Review by Sasha Wyatt-Minter
I was in PE over Christmas to visit family and managed to fit in a day of pampering at Shambala Wellness Spa in Walmer - the most relaxing part of my holiday and worth a visit to Port Elizabeth just for this...
Shambala means place of peace, tranquility and happiness
In Tibetan Buddhist lore, Shambala is a mystical land, hidden in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, a society where people labour constantly for the good of humanity.
And at it's namesake in Port Elizabeth, devoted therapists like Renique ensure that your body and mind receive maximum pampering - definitely contributing to the well being of the population of PE.
At Shambala the emphasis is on relaxation
The stresses of a 12 hour car trip, crowded malls and rushing from one family to another melted away 10 minutes into my full body massage. The room was dim, bathed in a glow of soft red light and the pressure applied was 'just right'.
One of the best massages ever was followed by a deep, double cleansing steam facial. Vitaderm or Dermalogica treatments are offered and I was given the Dermalogica option. While the mask did its job, I could choose to have a hand or Indian head massage or a lash and brow tint.
Lunch was a chicken and avo salad and ginger tea in the meditation room overlooking the rock pool. There is also a jacuzzi (great for hen parties when accompanied by a mini facial and manicure or predicure) and guests are encouraged to arrive early if they want to laze at the pool or lounge in the jacuzzi.
My afternoon manicure and pedicure were sublime and my hands and feet got a full hour's worth of pampering each. The OPI products used by Shambala smell so gorgeous, you want to lick them. Espresso hand scrubs and citrus foot rubs leave your skin soft and glowing and smelling great till the next day! We found a sparly silver polish that looked great with my silver sequin shirt on New Year's eve, compliments of OPI.
After one of my best spa experiences ever, my mom will be seeing a lot more of me this year as Shambala is reason enough to warrant a visit to Port Elizabeth.
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