Health Spa Reviews - Mangwanani Sibaya, Durban North

  

Review by Lelethu Lumkwana

Best for: A de-stress weekend retreat when city life becomes too much to handle!

Objective: 'Make me feel like an African Queen'

After driving around Durban and getting lost for more than an hour getting to Sibaya Casino, I was definitely in the mood to be pampered. The spa is nestled among lush rows of trees with a walkway that doubles as a mini-bridge over a calm stream. It's arranged like a village with umbrella-shaded chaises longues in the centre. Here, clients bask in the sun enjoying Neo Maoto, a foot treatment. Guests experience massages and other treatments in bomas with thatched roofs surrounding the area.

When I entered, I was given a warm welcome by the beauty therapists, clad in traditional umbhaco skirts with black tops and decorative dottings on their faces. The photographer and I were invited to lunch in the spa's in-house restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely view of the bush and ate a delicious chicken roti with crisp vegetables and fresh orange juice, followed by a decadent chocolate cake dessert. After my scrumptious lunch, I was feeling a little sleepy, which turned out to be the perfect mood for a relaxing facial, called Ubuso, a Renewing African Facial. Ubuso is a three-step regime (exfoliation, toning and moisturising), using Lotus products, a herbal skin care range imported from India. These have natural oils such as cedarwood oil and almond oil, which are great for rejuvenating your skin. Afterwards my skin felt soft and looked radiant.

Next up was Izimanga (Heaven on Earth) - a hot stone massage, where the stones are rubbed into your back's stress areas with grapeseed oil. This boosts circulation and eases muscle tension. Never having done this before, I didn't quite know what to expect and I certainly didn't think the stones would be that hot! The therapist later told me the stones are stored in boiled water. Though I enjoyed the massage, I wasn't as relaxed as I thought I would be and I certainly didn't nod off. Relaxed, albeit a bit burned, I made my way to the car after the treatment; ready to hop straight into bed, much to my party animal friends' disappointment! Heaven on earth indeed...

Courtesy of True Love October 2007 issue

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