Spa-tacular escapes: unwind with friends at South Africa's top retreats
Often friends get preoccupied with work and taking care of their families during the course of the week, making it hard to find time to catch up.
With the daily stresses of life compounding on everyone, something as simple as a spa date packaged as a weekend away could be the perfect gift to treat you and your friends.
Spa retreats are a great way to prioritise your health and wellbeing while the prospect of being pampered and sharing the experience with your friend is the best way to bond.
So if you’re looking for ways to relieve stress and anxiety, enhance your sleep and improve your mood and physical appearance, here are spas in and the around the city perfect for some time out with friends.
Valley Lodge Spa, Magaliesburg
For friends in the Gauteng region, the Valley Lodge Spa provides the perfect setting to relax on the banks of the Magalies River.
As a hotel with a spa, it’s an added bonus that you can book a stay and spend the night if you decide to not want to drive home. According to the team at the hotel, Valley Lodge’s Spa and Hydra Therapy Centre offers the ultimate in a luxurious spa environment.
You and your friends can pamper your body and senses with an impressive array of therapeutic treatments including relaxing hot stone massages and a hedonistic poolside pedicure.
Valley Lodge Spa also has an indoor heated mineral pool, jacuzzi, steam rooms, Swedish saunas, and nail care station.
Packages at the spa, start from R1 892 a person for a trio massage. A stay at the lodge starts from R1 925 per person.
Mint Wellness Spa, Camps Bay Retreat, Cape Town
On the edge of a ravine, the Mint Wellness Spa at Camps Bay Retreat is an experience to be savoured.
The spa offers bespoke bridal spa packages, to carefully curated romantic indulgences, Mint Wellness Spa offers couples, friends and individuals a blissful space in which to unwind and relax.
It also has a sauna, steam room and spa bath all form part of the spa experience and in the warmer months and the spa opens its signature nature baths tent for treatments.
You can also still enjoy spa treatments even if you are not staying at the retreat provided you book in advance.
There are a variety of treatments to choose from such as the Journey to Wellness from R2 100. A stay at the retreat starts from R6 000 a night.
Indigo Fields African Bush Spa, KZN Midlands
Away from Durban and heading into the KZN Midlands is Indigo Fields African Bush Spa on Nottingham Road.
On site, the Jade Studio has two treatment rooms and a wooden deck in the indigenous thicket and offers various packages, from a full day of indulgence with a full spa menu, to a Boma Experience which is a 90-minute treatment of your choice.
Leisurely lunches are also served in the courtyard, romantically set around the fire in the thatch gazebo, or around the swimming pool when balmy weather entices a post lunch nap on the lounger.
Indigo Fields’ full-day spa package and overnight stay includes a full day of spa treatments, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and breakfast the following morning) and limited drinks with your meals (excludes spirits).
There are a variety of treatments to choose from such as the Midweek Special starting from R2 950. A stay at the retreat starts from R4 440 per person.
Mowana Spa Indaba Hotel, Fourways
Mowana Spa is set in the tranquil bushveld gardens of the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, Sandton and is the perfect place for those seeking a wellness sanctuary which will revive their senses, rejuvenate the body and soothe the soul.
Mowana Spa, which takes its name from the majestic Baobab Tree of African lore and legend, offers wellness journeys based on Tribal Massage in keeping with the healing spirit of the “Tree of Life”.
The spa offers treatments drawing on the wisdom of Africa. The Mowana Spa Baobab Signature Product Range harnesses the natural moisturising properties of the Baobab Kernel which produces a rich, golden oil used for centuries by African women to protect their beautiful skin against the harsh African sun.
There are plenty of packages to choose from including the Makoya – Morning Retreat starting from R1 499 a person.
Simbiosis The Spa at Coco De Mer Boutique Hotel, Ballito
Simbiosis is a boutique style, owner-managed day spa which offers a variety of signature massages and luxury treatments.
This spa in Ballito specialises in the globally adored skin care brand Dermalogica, perfect for those looking for youthful glowing skin.
It prides itself in its massage treatments from a simple back neck and shoulder massage, an indulgent deep tissue full body massage, a luxurious hot stone massage, or their signature full body massage or even some relaxing reflexology.
Moms-to-be also have a carefully curated treatment waiting for them to indulge in. There are a variety of treatments to choose from and a Simbiosis signature retreat for 3 hours starts from R1 980 a person.
A stay at Coco de Mer starts from R3 100 a night for 2.