Singita Lebombo, South Africa
When you first set eyes on this property, it comes as no surprise that Singita Lebombo boasts an A-list clientele that includes Justin Timberlake, Oprah Winfrey, and members of the Royal Family.
Synonymous with opulence and beauty, Singita is a breathtaking property suspended above 13,350 hectares of pristine wilderness within Kruger National Park. From its fine dining to its glass-fronted rooms, Lebombo oozes style and luxury making it more of a contemporary boutique than safari camp.
Using exclusive products and traditional treatments, every wellness whim is catered for at Lebombo’s glorious spa. The signature treatment, ‘I Dreamed of Africa’ is the perfect remedy to eliminate toxins. Using heated pindas to combine heat, deep pressure, micro-massage, and lymphatic drainage movements, your body will feel rejuvenated and refreshed in no time.
Alternatively, there are couples treatments available such as the ‘African Self-Enlightening Ritual’, which is based on ancient African healing remedies. Comprising of a full-body exfoliation, as well as a holistic heat therapy using African basalt rocks, this treatment is completely exclusive to Singita Lebombo. Packed with high-end facial products like Dermalogica, Terres d’Afrique essential oils, and body butters, the resident masseuses make a visit to the bush spa an absolute must!
Londolozi Varty/Founders, South Africa
Londolozi oozes Zen with its pyramid-thatched roof and large wooden yoga decks. Any bendy and inner-calm-inspired traveller will be instantly drawn to this South African property, as it allows for shakra-cleansing, wildlife watching and peaceful yoga practice all in one go.
This stunning property offers exciting morning and afternoon excursions in the game-viewing vehicles, before heading back for rest and relaxation in one of their complimentary yoga classes. Acting as the ideal antidote to the action-packed safari, Londolozi offers various yoga styles to suit your needs including: Kundalini, Ana Forrest, and Vinyasa. Taken everyday at noon, the yoga classes are intimate, peaceful, and sometimes attended by the resident wildlife. If you’ve never seen elephants walk by as you do your best Adho Mukha Svanasana, then you haven’t been to Londolozi.
Under the teachings of BeJay Watson, who initiated yoga at Londlozi over ten years ago, classes place emphasis on harmonising the body with elements of the African bush so that clients become at one with the sounds, temperatures, and animals that surround them.
Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania
Greystoke Mahale is hands-down one of Africa’s finest lodges. Set on the sandy shores of Lake Tanganyika, with an incredible backdrop of the forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains, the lodge can only be accessed by boat and is far away from pretty much everything.
At Greystoke you can expect to completely disconnect from the world – there’s no WiFi, Internet, or even mobile reception. Here, you have the opportunity to connect with a different kind of lifestyle as you encounter some of Tanzania’s beautiful wildlife.
Known especially for the abundance of chimpanzees, you can pass the time with these fascinating creatures rather than glued to your phone. Who needs FaceTime when you can have face-to-face meetings with monkeys in the rainforests of remote Tanzania?
North Island, Seychelles
Accessible by helicopter, this is remote luxury living at its finest. Comprising of 11 exclusive villas, the North Island is the ultimate archipelago retreat for romantics and hedonists alike.
Priding itself on not being just another private island in the Seychelles, North Island has set itself apart by being a superb wellness and yoga retreat. With highly trained instructors on hand for all levels, guests can begin each day with a morning yoga session either on the yoga deck, or within the privacy of the villa.
For those looking to turn it up a notch or two, the North Island offers guests the chance to try their hand at stand-up paddleboard yoga – leaving you relaxed, revitalised and with a much stronger core than when you started!
EXTRA: Bisate Lodge, Rwanda
Situated adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, at a mere 2,650 metres above sea level, Bisate is currently the most luxurious lodge within gorilla-trekking distance.
It isn’t just the fresh, healthy mountain air that makes Bisate an ideal destination for a holistic and wellness experience, it’s also thanks to its ridiculously sumptuous en-suite bathrooms, private verandas, and large bedrooms.
After spending the day hiking along misty pathways in search of the endangered mountain gorilla, visitors can return to the stunning lodge to indulge in a massage from resident masseuse Orlane Umutesi.
The signature massage is the Intonga Amasatchi, a local full-body, deep-tissue treatment ideal for relieving stress and the aches and pains of a long hike. This massage makes use of different-sized wooden sticks to stretch tight muscles and ease toxic overload, as well as soothing lemon and lemongrass essential oils. With ample space for to accommodate a massage, visitors can opt for an in-room treatment to further enhance their much-needed rejuvenation.