Leading Lodges of Africa working out the Wellness Circuit.

In April 2005 Gocheganas, the Nature Reserve and Wellness Village that opened just outside Windhoek at the beginning of last year, became a member of the Leading Lodges of Africa group. And so added to the LLA portfolio was perhaps the best known player in the burgeoning Namibian wellness market.

Set upon a hillside in undulating bush savannah ringed by the nearby rugged Auas and Leopard mountain ranges, the accommodation, restaurant complex and wellness village all offer inspiring views across the six thousand hectare reserve. Sixteen suites, each individually, traditionally and tastefully constructed from stone, timber and thatch, offer guests elegant interiors, all modern comforts, complete privacy and decks with a wonderful outlook.

The large restaurant and separate 360 degree bar sitting atop the koppie both echo this emphasis on spectacular vistas over the surrounding landscapes and the plentiful wildlife. A nearby fire circle makes for both a convivial outdoor meeting place and great venue for stargazing. All meals can be taken inside the restaurant or outside on an expansive terrace, where drinks too can be enjoyed, especially at sundown. Menus offer a choice of either fresh Namibian cuisine, together with Wellness and Vegetarian options. Specific detox and weight loss diets are also available on request. Guests can take the opportunity to join twice daily game drives, in specially adapted open Land Rovers, and should spot a fine variety of wildlife in the veldt, or perhaps enjoy a night drive instead. Others will prefer to undertake a guided nature walk, or visit the late stone age caverns on foot. At least twenty one species roam the Nature Reserve, including White Rhino, Giraffe, Eland, Zebra, Kudu, Oryx, Wildebeest, Springbok, Cheetah, Ostrich, Bat-Eared Foxes and many more. Bird life is abundant too.

Furthermore exclusive conferencing facilities are also available to businesses, affording their staff too the chance to enjoy the delightful surroundings and divers amenities.

However, the main emphasis at Gocheganas - whose name incidentally comes from the Damara word meaning 'Place of Camelthorns, abounding with Candle-Pod Acacias' - is on Wellness and their Wellness Village offers guests, and indeed day visitors, state of the art facilities backed by professional staff and therapists. There is a heated indoor infinity pool, awesomely situated under a huge stone cathedral like vault, a well equipped gymnasium section, Kneipp showers producing an icy blast of natural spring water, and the Granite Bath - a fascinating masonry cave containing a sauna. A fruit and juice bar, comfortable lounge area and modern changing rooms add to the experience. For the hardier individual, an outdoor coldwater swimming pool is situated beneath the main Wellness complex on a pleasant peninsula also offering relaxing, shaded loungers, and of course, further spectacular views.

Gocheganas describe Wellness as 'a holistic approach to health that combines all aspects of physical, mental and spiritual well-being to realign mind, body and soul'. Trained therapists can - after specific personal consultations - offer tailor made training programmes, diet recommendations and wellness programmes. The comprehensive list of Wellness treatments includes something to suit everyone, catering for the boys as well as the girls !

The ThallassO therapies use products [such as seawater, seaweed, mud and algae] sourced from the Atlantic Ocean off Lüderitz, where the Benguela Current's waters are known to contain some of the purest seawater in the world.

There is a wide selection of massages available - the trained masseuses will even operate outside, in nature - Marula Oil, Hot Stone and Thai being just a few examples from the comprehensive range.

Further products include hydrotherapy treatments, beauty and cosmetic treatments, including facials, make-up and manicures, and cranio-sacral treatments.

Guests can either book any combination of individual treatments, massages and other therapies from the large variety on offer, or put together a complete Wellness programme as mentioned above.

There is no doubt that the addition of Gocheganas as a member will complement the existing portfolio of LLA lodges, most of which offer wellness centres or spas. A brief resume of the other LLA establishments to be found throughout Namibia, with outline details of their particular wellness functions, reads as follows:

- Epacha Game Lodge and Spa [located just south of the fabled Etosha National Park]. Guests can enjoy sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and splash pool in the Spa, along with various treatments, including a ThallassO Therapy room.

- Eagle Tented Lodge and Spa [situated on the same massive 21000 hectare Epacha estate near Etosha] also offers a fully equipped Spa with aroma and mud baths, hydro therapies, pedicures, manicures, massages, yoga and ThelassO treatments the order of the day.

- Le Mirage Desert Lodge and Spa is located only 21 km from Sesriem, the entrance gate to the magnificent dunes of Sossusvlei. Here the wellness centre specializes in massages, pedicures, manicures, aroma massages, Thai massages and de-stress treatments.

- Suclabo Okavango Lodge, in the north eastern Caprivi region of the country, also recently became a Leading Lodges member and lies on the banks of the bewitching Okavango River. Major improvements planned here will further elevate this lodge to LLA's high standards, also then including full Wellness centre facilities.

- Villa Verdi meanwhile, in the leafy Windhoek West suburb comfortably close to the city, is a boutique Guest House which offers travellers high standards of accommodation and personal service in superbly crafted ethnic surroundings. The perfect start and finish location for any visit to Namibia.

So the Wellness circuit becomes reality, with lodges carefully located close to this country's must see destinations. A series of exquisite havens welcoming the discerning visitor to a unique combination of Wellness and Wildlife.

Leading Lodges of Africa intend that their entire portfolio of properties - per se members new and old - will continue to be extensively marketed and promoted on a local, regional and international level. Furthermore, they will shortly be launching Wellness Namibia, which will be responsible for all the Spa's within the Leading Lodges group, an exciting development destined to ensure that their Wellness centres further grow their deserved marketplace. Go on: unwind, pamper yourself, preserve and prolong your wellbeing, sustain your very soul.