Industry professionals gathered to celebrate Les Nouvelles Esthétiques' South African Spa Awards in Cape Town at a gala dinner at The President Hotel recently, recognising excellence and innovation in the country's wellness sector.

Hosted by the South African branch in association with Les Nouvelles Esthétiques Paris, the 2025 awards featured seven categories, including a new one for wellness retreats.

The categories and winners are as follows:

1. Wellness retreat winner: Maua Wellness by Healing Earth at Zuri Zanzibar

This property is surrounded by spice gardens, baobab trees and has access to private beaches.

Ocean-inspired spa therapies take place in open-air treatment gazebos.

The retreat also has an ocean-view yoga pavilion and an outdoor gym. Guests have hammocks on their private verandahs.

2. Day spa winner: Aronia Day Spa

This wellness destination is in the wealthy suburban estate of Houghton, in the heart of Johannesburg. It has nine treatment rooms, a Rasul chamber, hydrotherapy and flotation therapy baths, as well as outdoor relaxation gardens.

In addition to its ayurveda spa packages, Aronia offers results-driven facials and body treatments.

3. Hotel spa winner: The Spa at Fancourt

Along the city of George’s coast, known as the Garden Route, The Spa at Fancourt is part of the Fancourt Estate – a luxury lifestyle resort with views of the Outeniqua Mountains. The spa has Romanesque bathing facilities, a heated therapy pool, sauna, steamroom and tepidarium.

Natural botanicals and holistic techniques are featured on the spa menu.

4. Boutique hotel spa winner: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and Spa

In the centre of Johannesburg, this spa is housed in a stately manor with antique furnishings and grand suites. The spa itself offers a contrasting experience due to its Balinese inspiration. The wellness facility is a modern retreat set amidst tropical gardens. It has treatment rooms, a heated vitality pool and calming outdoor spaces.

5. Safari spa winner: Fijnebos Spa – Botlierskop Game Reserve and Villas

Between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, Finebos Spa is part of the Botlierskop Game Reserve. The spa offers hydrotherapy facilities, including indoor and outdoor pools plus African-inspired therapies in both indoor and open-air treatment rooms.

Guests stay in luxury villas or tented suites, with access to gourmet dining options and activities such as horseback safaris, guided bush walks and game drives.

6. Unique spa concept winner: The Spa at the Twelve Apostles Hotel

The Twelve Apostles Hotel in Cape Town is a coastal sanctuary located between the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel’s spa, however, sits away from the sea-view accommodations, within a natural cave that was discovered during construction. The spa has a range of hydrotherapy experiences and is painted in soft, light hues to enhance an atmosphere of calm. The designers created a glass bridge, suspended over a rocky chamber, for access to this spa.

7. Aesthetic/ medi-spa winner: Terre Paisible Medical Rejuvenation and Spa

In Franschhoek, a small town in the Western Cape Province, Terre Paisible offers guests medical treatments and aesthetic procedures. The interiors feature clean lines, natural materials and calming neutral tones. Guests have access to lounges overlooking a pool.