Spa wellness travel is set to grow exponentially until 2025, according to Debbi Kickham, former editor of luxury-lifestyle magazine Robb Report and now a Forbes luxury travel contributor. “We’re entering an era of new traveller values – a quest for nature, sustainability and mental wellness – as well as a period of rapid recovery from pent-up demand, not just for travel, but for some serious healing,” she says. Safari lodges such as Molori, located in the game-rich Madikwe reserve in the northwest of South Africa, are uniquely placed to take this one step further, as therapeutic downtime spent in the bush, combined with personal spa pampering, is simply one of the best ways to recalibrate in today’s world.
Recognising this need for healing, Molori’s recently made-over spa now offers treatments in its new outdoor sala. Guests can enjoy a full suite of massages, aromatherapy and skin treatments with heavenly Terres d’Afrique amenities and spa products. Made from the finest plant extracts and essential oils, with no artificial colours or fragrances, this luxurious range uses rare ingredients that are ethically and responsibly sourced from African producers. Terres d’Afrique’s commitment to Fair Trade and sustainability echoes the Molori spa ethos and complements the new-look interiors inspired by the colours of nature and the surrounding Madikwe bushveld.
Interior designer Andrea Kleinloog of Hesse Kleinloog began the refurb with the fluted dresser in the main spa treatment room. An original piece, now painted a soothing olive green, it was a bold but striking choice. “The colour worked so well with the two Junior Fungai artworks hanging in the spa, and it all aligned superbly,” says Kleinloog, who carried the green and yellow hues in the Zimbabwean artist’s paintings through to the new sala, linking the two spaces.
The new outdoor sala is only partially shielded from the elements: “Incredible ochre-yellow sheers create a sense of intimacy in the outdoor spa experience,” explains Kleinloog. The fabrics filter light without blocking the views of the African bushveld. To add contemporary nous and reflect the natural forms surrounding the space, “Organic-shaped mirror elements were used to create a surrealist feel within nature,” she says.
The spa, which also comprises a fitness centre, welcomes singles, couples and entire families. Spa treatments are an ideal way to keep kids busy while their parents use the state-of-the-art gym equipment, including a treadmill, bike and cross-trainers, or enjoy the health benefits of the Nordic sauna, steam room and chiller pool. For guests interested in bespoke yoga retreats, Molori partners with various yoga and wellness experts.
For the little ones, animal-print manicures and pedicures are by far the most popular on the menu, and by the time they’re done, the kids are calm and happy – one of the many ways in which Molori goes the extra mile to make children feel at home and nurtured.
Voted the Most Romantic Safari in 2018 at the Safari Awards, Molori has dedicated spa therapists who know that couples often prefer massages in the privacy of their suite, either indoors or outside on the secluded deck overlooking the pool and bush. It’s the ultimate pampering for honeymooners but equally blissful for anyone coming on safari to destress, reconnect and heal in the African bushveld.
And there’s nothing better after a body massage than quietly slipping up the pathway through the trees to the Jacuzzi on the highest hillside deck above the lodge. Guests can extend their spa experience by relaxing on the day beds, listening to the birds, and taking in the gloriously expansive vistas stretching across the treetops to the waterhole below and the hills beyond.
For more information on Molori, visit https://www.roraprivatecollection.com/molori-safari/. Call +27 (0) 82 613 5723 or email reservations@molorisafari.com
About Molori Safari
Molori Safari is recognised throughout the world as one of South Africa’s ultra-luxurious hideaways set in one of the most breathtaking natural landscapes.
The five-suite luxury lodge is situated in the 75 000-hectare malaria-free and game-rich Madikwe Game Reserve bordering Botswana. It is South Africa’s fifth-largest game reserve.
This exclusive-use destination affords absolute privacy for discerning travellers, one of the many reasons why international celebrities, African heads of state and royal families have enjoyed a private safari experience at Molori over the years.
Madikwe is home to the ‘Big 10’, which includes the Big 5 as well as hippo, cheetah, hyena, giraffe and the endangered African wild dog. The reserve is also home to some 350 recorded bird species.
Molori Safari is part of the Rora Private Collection comprising five safari properties, all privately owned and operated by the Ichikowitz family.
Molori’s Conservation Ethos
Molori Safari ensures that its guests leave with a deeper knowledge and rich experience of South Africa's natural assets. They tell the stories of the total ecosystem that makes up South Africa's magnificent natural environment, which includes wildlife, insects, plants, astronomy, people and cultural diversities. Their focus extends to more than just the Big 5 on a safari experience.
The Ichikowitz family is passionate and committed to the conservation of wildlife. Through Molori lodge operations and the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, they facilitate and contribute to many conservation projects, not just in South Africa but across the continent.
Molori is committed to conservation and offers guests conservation experiences that include wildlife notching and collaring in the Madikwe Game Reserve. These are linked to conservation efforts undertaken in the game reserve. The funds generated go towards the ongoing conservation of wildlife and provide immersive one-day encounters for guests who get to experience the actual collaring or notching event with the wildlife vet and conservation officers.
Molori offers helicopter fly-in-and-out day and overnight experiences, with trips to the Ichikowitz Family Foundation’s K9 facility at their lodge in the Magaliesberg, Moledi Gorge, which specialises in anti-poaching programmes across the continent.
