Pink buildings surrounded by palm trees with a mountain in the background.
Person with curly hair and pink robe reaching out to pull back sheer white curtains, with a view of blue sky and some clouds outside.

This is not a vacation you book on impulse.
It’s a decision you make when your life is asking for more.

The Sweet Life Retreat to Cape Town is a once-in-a-season invitation for women who have done the work, carried the responsibility, and reached the milestones yet feel the quiet nudge that something deeper is calling.

Over six days held in beauty, intention, and care, you’ll step out of survival pace and into a rhythm that feels like you again.

Not rushed.
Not performing.
Not fixing.

Arriving.

November 5-10 2026

The Experience

For six days and five nights, we gather at the legendary Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel—an icon of grace nestled beneath Table Mountain, known for its lush gardens, refined elegance, and timeless sense of ease.

Your days unfold with a gentle balance of:

  • Intentional stillness and soulful conversation

  • Curated adventure and cultural immersion

  • Ritual, reflection, and embodied luxury

There is nothing to keep up with here.
No role to play.
No version of yourself to prove.

Just space to listen, soften, and realign.

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Pink hotel building with multiple balconies, surrounded by tall palm trees and flowering bushes, under a partly cloudy sky.
Swimming pool area with lounge chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by trees and greenery, with mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

The Pinnacle of the Sweet Life is Community!

Your Home in Cape Town

Belmond Mount Nelson offers a rare combination of leafy tranquility and vibrant city access. Whether you’re resting in the gardens, savoring Cape cuisine, or venturing out into the city, your stay is designed to feel expansive yet grounded.

This is a place where shoulders drop.
Where breath deepens.
Where time stretches.

For more details about The Mount Nelson, you can visit their official website.

Who This Retreat Is For

This experience is designed for the woman who:

  • Is successful, capable, and often the strong one

  • Has accomplished much—but wants to feel more

  • Is craving rest that actually restores, not just distracts

  • Is ready for a marker moment a pause that changes how she returns to her life

  • Values beauty, depth, and being thoughtfully held

If you’ve been saying, “I don’t want another trip I want a return,” this retreat was created with you in mind.

Two women smiling and holding glasses of rosé wine on a beach at sunset, with palm trees and tiki torches in the background.
Three women in bikinis enjoying drinks while standing in a swimming pool with a scenic beach and hills in the background on a cloudy day.
People seated at a dinner table in a restaurant, with a woman in a white shirt making hand gestures, a plant, wine glasses, and a candle on the table. Other diners are in the background.
Women sitting at a table outdoors, with plates of food, bottled water, and bowls in front of them, engaged in a communal meal or gathering.

What’s Included

Your Sweet Life Experience is designed to wrap you in ease from beginning to end:

  • 6 Days / 5 Nights at Belmond Mount Nelson in Superior Rooms (daily breakfast included)

  • Welcome Dinner at the Belmond, plus the iconic Afternoon Tea experience

  • Full-Day Safari + Outride Adventure, including breakfast, lunch, and private group transfers

  • Signature Sweet Life Cultural Experience (hands-on cooking class or wine tasting)

  • The Art of Aligning: Rhythm + Ritual workshop

  • Sweet Life Chats -intimate, guided conversations for reflection and growth

  • Private Group Transfers, including airport pickup and excursions

  • A Luxury Retreat Gift, thoughtfully curated as a keepsake of your journey

What’s Not Included

To allow flexibility and personal choice, the following are not included:

  • International airfare to/from South Africa

  • Travel insurance (highly recommended)

  • Gratuities for drivers, guides, and hotel staff

  • Personal expenses (spa treatments, souvenirs, additional meals or drinks)

Every detail of the Sweet Life Experience is designed to surround you with ease, beauty, and transformation. From luxury accommodations to soulful sessions and once-in-a-lifetime excursions, this journey is a complete investment in rest, legacy, and the sweetness you deserve.

Retreat Packages

A luxurious hotel bedroom with a large bed, nightstands, lamps, a framed mirror, sitting area with chairs and a table, large windows with curtains, and a chandelier.
A metal fire pit with flames shooting out, with a silhouette of a rhinoceros statue in the background against a dusk sky.

Your Investment

This retreat is an investment in rest, clarity, and a new way of being with your life.

Early Bird (Limited Availability)

Solo Occupancy: $7,500
Shared Occupancy: $5,500 per person
(Pay in full and receive an additional 5% off)

Tiered Pricing (Increases Quarterly)

Dec 1 – Feb 28
Solo: $7,875 | Shared: $5,775

Mar 1 – May 30
Solo: $8,269 | Shared: $6,067

Jun 1 – Aug 30
Solo: $8,687 | Shared: $6,379

Full Retreat Rate

Solo: $9,500
Shared: $7,500

Only 12–18 women will be invited by design.

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Flexible Payment Plans

Luxury should feel spacious, not stressful.

  • Deposit: $750 (non-refundable)

  • Remaining Balance: Monthly payments of $750 (plus processing fee)

If you’re interested in a plan that supports your ease, we’ll walk through it together.

Ready to savor rest, power, and legacy?
Reserve your place today and step fully into the Sweet Life.

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Past Retreat Reviews

Three women sitting on beach chairs and relaxing on a sandy beach, surrounded by tropical greenery and palm trees.
Two women are standing on a beach, smiling and laughing with each other, wearing summer clothing. A third woman is visible in the background, also on the beach, wearing sunglasses and a black outfit.

“The Sweet Life speaks for itself - explore our [Review Page] to read more inspiring words from our community.”
→ Read More Reviews ➝

Group of five women standing outdoors against a pinkish wall, smiling and embracing each other.

A Personal Invitation from the Host

When I hosted my very first retreat, I knew in my spirit that this work was bigger than a getaway.

It was about creating sacred spaces where Black women could exhale.
Spaces where you could be poured into, soften your shoulders, and remember that sweetness is not something you earn - it’s your birthright.

Year after year, each retreat has deepened that mission. What began as intimate gatherings has grown into immersive experiences rooted in luxury, legacy, and community. Together, we’ve watched sunsets, shared laughter and tears, and crafted memories that ripple far beyond the moment. And with each retreat, I’ve raised the bar because you deserve nothing less than extraordinary.

As we step into this next chapter, I want to name something clearly:
This retreat is not for everyone and that’s intentional.

The Sweet Life Retreat to Cape Town is for the woman who has done the work, carried responsibility, and reached milestones… yet feels the quiet knowing that something more aligned is calling her forward. It’s for the woman who doesn’t want another trip to recover from, but a return to herself, her rhythm, and her sense of possibility.

This year’s experience in South Africa is the most elevated offering yet. From the gardens of the iconic Belmond Mount Nelson to the breathtaking safari landscapes, every detail has been chosen with care to hold you, inspire you, and remind you of who you are.

Not because you need fixing.
But because you deserve to be held while you listen for what’s next.

If something in you softened as you read this, trust that.
You don’t have to rush your yes.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.

This is a gentle invitation - to explore whether this experience is aligned for you, to join a Retreat Preview Circle, or to simply begin the conversation.

I cannot wait to welcome you, hold space for you, and journey alongside you in Cape Town if and when the timing feels right.

With sweetness and deep gratitude,
Rakita Lillard-Brown
Founder & Curator, The Sweet Life Retreats

After the Retreat

Follow-Up Coaching Sessions: Personalized virtual coaching sessions to help integrate the retreat's lessons into daily life and continue the journey of self-love and growth.

Sweet Life Community Membership: Access to an exclusive online community for ongoing support, shared resources, and monthly group discussions.

Mindfulness and Wellness Toolkits: Curated kits featuring guided meditations, journaling prompts, and wellness rituals to maintain the retreat’s peaceful mindset.

Seasonal Sweet Life Retreats: Invitations to quarterly mini-retreats or workshops focusing on different aspects of personal growth and wellness.

Digital Course on Embracing Sacred Sweetness: A self-paced online course that delves deeper into the themes explored during the retreat, offering continuous learning and reflection

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FAQs

  • We’ve designed two simple ways for you to secure your spot:

    1. Pay in Full – Receive an additional 5% savings when you pay your package in full. (Please note: this discount does not apply to Early Bird pricing.)

    2. Holistree Payment Plan – Begin with a non-refundable deposit of $750, followed by easy monthly installments to make your investment more accessible.

  • Your retreat booking is considered confirmed once your payment is made. Your deposit, is non-refundable under any circumstances due to upfront costs we must incur.

    Minus your deposit, if cancellation takes place prior to 90 days 25% of your payments will be forfeited, if cancellation takes place prior to 60 days, 50% of your trip fee will be forfeited.

    Cancellation shall not be made within 60 days to the retreat, any cancellation made within this period shall attract a 100% forfeiture of your trip fee.

    Similarly, no cancellation can be made upon the commencement of the retreat.

    If cancellation takes place during the retreat, 100% of your trip fee shall be forfeited.

    You agree that neither Holistree LLC nor its hotel partners or vendors will be liable or responsible for a cancelled retreat for circumstances beyond reasonable control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, epidemic, pandemic, insurrection, war, riots, or failure of transportation, communication, or power supply.

    At the sole discretion of Holistree we reserve the right to cancel a retreat for attendees’ safety, act of God, government policies or any unforeseeable reason.

    Upon the occurrence of such cancellation, Holistree will provide a credit for a future retreat, valid for up to one year.

    Due to the current climate, we strongly encourage attendees to purchase “Cancel For Any Reason” or “Cancel for Work” insurance.

  • Our retreats range in size. Sometimes as small as 5 and as large as 25. We will list the availability.

  • Upon registration, you will receive a welcome message with general trip information within 48 hours.

    If you opted for an installment plan, you will also receive a reminder prior to payment date.

    As the date of the retreat approaches over the next few months, you will receive emails on specifics relevant to your trip and a final itinerary 30 days before our retreat.

  • While we try to cover many things there are sometimes expenses you will still incur.

    You will need to have a card on file with the hotel when you check in.

    Alcohol and food beyond the resort's inclusive menu can be charged to your card, as well as any additional spa services you opt for.