Founders Oasis: South Africa!
Soul Tracking for Founders
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2-months of Transformative Coaching for Founders and Leaders
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4-day Wilderness Immersion and Tracking Safari in Kruger National Park
Why join this adventure?
A mix of 10 incredible founders and leaders from diverse backgrounds will gather for an epic experience together.
If you’ve ever wondered how to use your power of intuition more effectively as a leader, this transformative coaching immersion will help.
You’ll be guided perhaps deeper than you’ve ever gone before by two master coaches and two of the best trackers in Africa.
Your guides will weave the ancient wisdom tradition of tracking in the wilderness with the latest in performance psychology, neuroscience, and leadership — for an unparalleled opportunity to grow and explore your intuitive capacity.
Side-effects may include: better decisions, more creativity, less suffering, more winning, better relationships, and more joy!
You’ll walk away transformed and inspired, reconnected to your wild side, and ready to lead your teams with more inspiration and soul.
Timeline:
April 28, 2025: Deadline to register
May - July, 2025: 1:1 and Group Coaching *
June 18 – 23, 2025 Kruger Wilderness Retreat
Location: You will be camping in style at an actual oasis called Kruger Untamed an exclusive, award-winning, eco friendly, “pop up” camping resort deep in the wilds of Kruger National Park in South Africa.
“This is not just a fun and relaxing experience - it’s also a gateway to awakening one of your most critical powers as a human being and leader - your innate powers of noticing and awareness.”
— Justin Perkins, Founder New Edge Coaching
Meet Your Guides
Yanush & Justin
Justin Perkins (right) helps founders win more, suffer less and lead better. He helps leaders around the world tune their egos and develop intuition so they can lead with more love, enjoyment, creativity and connection. Justin is an accomplished social impact entrepreneur, athlete, musician and transformational executive coach with two decades working in diverse industries. Justin draws on multiple coaching modalities and wisdom traditions to help founders and teams relax in high pressure situations and create high-performing, resilient, innovative cultures. Through New Edge Coaching, he creates bespoke and life-changing “vision quest” coaching immersions in nature for his clients in the Black Forest in Germany and other stunning wilderness areas.
Yanush Cherkis (left) is a deep listener and executive coach known for his gifts creating connection and intimacy. He helps dozens of leaders all over the world to reconnect with their hearts and true power. Yanush’s 20+ year career includes 6 startups, banking, venture capital, entrepreneurship and advising. Most recently, Yanush spent 7 years as a General Partner at Enjoy The Work, a firm that specializes in helping founders of early stage companies become great CEOs.
“I don’t know where I’m going, but I know how to get there.”
The art of tracking is a powerful metaphor for application in business.
Tracking is one of the oldest human art forms has valuable lessons for leaders. As we dive into the art of tracking wild animals with master trackers Alex and Renias*, you will rediscover your innate powers of noticing and presence. These are exactly the strengths we need to awaken and develop in order to become exceptional leaders and creators. You will see how using them will transform what you see in your life – and find new patterns, connections and opportunities.
*Alex and Renias, founders of Kruger Untamed, are chronicled in the best selling book, The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life.
Meet Your Trackers
After completing his studies in Marketing and Business Management, Alex van den Heever embarked on a remarkable journey at the world-renowned Londolozi Game Reserve in 1995, where he began as a game ranger and learned the traditional skills of wildlife tracking.
Alex has devoted much of his life to mastering this ancient art, achieving a significant milestone in 2004 by becoming one of the youngest individuals to qualify as a Senior Tracker assessor. Over the past two decades, his expertise has taken him with Renias across the globe, from tracking jaguars in the Amazon jungle and bears in California to following grizzlies and wolves in Montana, pumas in Patagonia, and the legendary black-maned lions of the Kalahari.
Born into a family that lived in the greater Kruger National Park, Renias Mhlongo grew up immersed in the ancient traditions of a Shangaan hunter-gatherer. From a young age, he was entrusted with the responsibility of tending the family’s cattle herd, learning essential skills that would later define his life’s work. He’s one of the most curious men alive, and together with Alex have revived the nearly lost art of his ancestral way of tracking. It’s truly a memorable experience to spend time immersed in nature with Renias, his wisdom, joy and endless stories.
Join us for one of the most epic coaching experiences for founders on Earth… in the Founders Oasis!
*What is Included?
2-month coaching program
2 individual coaching sessions with either Justin or Yanush
3 group coaching calls
Travel
A Welcome Dinner in Johannesburg on Wednesday, June 18
Roundtrip flight Johannesburg <> Skukusa airport (travel together as a group)
Transportation to and from Skukusa regional airport to Kruger Untamed Camp
4 Nights all-included nature immersion in Kruger Untamed camp
3 days of coaching and tracking African animals
5-star meals
Tracker guide fees
Your Investment: $8,000 USD
*10% of proceeds to Kruger Unlimited are donated to Alex and Renias’ Tracker Academy to train the next generation of guides.
Not Included:
International flight to Johannesburg
Any of your personal lodging, meals or transport before or after the Kruger (there will be one hotel night in Johannesburg before Kruger you need to cover)
Voluntary service gratuity for staff and guides
Optional Johannesburg tour including Nelson Mandela’s home on June 18th
Suggested voluntary donation to support The Tracker Academy .
Accommodations:
This is a rare opportunity to experience the only temporary camp allowed in Kruger National Park. We will be staying at Kruger Untamed in comfort and style - an exclusive, award-winning, eco-friendly, “pop up” camping resort deep in the wilds of Kruger National Park in South Africa. “Old school” safari with modern comforts! You’ll enjoy meals from a 5-star chef and single or double occupancy tents (en suite shower and toilet). This might be the most epic “glamping” site in the world…
Tracking is a language that has always been communal—a means of sharing both wisdom and resources. And sure enough, sharing new discoveries with loved ones and allies has not only been profoundly gratifying, it continually expands my understanding of the wild world. Through tracking together, I forge connections with new friends and see old friendships grow stronger.
Craig Foster, Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World—A Memoir of Nature's Healing Power
Frequently Asked Questions
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Come ready to fully engage in the retreat, unplug from the world, and be open to exploring new possibilities.
Bring a business challenge you’d like to solve, or a new project or chapter of your life and work you’d like to design as a theme for the experience.
Through a mix of short teachings, exploration of the mind, connection with nature, group exercises, hikes, somatic experiments, cold dips, tracking, and ceremonies, you’ll walk away refreshed with new insights - and lifelong connections with an extraordinary group of humans.
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We are cultivating a group of founders and leaders devoted to personal growth, leadership, high integrity and fun. An open mind and a spirit of adventure will really help. Note - it’s ok to be a little scared of going into the bush in South Africa for the first time - that’s normal, and will be part of the growth.
Decent fitness will be helpful, but this is not intended to be an intense hiking program. We will be tracking on the ground a significant amount which will require a basic level of fitness - mainly at a slow walking pace with lots of stopping for 2-3 hours at a time. We will also be supported by vehicles as needed.
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Tuesday, 17th of June (optional): Dinner in Johannesburg with the 2025 Londolozi cohort - another group of 6 incredible leaders and local guests who will be returning from their retreat. This will be a fun dinner to connect both teams- please come as our guest if you arrive early!
Wednesday, 18th: You must arrive in Johannesburg by the 18th so that we can leave as a group on Thursday morning. Wednesday evening we will have dinner as a team and stay at the same hotel.
Thursday 19th: Fly to Skukusa airport Thursday morning, drive 90 mins to Kruger, and begin program.
Friday 20th- Sunday the 22nd:
Example of program: Sunrise wilderness wake up meditation or “game drive.” First tracking session, breakfast, solo time for reflection, group coaching session, lunch, solo time, afternoon coaching session, afternoon tracking session, dinner, campfire relaxation and stories.
Monday 23rd: Closing ceremony and return to Johannesburg.
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$8000 - All inclusive of accommodation, meals, coaching, tracking guides, and transport to and from Johannesburg to the Kruger Untamed camp.
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All attendees will be sleeping in single tent unless a shared tent is requested.
Each room has a private camping shower and chemical toilet.
Bring comfortable shoes, preferably hiking boots, and appropriate outdoor gear for day hiking on flat ground with underbrush.
Many of our crew were glad to have hiking gators to protect from ticks and scratchy grasses and underbrush, but this is not mandatory.
Please bring sunscreen, tick repellant, rain jacket, etc.
The winter nights and mornings are chilly in this region, so you will want to bring layers. A down jacket is a good idea as it packs down easily, and there are times in the evening or in the early morning if we are up with the sunrise where you will be happy to have it. You will want a winter hat, and it’s recommended to bring thermal underlayers, and a sweater or fleece.
If you are crazy like us, you may want to bring a swimsuit in case you would like to do a cold dip in the camp pool!
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International flights:
Arrival in Johannesburg by June 18th for dinner at the latest. You are welcome to arrive on the 17th to join the previous group of adventurers for dinner and experience a tour of Johannesburg.
Return to your home from Johannesburg earliest will be the afternoon of June 23rd. We will arrive in Johannesburg by early afternoon.
On the 19th, we will fly as a group on a commuter flight from Johannesburg to the regional Skukusa airport on Thursday morning, then be shuttled via Landrover to the Kruger National Park and the Kruger Untamed campsite. It’s a beautiful 90 minute drive and likely will see lots of wild game on the way!
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We will be sleeping in a secure campground surrounded by game fences.
The food is prepared by a 5-star chef, and diet restrictions can be accommodated upon advanced notice.
We will be in Africa during the winter season so there are fewer mosquitos. Consult your health professional about recommendations for malaria prevention if needed.
There are small ticks in the area and it’s recommended to wear repellent.
When we are moving in the wilderness on foot, or in a vehicle, we will be accompanied by expert trackers who understand how to read animals and avoid dangerous situations, plus they carry a rifle as a backup precaution.
The camp is equipped with thorough safety and evacuation protocols that we can share if this will help you feel more comfortable.
If this program is calling you… sign up below to schedule a conversation with Justin or Yanush to see if this is the right experience for you!
This program is primarily designed for Founders and senior business leaders, but we are open to considering anyone with an entrepreneurial mindset that we believe will be of benefit to the group experience.
Apply for the Founders Oasis Kruger Waiting List
We are curating a group that will have an amazing chemistry. Please sign up below and we will contact you about current availability and to discuss participation. The deadline to apply is April 28, 2025.