Explore the Roots of Islam & Resistance in South Africa 🇿🇦

This is not simply a trip to South Africa. It’s an invitation to go deeper—to explore the country’s rich history, culture, people, faith, resistance movements, and the stories that have shaped the region.

As always, Burgundy Roots is taking care of the logistics, the exploration, and the surprises along the way—but the learning itself will be rooted in the voices of the people who know this history best.

The learning

Sheikh Mustafa Briggs will lead introductory sessions exploring the history and development of Islam in Africa, alongside deeper Islamic learning. On previous retreats, Sheikh Mustafa has taught classical works including The Alchemy of Happiness by Imam Al-Ghazali and The Aphorisms of Ibn Ata’illah.

We will also learn directly from local South African scholars and community voices, who will take us deeper into the history of Islam in South Africa—its scholars, communities, struggles, resistance, and remarkable legacy.

We are intentionally creating a triad of perspectives:

• Sheikh Mustafa Briggs — Islamic history and Islamic learning
• Local scholars and community voices — South African Muslim history and the region’s own lived experiences
• Lara Elborno, a Palestinian-American international lawyer and activist — exploring the connections between Palestinian and South African struggles for justice, freedom, and human rights. Lara’s family originates from Gaza and Yaffa, and much of her legal work focuses on human rights and supporting asylum seekers.

And importantly, we don’t want to simply arrive, consume a story, and leave.

We are planning a public community talk, open to local community members, where we can listen, engage, exchange ideas, and—most importantly—create space for people from South Africa to share their own knowledge and perspectives.

Because we believe travel should be a conversation, not a monologue.

And then… we explore 🇿🇦

We have carefully curated an itinerary that brings together history, culture, nature, food and a few Burgundy Roots surprises along the way.

Itinerary highlights:

• Bo-Kaap
• Robben Island
• Cape of Good Hope
• V&A Waterfront

Optional experiences:

• Boulders Beach
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

And we’re not stopping there.

We’re currently developing several additional experiences that you’ll be able to add to your itinerary—including culinary experiences with local women and an opportunity to experience a traditional art form that is at risk of being lost.

We are partnering with local people and businesses to create these experiences because supporting locally owned businesses and making meaningful connections with the communities we visit is fundamental to the Burgundy Roots way.

This is what makes a Burgundy Roots retreat different. Please budget an additional $300-$400 for extra add ons (if interested).

We come to learn.
We come to listen.
We come to explore.

And we come to make room for the people whose home we are visiting to tell their own stories.

South Africa has an extraordinary story to tell.

We can’t wait to explore it with you—Burgundy Roots style. ❤️