Brett Shuttleworth goes wild

There’s one thing you can say about Brett Shuttleworth: He’s a transformation artist. He shape-shifted from professional rugby player to South Africa’s first male supermodel and a Hollywood actor, before becoming a consciousness trainer and founder of Smiling Soul Retreats. In this incarnation, he has helped over 27 000 individuals reconnect with their authentic selves and achieve personal growth.

Smiling Souls finds its soulmate in Retreats in the Wild

Now, the master of metamorphosis is at it again: Smiling Soul Retreats is merging with Retreats in the Wild, the platform owned and run by Namibia’s African Monarch Lodges. While Brett will remain the facilitator and ambassador for Retreats in the Wild and also bring along many of his beloved collaborators, including former Springbok-turned-holistic-healer Joe van Niekerk, many will wonder why this change? Yes, this new evolution offers his community of consciousness explorers new destinations and adds gifted facilitators to the retreat portfolio, but there’s more to it than that.

Located in Namibia’s panhandle, formerly known as the Caprivi Strip, African Monarch Lodges are the only lodges in the Bwabwata National Park, in the heart of the world’s largest wildlife conservation area. Here, on the path of migratory elephant and buffalo herds, the spirit of the wild roams free.

As Brett says of his new spiritual home, “There’s nothing like Nature to expedite the process of unfolding your highest self. In a spacious environment, away from your routines and habitual patterns, spaciousness opens up inside of you. Suddenly, there’s room to shuffle off your old skin and transcend your old self.”

The wisdom of the wild

African Monarch Lodges is not only a perfect conduit for the wild’s teachings, but also for mindful experiences. As a result of her late husband Dusty’s cancer and her subsequent journey to healing and transformation, owner Tinolla Rodgers established Retreats in the Wild. She grew into an industry leader, offering others the benefits of awakening to deeper authenticity.

As she says, “From the beginning, Retreats in the Wild was imagined as a sanctuary, a return to Nature where guests could seek healing, refuge and reconnection.” Accordingly, she has dedicated herself to ensuring that participants’ life-changing experiences are swaddled in the glow of beauty, generosity and love.

For Brett, Tinolla’s own experience of self-actualisation combined with her personal touch in ensuring that each guest is gently ushered into the presence of the wild and their true selves means that joining with Retreats in the Wild isn’t a new journey but a homecoming.

For a taste of what’s on offer, explore the Retreats in the Wild calendar:

Retreats in the Wild calendar for 2026

11–15 March 2026 and 14–19 August 2026: Untamed Men Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

Are you looking for a fuller, freer version of masculinity? On this retreat, you’ll reclaim your birthright, casting aside what the world tells you to be and rediscovering who you’ve always been beneath the noise. We’ve all heard it said that ‘big boys don’t cry’, but it’s time to embrace a fuller, freer version of masculinity. Join like-minded men in discovering the purifying power of the sweat lodge and consciousness-shifting breathing exercises. As you awaken to authenticity, you’ll experience a profound transformation and leave carrying your heart-led sense of self out into the world.

28 May – 7 June: 2026 Ignite Your Soul Retreat, Bali

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

Bask in the magic of Bali on a uniquely curated retreat designed to ignite your soul and immerse you in the island’s vibrant beauty, sacred traditions and transformative spiritual energy. From breathtaking landscapes to powerful inner teachings, every moment is crafted to awaken your spirit, expand your consciousness and leave you inspired, recharged and deeply connected.

5–10 June 2026: Creative Flow Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitator: Annemarie Luck

New writers who don’t know where to begin and accomplished wordsmiths looking for fresh inspiration and headspace will love this retreat. In the pristine wilderness at African Monarch Lodges, you’ll explore your inner world through Yoga, meditation and breathwork, tapping into emotions that can transform your creative writing.

3-8 July 2026: Under the African Sky Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

This is a transformational journey designed to awaken love as the guiding force in every aspect of life. The retreat offers tools to unleash consistently the ripple effects of love within yourself, your relationships and the world around you. Set in the sacred wilderness of Bwabwata National Park, the programme blends consciousness practices with the healing power of Nature, creating space for deep connection, self-discovery and renewal.

14–19 August 2026: Untamed Men Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

This is a repeat of the March retreat, so feel free to choose the dates that suit you best.

4–9 September 2026: Corporate Breakthrough Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

Groups of executives looking to change the way they lead and whole teams eager to pull together in more rewarding ways are equally welcome. As individuals across an organisation learn to leave their comfort zones, they shift stagnant situations into renewed action and come together as a team around a vision. This is the secret to business growth – unlocking human potential and tapping into its unlimited power.

25–30 September 2026: Wild Woman Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitator: Rouxvé

Dedicated to the power of feminine energy, this retreat is an initiation for the woman ready to remember her wild worth, her sacred strength and her infinite inner wisdom. We weave together ancient feminine teachings, modern wellness and biohacking rituals with the rhythms of Nature to awaken the Sovereign Queen within.

28 September – 6 October 2026: Masters of the Free Retreat, Indonesia

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

This is your chance to transform your life against the backdrop of the most breathtaking parts of the Indonesian Islands – from the raw beauty of Komodo and Flores to the soulful shores of Uluwatu, Bali. Along the way, you’ll soak up some of the greatest spiritual masters’ wisdom and unlock the secret to living a life of joy, purpose and peace, no matter the ups and downs. 

26 October – 4 November 2026: Ignite Your Soul Retreat, India

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Joe van Niekerk

India is the home of Yoga, the Taj Mahal and the sacred Ganges. Dazzlingly beautiful and diverse, it’s a hymn to life and love. By sharing his teachings with you in places where the air crackles with spiritual and natural energy, Brett empowers you to find the clarity, peace and focus that lead to personal growth and profound breakthroughs.

7-13 November 2026: Inner Balance Retreat, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Namibia

Facilitator: Hella Göbel

Feeling overwhelmed, fatigued and helpless? On this retreat in the serene wilderness, you’ll explore mindfulness, the simple yet powerful, science-backed practice of being fully present. Gentle Yoga and guided meditations, you’ll learn practical techniques to bring mind, body and soul back into balance and reconnect with your natural being.

29 December 2026 – 8 January 2027: Discover the Temple Within Retreat, Egypt

Facilitators: Brett Shuttleworth and Tinolla Rodgers

This is two journeys rolled into one: An outward pilgrimage to seven shrines in Egypt’s most sacred landscapes and an inward voyage of the spirit. With Brett’s ‘Golden Inner Temple Teachings’ to awaken your senses within these awe-inspiring monuments, you’ll deepen your connection to your inner temple and find renewal in the cradle of Egypt’s ancient wisdom.