Every so often, Maylodge itself becomes the retreat — and one of our favourites is the Terra Contemporary Artist Retreat, run by Dr Anne Scheffer.
It’s an immersive creative getaway that combines art instruction, mindfulness, and nature — as Terra Contemporary puts it, a chance to “explore your creativity through art, mindfulness practices, serene nature walks and gentle yoga,” right here in the Amathole forest.
Who runs it
- Dr Anne Scheffer — art instructor, two decades of teaching experience
- Heike — yoga instructor, trained in Forest Yoga Foundation
- Miki — physiotherapist, Simple Sense Therapy, 20+ years’ experience
What’s involved
- Sketching sessions out in the Amathole forest
- Drawing practice — perceptual skills, accuracy, tonality, and mark-making
- Building your own artist’s idea/journal book
- Mindfulness drawing exercises
- Three finished charcoal and multimedia artworks to take home
- Four gentle yoga sessions, plus professional massage therapy
- Nature walks and evening campfire talks on idea development and art journaling
Where you stay and eat
Guests stay right here at Maylodge, in private rooms across our cottages with communal kitchens — and breakfasts and dinners are at Happy Hogs, just down the road.
Cost
R 7,600 covers seven nights’ accommodation, all meals, materials, instruction, treatments, and airport transfers to and from East London Airport.
The most recent retreat ran 8–15 May 2026, so that particular date has already passed by the time you’re reading this — but it’s the kind of thing Anne runs again, so if a week of drawing, yoga, and forest air sounds like your idea of a good time, get in touch with Anne directly on +27 72 141 9622 to be added to the WhatsApp group for the next one.
From the retreat
