Shongwe Oasis, Jamie tells me, is a proud partner of Mvula Spa, the best kept secret in the Falls, or it was, as it’s slowly becoming high on everyone’s relaxation list, from locals to guests alike. The Spa may be right near the entrance to Shongwe Oasis but is cleverly hidden within the lush tropical vegetation.
Mvula is the local name for the Zambezi teak tree (Baikiaea plurijuga), the tree under which Dr Livingstone’s heart was buried. Mvula Spa aims ‘to enchant its guests, so that they, too, feel a little piece of their heart will always remain in Africa’.
“Mvula Spa offers high-end, boutique treatments for our guests, like hot stone massage, couple’s massage, bathing therapies, and paraffin wax treatments,” said Jamie, “treatments with a local twist, using locally sourced and produced products wherever possible”.
I’m thinking that a Baobab milk bath would go down nicely, or what about an African green clay wrap? Or perhaps a facial with the natural, plant based, vegan and cruelty free AM cosmetic range?
Owned and managed by aesthetician Avalon Van Leent, Mvula Spa uses industry-leading products along with her own cruelty-free, vegan, organic skincare range, AM Cosmetics – which are available at the spa, as well as used in Shongwe Oasis rooms.
Avalon studied holistic and spa therapies and has worked with leading skincare brands onboard a five-star cruise liner and ran her own salon in Australia. “This gave me invaluable international experience in developing my own proudly Zimbabwean-owned skincare range, AM Cosmetics” she tells me.
“I spent eight years in Australia, I had a spa there, but my focus was more on cosmetic tattooing to help cancer survivors”, says Avalon. “When a woman has a mastectomy, she often feels less like a woman, so I loved seeing the changes in a woman’s self-esteem after having an areola done.” In addition to this Avalon also had her regular spa clients.
In 2019 my husband and I decided to come back to Zimbabwe, so we sold our house and business and decided that we would travel for a year… then three months in, while in Borneo, Covid happened. It ended our travel plans, but it did give me the opportunity and time to fulfil the lifelong dream to start my own skincare range. So, after a series of samples and testers, she finally settled on what is now her core range. It was during this period Avalon tells me that she saw how much everybody’s confidence took a dive from being isolated.
“That’s where the ‘AM’ comes from. I wanted to remind everybody that you are beautiful, you are radiant, you are glowing, even if you don’t feel it when you wake up”. The ‘AM’ Avalon emphasis is a reminder that as you look in the mirror you need to say to yourself, “I am beautiful.”
After my conversation with Avalon I decide on the Mvula Signature Facial, which my spa therapist, Lee tells me an individually customised spa facial, designed with both relaxation and results in mind. I can’t wait…
Lee’s expert hands soon have me floating away with a deep double-cleanse and luxurious facial massage. A gentle enzyme exfoliation to smooth and purify my skin follows, with a soothing mask, most suitable for my skin type to complete the treatment. I leave with my face feeing deeply cleansed, soothed and hydrated – so much so, that the AM Pro Renewal Moisturiser is now part of my daily skincare routine.
I have certainly left a piece of my heart in this part of Africa, and I’m thankful for my daily reminder.
Click HERE to read the story in Responsible Traveller mag
