It’s not every day that you celebrate the rising sun on a secluded beach with a large furry elephant, seals splashing in the waves, brightly coloured dancing friends, and views of dramatic mountains above. It’s not every morning that you wake up your mind and body with a silent disco on the sand, dancing like an elephant, traipsing through the wilderness of your imagination with others excitedly grooving and smiling as the sun rises higher and higher. We came together with friends of HERD and Jabulani to do just that and what a special occasion it was. Shall we start every day like this? We asked each other. It was an event to celebrate Jabulani Safari lodge turning 20 this year and a fundraising initiative for HERD’s solar project, but it was more than your usual party. It was something soulful that lifted spirits that needed lifting.

Even when our feet were icy cold from the wet beach sand, our hearts were warmed by the friendly joviality around us this October morning in the Cape. We were a long way from Hoedspruit, but the stories of HERD, Jabulani and especially the elephants reach across lands and oceans. It is always so encouraging to connect with the people who share in our mission and journey. Thank you to everyone who woke up early to dance, meditate and connect. We hope this will be the first of many more Secret Sunrises together. Take a look at the happy moments below.

Secret Sunrise is a global silent guided dance and meditation community. With over 16 cities worldwide, the organisers are on a mission to celebrate life through music, movement and connection. The unique concept was born under African skies and has spread throughout South Africa and rippled out to the rest of the world. The ever-growing community can be found in Amsterdam, Bali, Cape Town, Durban, Garden Route (Western Cape), Eastern Cape, Harare, Johannesburg, London, Lowveld, and Singapore. There is something special about attending a Secret Sunrise session.

It is sometimes difficult to explain, because there is nothing else quite like it. Using headphone technology, headsets are handed to you on arrival. Our accredited facilitators guide you through a series of music of all genres. Sessions encompass a variety of mindful practices, including meditation, breathwork, movement and dance. Each session is unique, often curated according to a theme that attendees come together to celebrate and are even welcome to dress up. People often show up wearing tutus, bright clothing or those stranger items you can find at the back of your closet that don’t quite match anything else.