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African safari operator, Wilderness, is redefining safari spas with The Sanctuary, a concept pairing design and wellness with raw, restorative landscapes
The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate, in Rwanda / Wilderness
Wilderness, which operates 60 safari camps across eight African countries, has revealed a new wellness concept – The Sanctuary – which elevates the spa elements to a new level.
The first locations are Wilderness Mombo which is set in the heart of Botswana’s wildlife-rich Okavango Delta and Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda’s dramatic volcanic highlands.
The design-led wellbeing spaces introduce heated lap pools, contrast therapy circuits, meditation cocoons and curated sensory experiences to the safari model. For investors and operators, they signal a strategic shift: embedding sophisticated spa infrastructure into ultra-remote, conservation-led luxury – and redefining expectations of what a wilderness lodge can deliver.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2026 issue 1
Editor's letter: Africa rising
Too many emerging markets exploit women and the low-waged. Africa’s burgeoning wellness economy must avoid this, says Katie Barnes
Letters: SB Forum
Jeremy McCarthy says it’s time to tackle ‘standards overwhelm’, and Dr Cheri D Mah on why sleep strategy matters for operators
Spa Business People: Chunxia Gao
The head of development and wellbeing for new hospitality brand Discover Collection explains the vision
Interview: Andrew Barnard
The CEO of BodyHoliday St Lucia talks exclusively to Katie Barnes about how the business is gearing up for global growth, with a new top team, a flagship resort in Portugal and plans to launch a management company
Profile: Nick Yarnell
On the eve of opening, the GM of Six Senses London shares his insights into the brand’s first major urban property with Liz Terry
Safari spa: Wild about wellbeing
Safari lodge operator Wilderness pairs high design and thoughtful wellness at its two new sanctuaries in Rwanda and Botswana
Sponsored: Fenix Group – Optimal results
Compressive Microvibration delivered by Endospheres can support healthspan by improving the tone, circulation and structure of the tissues, explains Gianluca Cavalletti, founder and CEO of patent-holder, Fenix Group
Sponsored: The Comfort Zone Way
Denise Dente, general manager, outlines how Comfort Zone is evolving into a powerful partner for the global spa industry
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
Barr + Wray Ltd
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Sothys Paris
Founded in 1946, Sothys is owned by the
Mas family. Chief executive Christian Mas
oversees the com [more...]
African safari operator, Wilderness, is redefining safari spas with The Sanctuary, a concept pairing design and wellness with raw, restorative landscapes
The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate, in Rwanda / Wilderness
Wilderness, which operates 60 safari camps across eight African countries, has revealed a new wellness concept – The Sanctuary – which elevates the spa elements to a new level.
The first locations are Wilderness Mombo which is set in the heart of Botswana’s wildlife-rich Okavango Delta and Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda’s dramatic volcanic highlands.
The design-led wellbeing spaces introduce heated lap pools, contrast therapy circuits, meditation cocoons and curated sensory experiences to the safari model. For investors and operators, they signal a strategic shift: embedding sophisticated spa infrastructure into ultra-remote, conservation-led luxury – and redefining expectations of what a wilderness lodge can deliver.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2026 issue 1
Editor's letter: Africa rising
Too many emerging markets exploit women and the low-waged. Africa’s burgeoning wellness economy must avoid this, says Katie Barnes
Letters: SB Forum
Jeremy McCarthy says it’s time to tackle ‘standards overwhelm’, and Dr Cheri D Mah on why sleep strategy matters for operators
Spa Business People: Chunxia Gao
The head of development and wellbeing for new hospitality brand Discover Collection explains the vision
Interview: Andrew Barnard
The CEO of BodyHoliday St Lucia talks exclusively to Katie Barnes about how the business is gearing up for global growth, with a new top team, a flagship resort in Portugal and plans to launch a management company
Profile: Nick Yarnell
On the eve of opening, the GM of Six Senses London shares his insights into the brand’s first major urban property with Liz Terry
Safari spa: Wild about wellbeing
Safari lodge operator Wilderness pairs high design and thoughtful wellness at its two new sanctuaries in Rwanda and Botswana
Sponsored: Fenix Group – Optimal results
Compressive Microvibration delivered by Endospheres can support healthspan by improving the tone, circulation and structure of the tissues, explains Gianluca Cavalletti, founder and CEO of patent-holder, Fenix Group
Sponsored: The Comfort Zone Way
Denise Dente, general manager, outlines how Comfort Zone is evolving into a powerful partner for the global spa industry
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.
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
Barr + Wray Ltd Barr + Wray has more than 60 years’ experience in the design and delivery of world-class spa and wel [more...]
