welcome trend’first Our Spa Guide compiles the 100 best spas around the world, drawing on the expertise of our editors from around the world. There’s a lot going on in the world of wellness, but here we distinguish between cryo and cold plunge, infrared therapy and infusions. Or, if you’re going down a more holistic path, there’s something here for you.
Why go here?
Guests making the journey to this remote resort are sure to have an appetite for exploration, but Kisawa also offers a well-planned, thoughtful menu for those who want to spend at least some of their time here.
At Kisawa Sanctuary, spa. The beachside grounds include a natural wellness center with a yoga studio, a 25-meter lap pool, a reformer Pilates studio, and of course, treatment rooms. (Massages and facials feature local ingredients like coconut oil and wild honey.) Treatments are based on Ayurvedic ideals and include healing techniques with an emphasis on massage, shiatsu, and holistic medicine.
The facility is spread across several thatched circular domes on a large expanse of pristine sand overlooking the turquoise waves of the Indian Ocean, with no people or buildings in sight. “The Natural Wellness Center aims to provide a progressive holistic experience tailored to each individual’s needs and to help guests feel connected to the magnificent nature that surrounds Kisawa. In this environment, guests find a deep sense of peace – a sense of reconnection rather than disconnection,” says Kisawa’s general manager, Matthew Herek.
Photo courtesy of Kisawa Sanctuary
What’s the atmosphere like?
Bohemian beaches. Officially a national park, the Bazaruto Archipelago is made up of five islands known for their white sand beaches and diverse marine life. The second-largest, Benguerra, has quietly emerged as a wild, secluded getaway. Kisawa founder Nina Flor took cues from the Tropical Modernism movement and the work of local artisans to create Kisawa’s cohesive atmosphere. “It’s a modern version of Mozambique,” she says. Because Kisawa Sanctuary spans more than 700 acres, each hotel guest is given a moc (a mini Jeep Wrangler-like vehicle) to navigate the dunes from their villa. When I visited, I wore breezy linens, lots of sunscreen, and basically no shoes.
Photo courtesy of Kisawa Sanctuary
history?
Flor opened Kisawa Sanctuary on Mozambique’s Benguela Island in 2021. Her goal was to create a five-star resort that combined service and conservation. Ninety percent of the 180-person management team is from Africa, and the sanctuary is affiliated with the nonprofit marine conservation organization Bazaruto Scientific Research Center.
