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February 2015 – March 2015 heralds the arrival of Tanzania’s first ever ila spa treatments, at The Residence Zanzibar. On the south-west coast of the mystical ‘Spice Island’, this 66 villa hideaway has long been a hotspot for those in search of a relaxing retreat – with its spacious private villas, welcoming hospitality, and idyllic location. The draw will soon be even greater thanks to ila’s new, exclusive treatment menu, using local ingredients and rituals.

Meaning ‘Earth’ in Sanskrit, ‘ila’ is passionate about the power of nature as the source of real wellness, using only the finest natural plant and mineral ingredients. Working with The Residence Zanzibar allows ila to capture the rich culture of Zanzibar, and highlight the wellbeing properties of locally grown plants and herbs. The exclusive ila treatments make use of honey from local beehives, as well as local coconut, cinammon, lemongrass and cloves.

NEW signature and exclusive treatments include:

The Elite Zanzibar Spice Journey by ila
An ila journey into Zanzibar’s alluring and mystical heart through local rituals, music as well as rich, decadent herbs and spices. This is a heavenly full-body experience that uses traditional healing, leaving guests feeling grounded, nurtured and rejuvenated. Guests are encouraged to surrender themselves to the mysteries of the Spice Island and allow the ila therapists to work their magic with this treatment. 

The Etan Signature Face Therapy by ila
A powerful, rejuvenating 90-minute treatment that draws on the historic healing powers of frankincense, used as a sacred ingredient throughout Africa for thousands of years. The treatment’s name ‘Etan’ is an ancient word meaning “breath of life”, which encapsulates the curative energy of this treatment. ila specialists will use boswellic acids to reduce cellular inflammation, ultrasound therapy and hyaluronic acid to increase hydration, and liquid gold and plant stem cells to increase energy, re-programme cellular function and balance the hormonal system – natural ingredients, with deep effect.

The Tree of Life & Yemaya Body Rituals by ila
An earthy, enriched trilogy of rich African ‘tree of life’ oils (Baobab, Moringa and Argan) forms the base of these  signature 90-minute male and female body experiences.  Full of essential fatty acids and vitamin E, they nourish and condition the skin, while connecting with the body’s earth, water and fire elements.

• ​Designed for men, ‘Tree of Life’ starts with a vital energy body scrub. An adaptogenic herbal liver pack and classic ila massage follow, using ila’s unique blend of essential oils ‘for vigour’, combined with the ‘African tree of life’ blend: Silky Baobab oil from the seeds of Adansonia tree; phytonutrient-rich Moringa oil; and enriched Argan oil, revered for its health-giving and anti-ageing properties.
• Yemaya, the African Goddess of the Sea, brings life to earth through the provision of water. ‘Yemaya’, for women, starts with a blissful scrub, followed by an adaptogenic kidney herbal pack (to encourage purification and rejuvenation of energy). To end, a classic ila massage combines ila’s unique water chakra essential oils with ‘African tree of life’ blend.

Julian Burton, General Manager of The Residence Zanzibar comments, “We are delighted to be working with ila to offer our guests luxurious and organic treatments. The spa is a hugely important part of The Residence and a key element for many of our guests during their stay with us. The nourishing, yet locally-sourced, treatments will most definitely delight those looking for a calming and rejuvenating experience.”

Denise Leicester, founder of ila and ila spa says, “There has always been something magical about Zanzibar and as soon as I came across The Residence I knew we would be a perfect fit. The property is beautiful, romantic, exotic and magical and having the opportunity to create spa experiences that reflect this essence, is pure joy. We also feel there is a great synergy between The Residence and ila as we both have the same ethics, goals and want to create the most incredible experiences for our clients”. 

The Residence Zanzibar is home to 66 exquisite private villas, each with its own swimming pool. Set along a beautiful, long sandy beach, flanked by coconut palms and within 32 acres of garden, The Residence Zanzibar offers an intoxicating mix of elegant sophistication and island charm.  The Spa has long been one of the hotel’s star attractions with six spacious treatment pavilions set in five acres of tropical gardens. Each has its own garden, outdoor shower, bathtub and relaxation area. A jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, spa swimming pool, yoga studio and a range of fitness equipment are also available for guests to use throughout their stay..