A wild & lifechanging
adventure awaits
Ten days, a group of maverick mums in the Namibian wilderness, tracking elusive desert elephants (the most iconic matriarchs there are), having an adventure, dawn yoga under huge flame-red skies, daily journaling, inspiration around a camp fire, sleeping out under a myriad of stars, meeting with Namibian mums and hearing their stories.... and all else that expedition life has to offer.
Love Catherine
(Adventure Leader and Creator or The Matriarch Adventure)
The Matriarch Adventure for Maverick Mums
An incredible adventure with amazing maverick mums at its heart, inspired by the personal journeys and experience of Catherine Edsell and Rhiannon Sully-Newman.
Adventure details
TRIP DATES
6th – 15th June, 2025
DURATION
10 Days
GROUP SIZE
Small group, exclusively for mums
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel, canvas / under stars
PRICE
£2,450
SUPPORT
Fully supported pre, during and post adventure by your host pre, during and post. Benenefit from at least 3 social meet ups in person and on zoom to get to know your fellow Maverick Mums, help with flight booking, kit etc. and follow up support on your return.
Explore
with friends
“The moment Rhi mentioned an adventure in the wilderness to track Namibian desert elephants…. it just sounded right up my street. What an incredible adventure to be part of! Rhi provided all the information, so much support and encouragement and there is no way I couldn’t sign up. If someone had said this time last year, I would be going on a wild adventure in the Namibia desert with a group of ladies I’ve only just met, I never would have believed it!!
I am so pleased I went outside of my comfort zone and joined this group.”
- Jo
Relight your adveturous soul!
The highlights
Step out of your comfort zone and experience a real wilderness adventure, especially for mums.
Be a fantastic role model to your children by putting yourself first and being true to yourself.
Fall asleep under the spectacular starry night sky – it’s a lot more rewarding than 5 stars and an extremely humbling experience.
Share delicious freshly cooked food, drinks, laughter, honesty and inspiring chats each evening around the campfire.
Track elusive desert elephants and spend time quietly watching these magical, iconic creatures.
Enjoy a ‘digital detox’ as you experience pure, uncorrupted nature in one of the most remote places in the world without all the distractions and pressures of modern life as a mum.
Make lifelong friends as you share your experience with a small group of like-minded mums.
Be fully present with daily dawn yoga sessions, mindfulness and journaling as part of your personal journey.
Make a difference to conservation (£995 of your fee goes directly towards the vital conservation work of Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) to help reduce the human elephant conflict)
Enjoy an afternoon of music, dance and storytelling with local Namibian mums – learn about their culture, hear their stories and share yours if you would like.
Member Perks & Support
Benefit from the support of a dedicated private Matriarch Adventure™ for Maverick Mums WhatsApp group, with exclusive content to help support you on your personal journey and ensure you get the absolute most out of your adventure.
Itinerary
Desert elephants, daily yoga, beautiful scenery & some of the best sunsets on the planet.
The unpredictable nature of elephants makes it impossible to predict exactly what the itinerary will look like, this is all part of the fun of real adventure, but you can expect daily yoga, beautiful scenery and some of the best sunsets on the planet.
Day 1
Transfer from the airport, arrive in Swakopmund and settle in at Hotel Pension A La Mer which is situated in the heart of Swakopmund only 20 seconds away from the beach and historical jetty. Meet for an evening meal and contiune to get to know each other. Get a good night’s sleep, ready for the adventure ahead!
Day 2
After breakfast, head off to base camp on the Ugab River and meet the EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid) team. Go through risk assessments, wildlife safety briefings, and overview of the week. Take an orientation nature walk through the red granite landscape, identifying animal tracks with our expert tracker. Enjoy a communal dinner round the camp fire then sleep on the tree platform under the stars.
Day 3
After dawn yoga and breakfast, pack up vehicles and head off on elephant patrol, tracking desert elephants. Lunch and relaxation in the bush, make a wild camp in the evening around a huge camp fire, and share stories as the sun sets. Embrace the simple life, and sleep under the stars.
Day 4 - 8
Due to the unpredictable nature and unknown location of the desert elephants, and in the spirit of true adventure, our next few days on expedition will combine trekking on foot and vehicle patrol, and will take us through areas of outstanding natural beauty as well as farmsteads and villages where we will have a chance to view elephants, and learn about their interaction with the local community. In addition to collecting valuable data, we will also have the chance to talk to local people, especially women, and learn a little about their lives. Some days will be less elephant focussed but allow us to experience the expansive beauty of this epic landscape as we explore its hidden treasures and meet other iconic Namibian wildlife along the way. Every day we will either practice yoga, or meditate, and we will make time to continue our personal transformational journey. Each night we will make camp in the wilderness, eat around a camp fire and sleep out under the stars.
Day 9
After watching the sunrise, and final bush breakfast, pack up camp and make our way back to Swakopmund where we will stay at Swakopmund Luxury Suites - nestled in the heart of Swakopmund and only 1 km away from Palm Beach. Meet for final celebratory dinner at a secluded restaurant and congratulate yourself for meeting all your challenges head on!
Day 10
Final day - spend a while exploring the quaint town of Swakopmund. Head back to the airport and begin your journey home...
Transport
Flight information will be updated in due course.
Any questions, please do get in touch.
Meet the rest of the team
You’re in very safe hands…
I know for sure I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for the adventures and experiences I have had in Africa and the amazing people I have met, and who have inspired me along the way.
I have teamed up with Catherine Edsell and EHRA to offer a fantastic adventure which brings together so many of the things I love and am passionate about into one unforgettable, life-changing experience just for Maverick Mums.
The Matriarch Adventure Founder & Expedition Leader
Catherine Edsell
Catherine Edsell FRGS is an adventurer, conservationist and global expedition leader with 25 years’ experience in the industry. Having worked in some of the remotest areas of the planet, (sometimes with her kids in tow), she keenly noticed the benefits of being completely off-grid, immersed in the natural world. Wishing to share her experiences with others, she created The Matriarch Adventure™ – transformational extreme wilderness expeditions encouraging women to ‘step into the wild’. She has now teamed up with Rhiannon Sully-Newman to bring a bespoke Matriarch Adventure™ for Maverick Mums – just for you!
Maverick Mums Founder & Adventure Host
RhiannonSully-Newman
At 23, when I left alone for East Africa, I had no idea how much it would change and shape the rest of my life. To this day the best thing I have ever done was to quit my job spontaneously, and travel overland from Nairobi to Cape Town. The experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, opened my eyes, helped me grow in confidence and empowered me to be the person I believe I was truly meant to be. I finally felt comfortable in my own skin. It made me feel truly alive! From that point travel and adventure, particularly in Africa, became a huge part of my life.
I believe that by sharing real stories and experiencing real adventures, together we can help change the future for ourselves and for our daughters.
Lead elephant tracker
Hendrick Munembome
EHRA Director and Elephant Tracker
Hendrick with be our lead tracker for the adventure, along with another EHRA elephant tracker and the cooking team.
Being from the Zemba tribe, Hendrick knows the cultures and six languages needed for working in the rural areas of Namibia.
Formerly working for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) in the Kunene Region of Namibia, he developed his passion for elephants and the environment. His subsequent work with Raleigh International leading participants on hikes through elephant and lion country, then with EHRA since May 2018 and its PEACE Project, adds up to 25 years of experience in tracking elephants, elephant safety and training of national and international people in the field. Hendrick is an excellent 4x4 driver and ensures safety during elephant encounters.
About EHRA
Elephant Human Relations Aid is a Namibian registered not-for-gain organisation (registration number 21/2003/630)
EHRA’s mission is to find practical solutions that help combat elephant-human conflict and thereby secure a future for Namibia’s free-roaming desert elephants
What’s Included
Included
All expedition costs including:
– 7 nights sleeping under the stars
– Delicious meals cooked on the campfire
– Experienced elephant tracking team from EHRA
– 4 x 4 transport in Land Cruisers
– Daily dawn yoga and mindfulness sessions
– Meeting with Namibian mums – hearing their stories, traditional music and dance
Airport transfers
Personalised journal
2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Swakopmund
2 evening meals and breakfasts in Swakopmund
Private WhatsApp group and support before and after your adventure
The Matriarch Adventure™ for Maverick Mums benefits from ABTOT bonding.
Not included
Flights
Personal travel insurance
Beverages other than tea, coffee and water
Lunches whilst in Swakopmund
Site fees for opportunistic cultural/historical visit
Tips for local staff
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“The group is a safe, non-judgmental space. There is no pressure to do anything or to be anything other than yourself. Being a part of this group has meant that I have met some lovely women; made some wonderful friends and tried other new activities that I had never thought I’d be brave enough to do.
For a few of us the biggest adventure is yet to come - a trip to see the desert elephants of Namibia. One small step to try out a new activity has opened up the world for me.”
Gina
Images courtesy of The Matriarch Adventure