In Search of Wisdom: A personal Odyssey of discovery with the Maasai in Kenya for coaches and leaders

Led by David Clutterbuck and Dumi Magadlela with Eric Ole Kasana (Maasai Elder)

<<UPDATE>>  Watch the YouTube video of the webinar to meet the team and to find out more about this incredible journey.

Please use this webform to register your interest for this retreat.

If you wish to develop your capacity to be a wiser leader or to be a coach, who helps leaders be wiser, In Search of Wisdom is an adventure you can’t afford to miss.  For seven days we will take a journey, both mentally and physically, exploring your own wisdom and interacting with the wisdom of others. We will trek in the wilderness of Northern Kenya with the Maasai, at a casual pace that allows for reflective conversation. You will exchange ideas with each other and with the elders – the keepers of wisdom – of Maasai tribes. 

One of the two keys to acquiring wisdom is reflection and particularly self-reflection. The other is having wise conversations with other people, who want to make the right difference. Both require sufficient time and safe space – two commodities that leaders struggle to find enough of in our fast-changing tech-driven world.

Whether you are a concerned leader or a coach working with leaders, periodically allocating “wise space” can help you rediscover and deepen your sense of purpose, obtain new, empowering perspectives. It can also enhance your resilience and creativity as a leader to cope with increasing complexity and unpredictability. Every complex situation has at its heart simplex rules that only become apparent by observing issues from unfamiliar perspectives. (Simplexity is the art of seeing things simply but not simplistically).

Your learning facilitators are global authorities on selected aspects of wisdom:

    • David Clutterbuck, global pioneer of coaching and mentoring
    • Dr Dumi Magadlela, advocate of Ubuntu and Ubuntu coaching
    • Eric Ole Kasana, the Maasai elder from the Laikipia region of Northern Kenya who has been a good friend of Anthony Willoughby and his family for over 20 years
    • Anthony Willoughby, founder of the Nomadic School of Business
    • Doutzen Groothof – Rwanda based sociologist, trainer and seasoned coach

What you will learn:

At heart, this is an intensely practical event. You will acquire an increased capacity to step back from the chaos of everyday decision-making and reconnect with your own wisdom. You will learn how to tap into the wisdom of others. And you will find a deeper connection between what you do as a leader or coach and the human being you aspire to be.

Whilst most of the workshops sessions will be informal, with the agenda and structure emergent and driven by you, you will be introduced to two incredibly powerful techniques from the Maasai – Territory Mapping and the Universal Trust Wheel. 

The Territory Mapping methodology uses natural metaphors and ancient wisdom to deepen conversations and to bring us back to the roots of our identity and primary knowledge. It has been used by Anthony & Eric for over 20 years with individuals and corporates all over the world, but also on their Nomadic Immersions in Kenya, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea. 

The Universal Trust Wheel is a tool to spark thinking and give you actionable insights and prompts. The wheel originates from conversations in Papua New Guinea and with the Maasai, and has over time evolved into a broad framework helping people explore what’s most important in their life. It moves from clarity of knowing and doing, to courage in being and belonging.

You will also be introduced to the Ubuntu philosophy by Dumi, which highlights the importance of interconnectedness and shared humanity. Ubuntu refers to  the essence of being human. It is part of who we are as fellow humans journeying through this relatively short life. Dumi runs training workshops, presents modules, and teaches globally on fundamentals of Ubuntu, on Ubuntu Coaching and his favourite part of Ubuntu Intelligence (UbuQ). Ubuntu is more that the well-known cliche of “I am because we are”. It also means that I recognise your humanity as inextricably connected to and with, my own. Essentially, when I dehumanise another human being, limit, reduce, or somehow obstruct and deny them the opportunity to be fully who they can become, whether directly or indirectly, I am denying all of humanity the gifts that can only come through that/those persons. Ubuntu Intelligence is collective wisdom in practice. It is human connection on steroids.

View the Itinerary:
31st May – 7th June 2025

Saturday 31st May: Nairobi

Our adventure starts with an evening getting to know each other at the Muthaiga Country Club in Nairobi – the iconic party venue for elite colonial British settlers. 

We will be joined by the legendary conservationists Richard Vigne  who ran the rhino conservation project for over 20 years near Sweetwaters & now leads the African Leadership University of Conservation. Richard, who was born in Kenya, will tell his amazing life story of hope and adventure and how he sees the future of conservation which he passionately believes requires wild animals and the nomadic pastoralists to coexist.

Sunday 1st June: Sweetwaters Camp

We travel by Land Cruisers from Nairobi (9am) to Sweetwaters Camp near Nanyuki, Northern Kenya (3 hours drive with a stop at the equator) for 2 nights luxury stay in this beautiful area, teaming with wildlife. The afternoon & evening will involve game drives & settling in. The camp will be shared with other tourists and guests but is an excellent introduction to safaris and a fantastic start to the trip.

Monday 2nd June: Sweetwaters Camp

Today is the formal start to the groups learning journey with plenty of opportunities to join structured workshops & unstructured huddles to set the expectations and explore your personal wisdom objectives. We will interweave these sessions with game drives, walking safaris and plan to visit the worlds last 2 remaining northern White Rhino in the next door reserve*.

 *Subject to confirmation. 

Tuesday 3rd – Saturday 7th June: Maasai community

Travel by safari jeep to Laikipia (about 3 hours drive further North) – animal spotting on route. We stay in Deluxe Safari Tented accommodation immersed in the Maasai community, at the foot of the nearby hill. 

Throughout these days, we will explore wisdom with Eric, David, Dumi, Anthony, Doutzen, Maasai villagers & each other through a series of structured / unstructured workshops & walking safari’s. There are plenty of opportunities to interact & learn from the Maasai villagers (elders, warriors, women & the children) and the local school. 

During this phase, we will be fully immersed in the Maasai community, actively contributing to and financial supporting the village and wider area. 

Saturday 7th June, Return to Nairobi

We travel by safari jeep in the morning back to Nairobi (around 5-6 hours), animal spotting on route. 

Meet the Facilitators:

Eric Ole Kasana

Eric is a Maasai elder who will host us on his land. He has worked with Anthony for over 20 years using the Territory Mapping and the Universal Trust Wheel tools and will also be Chief Enthusiast as he guides us on our journey across his land.

David Clutterbuck

David Clutterbuck is one of the original pioneers of coaching and mentoring and co-founder of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council. EMCC Master Practitioner, author of more than 75 books and visiting academic at multiple universities. David is practice lead for Coaching and Mentoring International Limited – a global network of researcher-trainer-consultants specialising in coaching and mentoring across 100+ countries.

Dr Dumi Magadlela

Based in Johannesburg, Dumi is a global authority on Ubuntu and Ubuntu coaching. He is a founding Board Member and Chairperson of the pioneering Ubuntu Coaching Foundation promoting access to coaching in poor communities as well as the Africa Board for Coaching and Coaching Psychology (ABCCCP).

Aside from several university faculty positions, Dumi is also the current Chair for the ICF Global Board.

Anthony Willoughby

Anthony is an explorer, adventurer and leadership consultant. Raised in Africa, he now runs leadership development programmes across the world utilising the indigenous wisdom, humility and values he’s discovered from tribes in Africa, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and many more.  

Doutzen Groothof

Doutzen’s background as a sociologist, trainer and seasoned coach (specialising in personal growth) in the Netherlands led to a chance encounter with Anthony whilst travelling Japan. Now living in Rwanda, she & Anthony run the Nomadic School of Business together leading expeditions into the wild and bringing tribal wisdom to corporates across the globe. 

Accomodation & Pricing

SweetWaters Camp

Deluxe Safari tents with private toilet, sink & shower attached to the rear of each tent.  Price based on double occupancy, single supplement available.

Maasai Village

Classic Safari tents with private toilet, sink & shower attached to the rear of each tent but more rudimentary.  Price based on double occupancy, single supplement available.

Pricing & Details

Spaces are limited

  • 10 spaces available at standard price of £6,000 (plus VAT as applicable)
  • 6 spaces available at discounted price of £3,000 (plus VAT as applicable) for those based in Africa & developing economies.  

To ensure the quality of co-reflection and intensity of interaction with the event leaders, numbers will be limited to 16.

All food, drinks (bottled water, soft and alcoholic drinks), transport & accommodation included (Sunday 1st – Friday 7th June). Nairobi accommodation and all transport/flights to and from Kenya is excluded. 

Both camps have 24/7 security. 

Minimum numbers required in order for this retreat to go ahead.
All details may be subject to slight alteration until confirmation & payment. 

To register your interest for this retreat, please use this webform.  We’ll use your information to invite you to attend a live webinar, send you the video & any updates (& nothing else).