Enviro Sanctuary Spa wins 2 international awards

Couples suite

The Enviro Sanctuary Spa in North West Province has won the South Africa – Best Destination Spa Category at the Haute Grandeur Global Awards.

In addition, the spa was recently named as the Silver Winner in the Muse Hotel Awards World-Class Eco Spa category.

These two accolades join a long list of local and international awards that the spa has won since it opened in 2017, including the Professional Beauty Award for Game Reserve Spa of the Year (2018).

Founded by Maria Viljoen, the spa is part of her 4-star Thaba Thswene Game Lodge near Harbeesfontein and is centred on a holistic philosophy of spiritual, as well as physical, well-being.

Uniquely, the spa building is laid out on five levels, as Viljoen didn’t want to spoil the natural landscape of the ‘koppie’ (i.e. small hill) against which it is built.

Says Viljoen: “I decided to immerse the building into the backdrop and incorporate indoor-outdoor living. The idea behind the design of the five levels is to curve the spa into the surroundings and create space for enough energy flow.

“I feel that the large windows and ‘stacking doors’ throughout the spa lend themselves to the aesthetic. To tie all of the aspects together, there is a strong focus on hues of colour, textures and Feng Shui.”

In terms of eco aspects, there is no artificial ventilation in the spa. And, although only low energy light bulbs are used, natural light emanating from the large windows, stacking doors and numerous mirrors, is always preferred. Solar geysers were installed in the bathrooms, as well as low flow shower heads and toilets. Natural stone was used to clad the rustic walls and pillars, and all natural indigenous flora was preserved.

Viljoen, who was a speaker at this year’s Professional Beauty’s World Spa & Wellness Convention, notes that everything that she has created in the spa has a subconscious effect on the mind, body and spirit. To that end the spa incorporates a Reflexology Sensory Path, Labyrinth and Grounding Route. (Report by Joanna Sterkowicz)