A spa retreat originally meant a place of mineral springs used for relaxing and healing the body. Recently there's been a return to this focus on healing the body.

So often our modern lives seem fragmented almost beyond repair. We manfully struggle to fulfil various roles simultaneously in competing areas: professional, social, spiritual and parental. Rarely do we have the time to focus on ourselves. A good spa retreat takes a holistic approach to calming both body and mind.

South Africa, alongside Mauritius and the Seychelles, has some of the finest Spa retreats in the southern hemisphere. They combine exquisite spa design and therapies with luxurious accommodation and enchanting locations.

Spa Resorts in South Africa

How best to enjoy luxury spa holidays in Africa? Some people set aside some spa time for a few days. However most of our clients simply choose a hotel or lodge with superb spa facilities.

Many spa resorts have developed their own African style. Not only in spa design, but in spa treatments and products used. Many offer spa treatments incorporating local herbs and plants, alongside more internationally recognised brands. For example some spa hotels in the Cape Winelands offer vinotherapy treatments, using the essence of wine grapes to assist with detox and rejuvenation.

What do WE mean by Spa in South Africa?

However South African hotels tend to play fairly fast and loose with the words ‘Spa’ and ‘Wellness’. Sometimes a hotel will say it has a Spa when it only has some health and beauty facilities. Here we have only listed a hotel or safari lodge below if it has a dedicated Spa facility with a range of treatment rooms and therapies.

But many, many other hotels have the facility to offer a massage or a selection of treatments. But they may not have all the various extras that we associate with full-on spas such as indoor spa pools, sauna, steam room, gym, brine pool, water treatments and so forth….