About Lumé Travel & Retreats
Founder's Story
I founded Lumé with a simple belief: that taking time away from the noise of daily life, to immerse yourself in nature, and self-care, can open the door to real healing and peace.
Since 2015, I’ve worked in the luxury travel industry across Southern Africa, curating experiences that weave together comfort, authentic culture, and encounters with our incredible wildlife. Alongside this, I hold Inner Life Skills Coaching Certificates in Life Coaching, Executive Coaching, Business Coaching and Enneagram Coaching, which deepened my ability to hold space for those navigating change, working through inner blocks, and self-discovery.
Lumé was born out of my own lived experience of burnout, life transitions, and the search for purpose. Through all of this, what awakened in me was a desire to serve and support others through restoring confidence and freedom, reconnect with themselves, and step into a new chapter of life.
The wellness holidays I design for men & women, combine coaching, holistic practices, nourishing food, and eco-conscious travel with the beauty and richness of Southern Africa. More than just a getaway, they are gentle invitations to pause, reflect, and return home with a renewed sense of clarity and lightness.
— Leigh Garrett
Founder
Vision & Mission
Our Mission is to design journeys that combine Southern Africa's luxury and natural beauty with genuine intention, whether that's rest and restoration, connection and adventure, or discovery through culture and cuisine, ensuring every guest, and every partner we work with, experiences something considered and true.
Our Vision is to be Southern Africa's most trusted name in intentional travel design, known for journeys, and partnerships, that empower, reconnect, and transform.
Our Philosophy
Holistic, Intentional Design
At the heart of every Lumé journey is the belief that travel can do more than fill an itinerary. It can restore, expand, or reconnect you, in whatever form that takes. Some journeys draw on yoga, breathwork, and coaching; others on cellar tours, farm-to-table dining, or the quiet awe of a safari at dawn. Whatever the shape, each is designed with the same care and intention.
Local Expertise, Trusted Partnerships
Ten years in Southern African luxury travel means deep relationships with the lodges, guides, and suppliers who bring each journey to life, and the on-the-ground knowledge to make sure everything runs seamlessly for our guests, retreat planners and travel partners we work alongside.
Eco-Conscious & Nourishing
Wherever possible, sustainable, locally sourced meals and mindful travel experiences ensure every journey we design is in harmony with the places, and people, that make it possible.