The spas will have four therapy rooms, meditation pods and contrast bathing facilities / photo: Wilderness
A holistic haven in the volcanic highlands of Rwanda is set to open in December, revealing one of the most substantial safari spas in Africa.
Conservation and hospitality company, Wilderness, which specialises in safari camps and lodges, will unveil The Sanctuary concept at Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda, soon after its debut at Wilderness Mombo in Botswana.
The two properties are the most luxurious in Wilderness’ portfolio, which comprises 60 camps in eight African countries. While some other Wilderness properties have treatment rooms, none of them have such a comprehensive offering as The Sanctuary.
Safari sanctuary The Sanctuary is a new space for guests to ground themselves, re-centre and unwind. Architects Black Sable are working with Artichoke Interior Design on the aesthetic for both spas.
The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate will have four treatment rooms, including one double. The same number of treatment rooms is planned for the 820sq m Botswanan Mombo spa.
There will be contrast therapy facilities at the spas, including a steamroom and an ice bath, in addition to lap pools and a gym. Cocoon-like meditation pods and a dedicated yoga area will also be on offer.
Curated soundscapes will play in the buildings and signature scents will promote deep relaxation.
The spas will also boast fireplaces to add comfort and create a cosy transition between treatment and bathing experiences.
Wider wellness Wilderness says The Sanctuary reflects the company’s belief in weaving wellbeing into every step of a guest’s journey.
It also signifies the start of a wider wellness evolution across all sites. Over the coming months, Wilderness plans to introduce a range of conscious travel activities from immersive experiences and sustainably sourced cuisine to opportunities for intentional disconnection.
COO Alexandra Margull says, “At Wilderness, wellness is not an added layer defined by trends or treatments, but a natural extension of place – an invitation to pause, reconnect and rediscover the restorative power of nature.
“It lives in the care of our people, in the connection fostered between guests and guides and in the deeply nourishing food served across our camps,” she adds. “It is felt in the absence of distraction – the lack of noise, light and air pollution – and in the sensory reawakening that takes place when one is truly present in nature. Simply being in the wild becomes a form of healing in itself.”
photo: Wilderness
"Simply being in the
wild becomes a form
of healing in itself" – COO Alexandra Margull
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Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
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Research: Behind the boom
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Research: Bigger picture
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The spas will have four therapy rooms, meditation pods and contrast bathing facilities / photo: Wilderness
A holistic haven in the volcanic highlands of Rwanda is set to open in December, revealing one of the most substantial safari spas in Africa.
Conservation and hospitality company, Wilderness, which specialises in safari camps and lodges, will unveil The Sanctuary concept at Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda, soon after its debut at Wilderness Mombo in Botswana.
The two properties are the most luxurious in Wilderness’ portfolio, which comprises 60 camps in eight African countries. While some other Wilderness properties have treatment rooms, none of them have such a comprehensive offering as The Sanctuary.
Safari sanctuary The Sanctuary is a new space for guests to ground themselves, re-centre and unwind. Architects Black Sable are working with Artichoke Interior Design on the aesthetic for both spas.
The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate will have four treatment rooms, including one double. The same number of treatment rooms is planned for the 820sq m Botswanan Mombo spa.
There will be contrast therapy facilities at the spas, including a steamroom and an ice bath, in addition to lap pools and a gym. Cocoon-like meditation pods and a dedicated yoga area will also be on offer.
Curated soundscapes will play in the buildings and signature scents will promote deep relaxation.
The spas will also boast fireplaces to add comfort and create a cosy transition between treatment and bathing experiences.
Wider wellness Wilderness says The Sanctuary reflects the company’s belief in weaving wellbeing into every step of a guest’s journey.
It also signifies the start of a wider wellness evolution across all sites. Over the coming months, Wilderness plans to introduce a range of conscious travel activities from immersive experiences and sustainably sourced cuisine to opportunities for intentional disconnection.
COO Alexandra Margull says, “At Wilderness, wellness is not an added layer defined by trends or treatments, but a natural extension of place – an invitation to pause, reconnect and rediscover the restorative power of nature.
“It lives in the care of our people, in the connection fostered between guests and guides and in the deeply nourishing food served across our camps,” she adds. “It is felt in the absence of distraction – the lack of noise, light and air pollution – and in the sensory reawakening that takes place when one is truly present in nature. Simply being in the wild becomes a form of healing in itself.”
photo: Wilderness
"Simply being in the
wild becomes a form
of healing in itself" – COO Alexandra Margull
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Spa people: Tim Fu
Leading a wellness architecture project in Slovenia that’s one of the first in the world to use AI in all stages of design
Spa people: Kayley Thomas
Lush is famous for its bath bombs and retail empire, but the co-founder of its day spa concept reveals why its 19 global spa facilities are so essential
Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
We find out more about Colin Mcilheney, the man who created the ISPA US Spa Industry Study and has been analysing the sector’s performance ever since
News report: Map of luxury
New research by WATG shows emerging wealth hubs in India, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa are reshaping luxury travel demand
Interview: Chris Norton
The CEO of Equinox Hotels tells Katie Barnes how the uber-cool brand is scaling its bold fusion of fitness, spa and luxury
Ask an expert...: Recovery
From cryo to compression to contrast bathing, Julie Cramer investigates why and how spas and resorts are integrating recovery packages
Research: Behind the boom
What are the hidden messages in the latest US study by ISPA? Colin Mcilheney digs beneath the surface
Research: Bigger picture
Rising salaries and shifting consumer expectations – two new surveys by the UKSA and GSG reveal the trends impacting UK spa operators
Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin – Snow for all seasons
TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
First person: Costa Blanca cure
Jane Kitchen visits Spain to compare and contrast two world-class medi-wellness clinics: well-established SHA and ambitious newcomer ZEM
Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
The new brand in the Gharieni Group portfolio – Metawell – is delivering what today’s wellness clients are seeking most – deep recovery and mind-body renewal
Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
dry, stressed-out skin and deliver a calm and nourishing client experience
Menu engineering: At your service
Self-playing gongs in Sweden, surfing therapy in Morocco and Ananda launches holistic diabetes management programme in India
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England
with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’
concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Oakworks Inc Oakworks is a US-based FSC-certified manufacturer of spa, massage, and medical equipment. [more...]
