Muldersdrift is one of those special places in Gauteng that still feels relatively untouched. Visitors can spot birds of prey, rolling landscapes and views that make it the ideal setting for wellness centres and spas.
“Our guests feel like they are transported to a holiday destination when they come to us,” says Marilu van der Schyff, General Manager for Soulstice Group (Soulstice Silverstar Casino & Soulstice Day Spa in Pretoria).
The area offers a menagerie of spa options from those with an African flare, to uniquely themed spas like Chicama Country Spa’s Vineyard theme and those dedicated to conscious living and holistic wellness.
Marisa Lloyd, owner of Woodlands Spa and Centre for Conscious Living, says having grown up in the Muldersdrift area, it has etched a special place in her heart. “Its one of those rare treasure coves at the edge of the city that delivers so much heart and soul. With Woodlands Spa having been born on the principle of heart and soul – it made sense to open our spa on the Mulderdrift meander. We like to believe that our spa doesn’t so much improve on the Muldersdrift exploration but rather, enhances its innate uniqueness,” she says.
Belinda Cooper, Group Spa Marketing, PR & Social Media for Guvon Hotels and Spas, agrees saying the area offers the tranquil environment guests need to relax in and they don’t have to drive for hours to enjoy it. “A mere 30 minutes from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, its scenic beauty provides the ideal location and was a major contributing factor for opening the Chicama Country Spa , based at Glenburn Lodge.”
There’s no denying that the fast pace of life and careers has upped stress levels and people are starting to rely on spas for holistic wellness and healing. “Wellness is the cornerstone of happiness,” believes Lloyd. “Thankfully, the topic of wellness is an ever increasingly trending topic which has birthed a variety of integrated wellness institutions that are now helping individuals daily to tap into their authentic selves. At Woodlands we encourage wellness through our holistically designed spa treatments and packages coupled with our wellness workshop and retreat repertoires. Wellness is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity in today’s intensity of modern living.” Woodlands also offers the globally recognised School of Breathwork to assist in stress-management and wellness.
Soulstice Spa’s, van der Schyff, believes it’s extremely important to have regular massages and attend classes such as pilates to help rid the body of toxins caused by stress. “More and more we are seeing that our guests understand the importance of this and we see them monthly but there are still not enough people who see wellness treatments as a necessity rather than a luxury.
The Misty Hills Spa in the Country, overlooking the Kromdraai Valley in Muldersdrift, relies on the use of indigenous African herbs, flowers and spices to embody a natural approach to body and skin wellness. “We infuse ancient African beauty and health therapies with conventional treatments,” explains Vanessa Hetzel, Marketing Assistant for Misty Hills Spa in the Country.
Another aspect of wellness is the emergence of inspired nutritional meals now offered at many spas. “Chicama Country Spa promotes wellness through its healthy Spa Cafe menu comprising various salads, healthy wraps and herbal teas which falls in line with our ethos of encouraging holistic wellness,” says Cooper. Spas throughout the area are catching onto this trend and offer guests a unique dining experience while encouraging nutritional wellness. “Its not always easy making healthy food choices but what we eat directly impacts our health and wellbeing. We believe people are looking for healthy alternatives and it’s encouraging to see spas in Muldersdrift catching onto this trend.”
So if it’s time to escape the mania of city life and find a sense of renewal, Muldersdrift has a spa experience perfectly tailored to suit all needs.
Other spas in the area include Hakunamatata Health Spa, Riverview Spa, Ingwenya Country Escape Spa, and Kloofzicht Lodge and Spa, among others.
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Compiled on behalf of the Muldersdrift Communication Action Group (MCAG) by Cathy Findley Public Relations