Health Spa Reviews - Health & Pamper Spa - Sparkling Waters Hotel

  

Review by Gwen Watkins

Put that sparkle back in your eye!

Sparkling Waters Hotel & Spa is a well loved part of Rustenburg with a thirty seven year history of hospitality. It now adds to that old fashioned service and style, a magical spa experience that eases away the rush of modern life.

The Sparkling Health Spa is magnificently set under a massive thatch roof, which gives a cool elegance to the sparkling pool and massage tables grouped around the pool. The centre has private treatment rooms, including a wonderful doubles Signature room for friends or couples.

Just below the sundecks, the sound of the Krom river can be heard chuckling past and the trees and flowerbeds abound in birds and butterflies. "Very popular is our 3-hour package, which includes a steam bath, a Jacuzzi, back massage, facial and finishes off with a Manicure and foot massage for R820-00," explains Lida Engels, owner of the spa and wife of one of the hotel proprietors. "We opened in the Christmas of 2003 and we have been very popular ever since - our clients come not only from Rustenburg but also from Pretoria and Johannesburg, proving that service and relaxation are worth seeking out."

The spa trades for long hours (7 to 7), seven days a week and is very popular with conference goers attending functions at the hotel. Delegates get vouchers that enable them to either use the gym attached to the spa or have a quick treatment - no wonder the hotel has won so many conference awards!

On arrival, one is met with a quick cold drink before slipping into pretty spa slippers and gown. The steam bath gets rid of all the stress and grime of the big city and the cooling off is achieved in the tropical Jacuzzi, which is open to the fresh air and bird song.

The lavender back massage is given by Charmaine, the spa manageress, who has worked there since January 2004. On the weekends, there can be as many as 16 therapists providing relaxing clients with treatments around the pool or in the treatment rooms. Attached to the spa is the junior spa treatment tent that overlooks the gardens. Here young ladies, and the occasional young gentleman, can get pampering treatments, without disturbing Mom & Dad - the spa does not allow children under the age of 16 inside.

The spa uses mostly Theravine facial and body products from Stellenbosch. The products are made from grape extracts, oils and seeds - a truly South African product masterfully created to suit the harsh dry climate conditions in our country. Even with my very sensitive skin, I found it truly moisturising. It also has one of the very few vertical tanning booths in South Africa - clients step in, grip the handles above their head and then tan all over without odd patches!

The swimming pool at 31o C is very inviting and prepares one for the light and tasty lunch from the hotel kitchens. I rounded off my experience with a wonderful reflexology session with René and then took a leisurely drive back to Johannesburg.

The Sparkling Waters Hotel & Spa is 110 kms from Sandton City through the scenic route of Hartebeespoort Dam and then on the old R104 road to Rustenburg. From the 4-way crossing just over the dam wall, the R104 winds through farmlands (be warned the speed limit is low and the road is under construction) for 36 kms until it reaches the left hand 3-way crossing marked Sparkling Waters. Turning left, one passes the Buffelspoort Dam and after 13 km, the hotel is on the right hand side. Go with a friend and allow two hours for a leisurely, picturesque drive and perhaps stop off at the charming little shops at the dam on the way back - great bargains can be had!

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