The private island lodge upstream of Victoria Falls introduces a riverside spa for guests seeking to switch off, slow down and recharge.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – October 2026
Tsowa Safari Island has opened Tsowa River Spa, set among the trees on the banks of the Zambezi. The new spa adds another dimension to the private island lodge’s quiet, nature-led experience.
Paige Gehren, co-founder of Tsowa Safari Island, describes it as:
“A place of energy and healing.”
The launch comes as slow, restorative travel continues to grow, and World Mental Health Day brings stress and burnout back into the headlines. Travel data reflects how many people now go away simply to recover.
In Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 56% of travellers named rest and recharging as their main reason for a leisure trip this year, while 57% of US respondents expressed interest in a quiet or silent retreat. The Global Wellness Summit’s 2026 forecast identified nervous-system regulation as “the next frontier” of wellness, alongside a growing backlash against tracking and optimising every hour of the day.
An Island Made for Quiet
With just nine tents and a maximum of 18 guests, Tsowa Safari Island is made for quiet. Guests enjoy a game drive through Zambezi National Park before crossing by boat to the private island—the only way to reach it.
The tents sit roughly 20 metres apart among the riverside trees, giving each a sense of having the river to itself. No mature trees were removed during construction, preserving the natural setting that defines the island experience.
The camp runs on solar power, with no generators humming in the background. The sounds are those of the flowing river and the calls of wildlife.
There is no fixed schedule. Each guest shapes their own day, doing as much or as little as they like. Days might include canoeing along quiet channels, walking across the island in search of Pel’s fishing owl and African finfoot, taking a sunset cruise, or spending the evening on the fire deck overlooking the river.
Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe National Park are both within reach for guests who want a bigger day out. Alternatively, guests can book a spa treatment and spend the afternoon on their private deck, with a front-row seat to the river.
The Tsowa River Spa Experience
Every treatment at Tsowa River Spa begins with a foot-cleansing ritual, using cool stones on hot days and warm stones when the weather turns.
The treatment menu draws on two South African brands: Healing Earth and Esse.
Healing Earth, made with minerals and botanicals and free from synthetic fragrances, parabens and petrochemicals, is used for body, hand and foot treatments.
Esse, a certified organic, vegan skincare line built around the skin’s microbiome, is used for facials.
For more information, visit www.isibindi.co.za or contact the reservations team at res@isibindi.co.za or +27 (0)35 474 1473.
