From Houghton to Zanzibar: These Are the Best Spas in South Africa for 2025

The 2025 Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards have just been unveiled — and South Africa’s most luxurious wellness sanctuaries were celebrated in a glittering ceremony in Cape Town, honouring everything from safari sanctuaries to Joburg’s hidden urban gems.

The annual awards spotlight excellence in spa innovation, design, holistic wellness and aesthetics. With entries spanning from Gauteng to the Garden Route, and even Zanzibar, this year’s winners are proof that wellness in Africa is more vibrant — and diverse — than ever before.

Here’s your guide to the very best spa experiences of 2025.

Day Spa Delight: Houghton’s Aronia Day Spa Takes the Crown

Winner: Aronia Day Spa, Johannesburg

Johannesburg’s leafy suburb of Houghton is home to Aronia Day Spa, a serene escape offering high-end wellness in the heart of the city. The spa’s lush garden setting, hydrotherapy baths, Rasul chambers and floatation therapy make it a standout.

Finalists:

• Spa de la Veille, Centurion – blending French elegance with wellness rituals.

• Rifumo Boutique Spa, Mbombela – a hidden gem in Mpumalanga.

• Thai Sabai Day Spa, Somerset West – bringing Thai healing traditions to Cape Town’s Helderberg.

Hotel Spas with a View: Fancourt Leads the Pack

Winner: The Spa at Fancourt, Garden Route

In George, the iconic Fancourt Spa scooped top honours for its curated menu of advanced facials and therapeutic massages in the heart of the Garden Route.

Finalists:

• Fairmont Spa at Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town – featuring a salt therapy room.

• Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa, Somerset West – a Japonica-inspired wellness haven.

• Equilibrium Boutique Wellness Spa, Tzaneen – surrounded by tropical gardens at Fairview Hotel.

Boutique Luxury: Fairlawns Reigns Supreme

Winner: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa, Johannesburg

Tucked away in Sandton, Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa is a Balinese-inspired hideaway with private treatment salas and a vitality pool. Think tropical tranquillity without leaving Joburg.

Finalists:

• Steenberg Boutique Hotel & Spa, Constantia – merging history and holistic indulgence.

• The Featherhill, Potchefstroom – famed for its scenic views and luxury dining.

• Palm House, Wynberg – a 1920s mansion with Table Mountain vistas.

Into the Wild: Botlierskop’s Fijnebos Spa Wins Safari Spa of the Year

Winner: Fijnebos Spa, Botlierskop Game Reserve

Blending wildlife with wellness, Fijnebos Spa offers everything from hydrotherapy pools to open-air salas in the middle of a private game reserve near Mossel Bay.

Finalists:

• Amani Spa, Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit – with yoga decks overlooking the bush.

• Dee’s African Spa, Kruger Gate – inspired by Tsonga traditions.

• Lion Sands Narina Lodge, Sabie River – modern Scandi minimalism in the wild.

Most Unique Concept: The Twelve Apostles Spa

Winner: The Spa at The Twelve Apostles Hotel, Cape Town

Set in a natural cave between mountains and ocean, this iconic spa features a glass bridge suspended over a rock chamber. Enough said.

Finalists:

• Gold Spa by Healing Earth, Zanzibar – with Islamic architecture and beachside serenity.

• Verde Vita Spa, Cape Town Airport – South Africa’s most sustainable spa.

• Yadah Castle Hammam, Pretoria – Turkish-inspired steam baths and exotic flair.

• Glasshouse Rejuvenation, Cape Town – tailored wellness for the modern man.

Skin Deep Excellence: Terre Paisible Wins Aesthetic Spa Category

Winner: Terre Paisible Medical Rejuvenation & Spa, Franschhoek

A hidden gem in the Cape Winelands, Terre Paisible combines clinical skincare with high-end luxury in a peaceful, private setting.

Finalists:

• SCINMed, Cape Town – leaders in longevity medicine and cellular health.

• Revive Skin & Body Clinic, Waterfall, Johannesburg – results-driven rejuvenation.

• Professional Skin Care Lab, Parktown North – trusted for skin health expertise.

Wellness Retreat of the Year: Zanzibar’s Maua Wellness by Healing Earth

Winner: Maua Wellness at Zuri Zanzibar

Zanzibar stole the show this year with Maua Wellness offering ocean-view yoga, open-air gazebos, and holistic barefoot luxury surrounded by baobabs and spice gardens.

Finalists:

• Santé Wellness Retreat, Western Cape – home to a groundbreaking Bio-Energy Centre.

• The Fernery Lodge & Spa, Tsitsikamma – waterfall views and forest bathing.

• Isiphiwo Spa, Pretoria – intimate, garden-lined wellness just outside the city.

Wellness in Africa: A Growing Industry

From the eco-pioneering design of Hotel Verde’s spa to the culturally immersive Hammam at Yadah Castle, these awards remind us that wellness is no longer just a luxury—it’s an evolving lifestyle priority.

With rising demand for authenticity, sustainability and personalised care, South Africa’s spa scene continues to make global waves.

Whether you’re looking for a luxe staycation in Joburg or planning a far-flung wellness getaway, this year’s winners offer a perfect starting point for your next self-care journey.

Source:IOL

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