Facilitated by Marietta van der Werff & Eleni Gkikakis
Guided by Earth, Elephants & the Turning Sky
In a world that is changing faster than our hearts can keep up, there still exist places of deep ancestral wisdom... places where the land remembers, and the beings that steward that land carry ancient memory with every step.
This is a pilgrimage.
A journey into the wild and sacred places of Zimbabwe, to walk with the elephants, the gentle guardians of memory, earth stewardship and belonging.
Here, beneath ancient skies and across rivers that sing with the seasons, we will open to our own natural resonance... attuning to inner and outer rhythms, listening deeply to the language of earth and animal, and remembering what it means to be part of the whole.
Throughout our journey, we will weave:
Elephant medicine & wisdom
Intuitive Interspecies Communication
Evolutionary Astrology & planetary context
All guided through a lens of reverence, presence, and soulful connection.
Why Elephants?
Elephants are teachers of:
Earth Memory and Leylines
Emotional intelligence
Community & matriarchal leadership
Sacred listening
Earth stewardship
They hold a gentle yet profound mirror to our own inner lives, inviting us to soften, to remember, to awaken from the habits of survival into the depth of belonging.
In their presence we remember what it means to be whole.
What You Can Expect
Small group (10 participants) for intimacy and deep connection
Daily sessions in nature, intuitive practices, and attunement with elephants
Evolutionary astrology reflections offered by Marietta to illuminate the larger cycles shaping this moment on Earth
Opportunities to ethically observe and, if invited and allowed on their terms, interact with elephant herds, listen, and co-receive their wisdom
Time for reflection, journaling, silent communion, and grounding in body
Who This Is For
This pilgrimage is for those who:
feel a deep calling to wild places and to learn from wise beings
want to listen more than perform
are drawn to inner expansion in service of Earth and community
wish to weave spiritual insight with respectful, meaningful presence in nature
Watch a short glimpse into the spirit of this journey
“These Journeys are pilgrimages that take us
deep and vast into the heart of the Mother and all her Creations, and beyond. The experience of my own journey changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. Gratitude gratitude gratitude. ”
The Journey at a Glance
Day 1 — Oct 5 — Arrival in Harare
Welcome to Zimbabwe. We gather in the warmth of the land, settling into the rhythm of this place that will become our home for the coming days. Our opening circle allows us to meet our fellow travelers, set our intention, align heart with earth, and begin the shift from external doing into internal attunement.
Day 2 — Oct 6 — Harare to Penhalonga
We transition from city to the beautiful countryside. In the fertile hills of Penhalonga, we begin to feel the pulse of place... the heartbeat of the land that has known the footprints of the ancestors, has heard the whispers of wind and the drumbeat of rains....
Day 3 — Oct 7 — La Rochelle, Penhalonga — Embodied Presence
A day to ground in presence. We cultivate silence, embodiment, and release. Exploring the vast and beautiful gardens of the estate, connecting with the plant and bird kingdoms, we tune our senses, readying ourselves for deeper listening. There will be an opportunity to treat the body to a healing massage in La Rochelle's spa, further grounding our sense of presence and peace.
Day 4 — Oct 8 — Penhalonga to Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge
We travel from the lush and green foothills of the Eastern Highlands to Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge on the edge of the vast Gonarezhou National Park. Here, in the sanctuary of Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, we get our first impressions of this vast wilderness, the Beating Heart Of Africa, that will welcome us over the coming days. We revel at the beauty of the Save river meandering through the rocky hills studded with anceint baobabs, providing a safe haven to the many the animals that call this place home.
Days 5–9 — Oct 9–13 — Mahove Tented Camp in Gonarezhou
We move into Gonarezhou National Park, and settle into our private tented camp for the next 5 days. This landscape of escarpments, riverine forest, and open plains shifts us into a wider field of awareness. Tonight, as for the next 4 nights, we sleep under expansive starry skies, feeling the land breathe, listening to the many sounds of nature, coming home to ourselves.
We rise with the sun
Move with rhythm of the animals and the land
Meet and sit with the elephants in silent communion
Each day has a theme inspired by elephant medicine and the cosmic rhythms that shape our time on Earth:
Memory & Ancestors
Belonging & Community
Grief, Release & Renewal
Sacred Listening
Earth Stewardship & Planetary Alignment
Guided by Eleni’s Intuitive Interspecies Communication and Shamanic practices and Marietta’s Evolutionary Astrology reflections, we deepen into listening... to elephant, to all animals, to land, to inner knowing.
“This journey takes you to the depths of your own soul, where you come to recognize yourself in all living beings. A very special part is stepping into the land before time itself - Gonarezhou. Your life will never be the same again when eventually you have to return to present time.”
Day 10 — Oct 14 — Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge
We leave our sanctuary in the bush, and take a gentle step in return to the human world. A day to reflect, integrate, and watch the sun set across the riverbed. Sharing circles, embodied expression, and time in nature bring our experiences home into the body and heart.
Day 11–13 — Oct 15–17 — Journey to Masvingo, Romelda Tented Retreat
We journey north to Masvingo, home to the ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe, veiled in history and mystery, carrying with us what we have received. The land here holds ancient footprints of its own, it is a place where ancient civilization, nature and myth comingle in the red earth.
In this restorative space:
We anchor what we have received and experienced so far
Practice deep inner listening among the ancient stones of Great Zimbabwe
Explore expanded consciousness
Connect astrology with embodied experience
The veld becomes our cathedral, and each tree, stone, and sky-stretching horizon a teacher.
Day 14 — Oct 18 — Return to Harare
Back toward where we began, we honor our transformation, carrying the rhythms of wilderness into the world beyond.
Day 15 — Oct 19 — Departure
We complete our pilgrimage and return to our everyday lives, yet not the same as when we left.
Ethical & Conscious Travel
Our journey honors the land, people, and beings of Zimbabwe. We engage with local guides, support responsible lodges, and practice mindful presence so that every step strengthens connection rather than extraction.
“Being in the wild with Eleni is unlike anything else. Her way of communicating with animals opens a quiet doorway into their inner worlds, who then gift us intimate truths offered in trust.”
Meet Your Facilitators
Marietta van der Werff
Marietta van der Werff is an earth-whisperer, an evolutionary astrologer, sacred economist, and bridge-weaver between worlds. Of Dutch and African descent, her life and work are deeply rooted in the land of Zimbabwe, where she has lived, served, and listened for many years.
With a profound understanding of planetary cycles and Earth rhythms, Marietta brings astrology out of abstraction and into embodied relationship with land, people, and more-than-human beings. Through her pioneering work with African indigenous vegetable crops, she has championed revival of African (agri) culture as a living legacy, restoring sacred vitality not only to crops, soils and nutrition, but to communities and future generations.
A Wisdom Keeper of the ancient sacred site of Great Zimbabwe, Marietta connects ancestral landscapes and African cosmology. She has worked closely with Zimbabwean indigenous medicine man Mandaza Kandemwa and has long supported the Global White Lion Protection Trust, standing steadfast in her commitment to Earth and species protection even through times of great economic and planetary upheaval.
Trained as a Journey™ Practitioner and Conscious Coach™, Marietta has guided groups deep into wild landscapes where Nature’s voice can be heard clearly. Her work invites participants into a deeper awareness of our individual Being-ness within the evolutionary moment we are living in. She illustrates how the movements of the stars, their reflections in the earth cycles, and the wisdom of animals are inseparably woven.
On this journey with the elephants of Zimbabwe, Marietta offers her unique gift of planetary insight grounded in lived Earth connection, helping us sense the greater cycles shaping our time, while the elephants anchor us in ancient memory, presence, humility, and belonging.
Eleni Gkikakis and Interspecies Peace™ do not support petting or handling wildlife. This image was taken in the context of Eleni’s healing and support work with traumatized elephants in a sanctuary setting and is not intended to promote or encourage direct physical interaction with wild animals.
Eleni Gkikakis
Eleni Gkikakis is the founder of Interspecies Peace™ Non-Profit and a devoted practitioner of Intuitive Interspecies Communication; a sacred way of listening, remembering, and restoring right relationship between humans, animals, and Earth.
For all of her life, Eleni’s path has been guided by the wisdom of the more-than-human and spirit world. Through deep communion with animals, particularly wildlife, she has supported conservation efforts, environmental advocacy, and individuals seeking to reconnect with the living intelligence of Nature. Her work goes beyond technique, to authentic presence, humility, and a lifelong devotion to listening beyond words.
Africa has been a formative teacher on Eleni’s journey. It was through direct encounters with wild beings and ancient landscapes that her work crystallized into service... reminding her that animals are not symbols or resources, but conscious elders carrying memory, guidance, and love for this world. Elephants, in particular, have shaped her understanding of belonging, grief, resilience, and sacred responsibility.
Eleni’s approach weaves spiritual practice with grounded embodiment, inviting people into heart-centred awareness, energetic protection, and deep listening. She works gently, reverently, and without force, creating spaces where insight arises organically and transformation unfolds in its own time.
On this journey with the wild elephants of Zimbabwe, Eleni serves as a companion and witness, holding space for communion with the land, the herds, and the inner landscapes they awaken. Together with the elephants, she invites participants to remember what has never been lost: our place within the great web of life.
LionHearted Leadership Academy, 2019
In the presence of the White Lions, Marietta and Eleni stand in a friendship forged through memory, responsibility, and love… alongside Linda Tucker and Mae Naudé.
Walking This Path Together
Marietta and Eleni first met over seven years ago in South Africa, drawn together through a shared devotion to the White Lions; an embodiment of Heaven’s prayer for the future of Earth. From that moment, a quiet kinship formed. Over the years, their friendship has deepened into a shared path of service, trust, and mutual holding.
Marietta has accompanied Eleni’s work with Interspecies Peace through celestial guidance and evolutionary insight, offering clarity and reassurance through the language of the stars. Eleni, in turn, has stood beside Marietta in greatly intimate moments, offering intuitive support and gentle healing presence for the animals who share Marietta’s life, strengthening the already profound bonds between them.
“What touched me most about Eleni’s work is her humility. She never places herself above the animals or the teachings; she consistently honors her teachers, her ancestors, and the beings who guide her, allowing the wisdom to come through rather than from her.”
What’s Included
Your journey is fully held and supported, so you can enter into presence and receptivity without distraction.
Accommodations & Comfort
Comfortable shared lodging throughout the journey
Sunbird Guest House (Harare)
La Rochelle Country House (Penhalonga)
Chilo Gorge Lodge & Mahove Tented Camp (Gonarezhou)
Romelda Lakeside Retreat (Masvingo)
Shared occupancy throughout
Transportation
Transfers from and to Harare airport
All group transfers and road travel within Zimbabwe, by private mini-bus
Transfers between camps, lodges, and National Park gateways in open safari vehicles
Nourishment
Most meals included throughout the journey, with the exception of a few lunches while en-route, which will be had in a restaurant along the way
Nourishing food to support your presence and grounding. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated, these can be requested when booking.
Drinking water available during activities
Entry & Experiences
Park and other entrance fees where required
Walks in the magnificent gardens of La Rochelle Estate
Game drives and immersion in the wisdom of the elephants, led by experienced guides, in Gonarezhou National Park
Experiencing the magic and mystery of the ancient Great Zimbabwe ruins
Guided group sharing circles in wilderness and sacred sites
Insurance
Emergency medical coverage by ACE in Zimbabwe
Before & After the Journey ~ Extended Circle of Connection
Bi-monthly Zoom calls with Eleni and Marietta in the months leading up to the journey, to prepare, attune, and begin our shared sacred work
Two post-journey Zoom gatherings for integration, reflection, and continued connection — supporting the next steps of co-creation inspired and guided by our time with the elephants
One-year membership in Eleni’s P.E.A.C.E. Prayer Circle, offering ongoing community, monthly gatherings, and a living field of prayer and intention for Earth, the elephants, and all beings
What’s Not Included
To ensure clarity so participants can prepare with confidence, the following are not covered in the trip cost:
Travel & Insurance
International airfare to/from Zimbabwe
Travel insurance, including
Trip cancellation/interruption protection
Evacuation and repatriation coverage
(Insurance is mandatory, please arrange with your trusted providers.)
Visas & Entry Fees
Visa fees (if applicable — depending on your nationality)
Passport fees or requirements for entry into Zimbabwe
Personal Expenses
Gratuities & tips for guides, drivers, camp staff, and porters
Personal shopping (gifts, souvenirs, crafts, market purchases)
Beverages outside the Included meal plan
Optional laundry services
Optional Experiences
A choice of massages and personal pampering at the La Rochelle SPA, to be booked in advance
Visit to the local community at Mahenye near Chilo Lodge, introduction to local culture and art
Sunset walk to the Chilo Falls on the Save River, enjoying sundowner drinks overlooking the waterfalls.
Private room upgrades or single supplements (available upon request, with exception of the Mahove tented camp due to the limited number of tents)
Helpful Notes for Planning
Travel Insurance:
It is strongly recommended that each participant purchase travel insurance that covers health care, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost luggage.
Gratuities:
Tipping is a customary and appreciated part of the culture in Zimbabwe. Allowing a tip for guides, lodge staff, and drivers is strongly encouraged. We can provide guidance on suggested amounts.
Optional Extras You May Arrange
Pre-trip hotel in Harare should you arrive early (we can assist in the planning and choice)
Post-trip add-ons or extensions (such as Victoria Falls or local cultural experiences)
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Ready to Join?
Spaces are limited.
For details, deposit information, and application form, click here:
Let the wild call you home.
Come remember with us.
