GIFT IDEAS
Pamper mom with a spa gift
Posted Thu, 29 Mar 2007

In our frantic world of meetings, to-do lists and deadlines we rarely get the chance to slow down and give our bodies the attention they deserve. With Mother's Day just around the corner, what better excuse do you need to devote anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days to pampering yourself and that special woman in your life?

Although some swish hotels only allow their guests to use the spa facilities, day spas are popping up all over SA allowing stressed-out city folk to enter the cool, calm confines of a 'wellness' centre to relax and rejuvenate. Why not spend this Mother's Day pampering your Mum with a treatment or two at one of these great spas…

Gauteng: Grace-ful pampering
Just an hour's drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria and set in 10 acres of exquisite gardens in the majestic Magaliesberg mountains, the spa at the Mount Grace Hotel has been a haven of tranquillity and beauty for over 20 years.

The spa offers a range of luxurious health and spa treatments, including hydrotherapy, massage, body wraps, and skin care treatments. You can either book an individual treatment or choose one of their specialised spa packages, which range from two hours of bliss to seven days of pure indulgence.

Find the Mount Grace spa on the Old Rustenburg Road in the Magaliesberg. Visit the hotel website at www.mountgrace.co.za or call them on (014) 577 1350.

Cape Town: Eastern rituals
Hidden amongst the oaks in the leafy suburb of Newlands is the magnificent Angsana spa; the new wellness centre at the historic Vineyard Hotel. Inspired by the eastern philosophies of Thailand and Indonesia the range of treatments on offer reads more like a restaurant menu than a wellness regime, with Lemon Yoghurt scrubs, Oatmeal Honey Lime body polishes and Indian Spice skin enhancers promising to bring new life to world-weary bodies.

The Angsana certainly isn't cheap, but compared to other top-notch spas it's excellent value for money and has quickly established itself as one of the top spas in Cape Town. Stunning treatment rooms, an innovative range of treatments and highly qualified therapists ensure that it's money well-spent for that special treat.

Contact the Angsana spa on (021) 657 4700, or click here to read more about the spa and Vineyard Hotel.

Gauteng: Back to your Roots
Feeling proudly South African this Mother's Day? Why not leave behind the swish spas and marbled bathrooms and support a homegrown initiative — Soweto's first wellness centre.

Run by Thabang Kubheka, Roots Health and Beauty in Diepkloof, Soweto opened its doors in January 2002 to "provide a counter to the stressful environment of everyday life." After training and working overseas, Khubeka ploughed her savings into opening Soweto's first spa, where she now employs four assistants in providing her clients with everything from facials and manicures to mud wraps and massage.

The Roots Health and Beauty Spa is in Shop no 9, Ivan Khoza Shopping Centre, Old Potchefstroom Road, Diepkloof. For more information contact Thabang Kubheka on (011) 938 3013 or 072 277 9728.

Cape Town: Subterranean Sanctuary
Nestled between the rocky shores of the Atlantic and the western slopes of Table Mountain is the Sanctuary Spa at the Twelve Apostles Hotel. Set away from the hustle and bustle of the centre of Cape Town it's a great way to escape the crowds of the city for the day.

The underground Sanctuary Spa is a haven of peace and tranquillity and offers a range of treatments including 'The Sanctuary Escape by Elemis,' a head to toe indulgence that was especially designed for the spa by Elemis in London and is the only such treatment in the world. The spa also boasts the only Rasul chamber in Cape Town and the largest in South Africa. Spend the afternoon relaxing next to the plunge pools or feeling the stress drift away in the atmospheric flotation pool.

Round off your day of pampering with a cocktail or two in the chic Leopard Lounge where you can toast your Mum with one of the best views in town.

For more information or reservations, call The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa on (021) 437 9000 or go on a virtual tour at www.12apostleshotel.com.