeper levels than it normally does among strangers, and invited me to show my true self more freely.
Her presence holds a deep honesty that feels like it was built from a rich and loving relationship with her own self, and that realness helped me to explore my own depths in ways I was not able to do by myself.
The way her energy radiates authenticity by example showed me that this kind of presence is so much more valuable for inner transformation than endless verbal instruction or exercises. The way her energy guided me toward my own courage felt intuitive, gentle and natural, and had effects for me that lasted well beyond the retreat. I am deeply grateful for her gentle leadership and for our rich friendship that started on that retreat.”
Sybille, NA