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Wings & Wilderness - Rita Gould

$3,672.00

11–18 March 2027

Most people look at a moth and walk past. Rita Gould sits down and paints it.

This retreat teaches you to do the same.

Her philosophy is simple: paint through passion, not perfection. You will leave believing you can paint, because she won't let you leave until you do.

11–18 March 2027

Most people look at a moth and walk past. Rita Gould sits down and paints it.

This retreat teaches you to do the same.

Her philosophy is simple: paint through passion, not perfection. You will leave believing you can paint, because she won't let you leave until you do.

Your Retreat, Your Room

  • A beautifully appointed shared room with another Pathway Partners Guest.

    $1000 deposit to secure your place

    REMAINING BALANCE: $2,672

  • Your own private room throughout the retreat.

    $1000 deposit to secure your place

    REMAINING BALANCE: $3,284

Meet Rita

Rita Gould grew up in Russia, spending whole summers at her family's dacha — a summer

village surrounded by forests, lakes and nature. As a child she kept a special journal filled

with paintings of moths and butterflies from the garden. That journal never really closed.

She trained in journalism, graphic design and web design before realising she wanted to put 

down the screen and pick up a brush. Watercolour brought her back to what she'd always loved — the intricate, the detailed, the alive. 

Today Rita teaches online through Patreon and in-person workshops in Staffordshire,UK. She has published her own book, Painting Woodland Watercolours, and built a following of nature 

lovers who share her obsession with moths, butterflies, plants the quiet details most people overlook. 

At Manyoni, she won't be short of inspiration. Neither will you. 

Everything You Need to Know

Seven days at Manyoni. Here's exactly what that looks like, what's included, and how to secure your place.

  • Each day moves to the rhythm of the reserve. Mornings belong to the bush — early game drives, golden light, and the kind of wildlife encounters that stop you mid-breath. Then you come back, sit down with Rita, and you learn to translate what you've witnessed onto paper.

    Rita leads daily watercolour workshops rooted in close observation of the natural world. Moths, butterflies, birds, plants, landscape — the African bush offers more subject matter than you could paint in a lifetime, and Rita will teach you to see all of it.

    Her philosophy is simple: paint through passion. Not through perfection. Her workshops are warm, detailed and deeply encouraging — you will leave believing you can paint, because she won't let you leave until you do.

    Evenings are for sharing work, swapping stories, and watching the African sky remind you why you came.

    Rita's workshops are built around one idea: that passion is the only thing that will carry you through the difficulties of learning watercolour. Every session is rooted in close

    observation — looking at what's actually in front of you and learning to trust what you see. 

  • Each session explores:

    — Watercolour techniques for nature illustration

    — Observational drawing and painting — wildlife, flora, insects and landscape

    — Colour mixing, texture and intricate detail work

    — Field journaling — capturing quick studies and colour notes in the bush

    — Building confidence through repetition and passion, not perfection

    — Nature-inspired composition and storytelling through illustration

    Rita's ideal participant is anyone aged 30–70 who is passionate about nature, open-minded and willing to look closely. No experience required — just curiosity and a love of the living world. 

    All materials are provided.

  • 7 nights at Zebra Hills Lodge — private en-suite room on Manyoni Private Game Reserve
    Daily workshops with Rita Gould
    All materials provided — professional-grade, everything you need
    Twice-daily Big Five game drives with expert rangers
    The Elephant Connection — meet Rambo and Rachel
    South African wine tastings at golden hour
    All meals, drinks and snacks throughout
    Zulu cultural performance
    Return airport transfers from King Shaka International, Durban
    Twelve guests maximum — always

  • International and domestic flights · Travel insurance · Visas, where applicable · Personal purchases and gratuities

Where You’ll Be Staying

Zebra Hills - Manyoni Private Game Reserve, Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal

Manyoni Private Game Reserve spans 23,000 hectares of KwaZulu-Natal wilderness and is home to the Big Five, over 400 species of bird, and some of the most paintable landscapes in South Africa. It's remote enough to feel like another world. It's comfortable enough that you won't want to leave.

This is where Pathway Partners hosts all its artist retreats, chosen deliberately for its scale, its wildlife density, and the quality of light that artists keep coming back for.

Our Process

Get ready for your retreat
Complete your remaining balance before the retreat, then all that’s left is to pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable experience

Step 3

We take care of the rest
Once your deposit is received, we’ll email you your booking confirmation, remaining balance and payment schedule.

Step 1

Choose your room
Shared (twin share) or single and secure your place with the required deposit.

Step 2

Experience Details

March 11-18 2027

Dates

Manyoni Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 

Location

From $3672 per person

Pricing