Tucked away on an equestrian estate just 1.5 hours outside of Cape Town, this serene, family-run wellness retreat offers wellcations of transformation.
Personalised and tailored to your unique needs, Elixir is the kind of place you don’t realise how much you need until you drive through the gates and let out a deep exhale.
Arriving at Elixir
Before I’d even unpacked my bag, my name was written on a welcome board, my gown had already been sized and I was warmly greeted by Alison, Elixir’s heart and soul. As a health coach and integrative wellness specialist with a background in Psychology, she runs this West Coast haven alongside her husband Hagen (chef extraordinaire), and her daughter-in-law, Vania, who leads Somfio’s Headspa (more on that later…)
Alison walked me through the property, returning to a cup of herbal tea and an itinerary run-through, that was the perfect balance of soul-soothing stillness and nourishing treatments. Every detail had already been thought of, so I didn’t have to.
I loved the welcoming committee of the resident doggos, Beo and Miley, whose furry-friend energy made the space feel even more homely, softer, and safe.
The Experience
Elixir doesn’t do one-size-fits-all itineraries, and mine was a total love letter to everything my nervous system needed. I experienced a Head Spa for the first time (and let me tell you, I’m a sucker for someone just brushing my hair at the best of times), but this was next level bliss! Think gentle scalp massage, warm steam, sound bowls, and an invigorating kombucha hair rinse. This often-overlooked area of the body holds tension and emotion, so this Japanese-inspired head spa treatment restores balance in so many ways. Put me under the Hydro Halo any day.
Another first for me was an ozone therapy session that left me feeling like I’d given my cells a breath of fresh (supercharged) air – boosting circulation, detoxing, and oxygenating my system from the inside out. That same day ended with a back, neck & shoulder massage, after which, I was gifted with a take-home bottle of the essential oil blend I’d chosen for the session. It’s these small, intentional touches that make you feel cared for and considered.
The next misty morning started with a nature walk led by Hagen and the wagging-tail of the ever-eager Beo, followed by a series of cold plunges and heated jacuzzi soaks to the rising sun. Breakfast wrapped with an InBody 770 scan debrief with Alison herself, where I feel like I learned more about my body composition in thirty minutes than I had in thirty years.
When I wasn’t levitating between therapies, I was taking barefoot walks in the gardens, flowing gently through self-led yoga in the Shala, or learning how to brew my own kombucha during an interactive tasting. Hagen makes it look so easy, I’m inspired to start my own.
Nourishment on Every Level
The food at Elixir is predominantly plant-powered and incredibly satisfying. Their pescatarian and vegetarian menus are built around sourcing fresh whole foods from their own potager garden and local produce suppliers, all designed to nourish your gut, balance your blood sugar, and leave you feeling sustained.
Between meals, you can also sip on a curated selection of their broths and juices (all made onsite), or cups of herbal tea. Post dinner, I curled up by the fireplace with a surprisingly easy-to-digest gut health book, and made time to simply be. Appreciating so much magic in the meals and the moments.
Why You’ll Love Elixir
Elixir isn’t flashy or over-the-top: it’s grounded luxury. The kind that holds space for you to slow down, soften, unravel, and gently put yourself back together again. This is what they offer:
- Personalised wellness journeys: their belief is that every stay should be tailored to each individual.
- Science‑backed insights: Elixir offers an InBody 770 body‑composition scan, as well as DNA testing, Enneagram profiling, somatic healing, and non‑medical hypnosis.
- Holistic spa offerings: highlights include the Japanese-inspired Head Spa (with sound bowls and kombucha rinse), ozone sauna, massage therapies, sound journeys and hot and cold immersions.
- Nourishing, plant-forward cuisine: meals are pescatarian/vegetarian, using produce from their own potager and local farms.
- Grounded boutique luxury: double en-suite rooms, each with private patios with garden views, built-in desks, tea/coffee-making facilities, and bottled water. The atmosphere is warm, unpretentious, and calming.
- Flexible stays & workshops: They’re running an opening special of R1500 per night until the end of August 2025 (including breakfast), with optional add-ons and therapies.
- Holistic wellness retreats: Their 2025 calendar has a range of offerings; from yoga and detox experiences, cooking-for-wellness weekends, to themed couples or LGBTQ+ getaways, all offering personalised treatments and nurturing daily rituals.
