At the end of a long week, when you feel like your body and mind have taken a beating from the daily nine to five grind, close your eyes and imagine yourself in a steaming pool of naturally healing hot waters that soothe your body.
Waters that are enchantingly blue and dreamy. Waters that draw your eyes as a slight breeze caresses your skin and whispers in your ears while you gaze at the lush greenery on gentle domes that rise above you, shielding you from the hustle and bustle beyond.
That is the magic of Olkaria Geothermal Spa, the only natural spa in Africa.
To experience that, you will have to take a trip to Naivasha, which in itself is a stunning visual experience what with the scenic views of the Great Rift Valley, Mt Longonot and an array of beautiful wildlife.
During my trip, nature provided a pun in the form of zebras crossing the road. Others were grazing alongside giraffes. We also saw chimpanzees nonchalantly grooming each other, dik diks, warthogs and other game.
Our vehicle had to come to a halt so that a tower of six giraffes could cross the road. It was surreal.
The spa is a short drive from Lake Naivasha, inside Hell's Gate National Park which was the "set" for the film, the Lion King.
The film's crew spent two weeks in the park studying how animals behave and interact. Much of the animated film is based on what they learned there.
The Olkaria Geothermal Spa — the brainchild of Kenya Electricity Generating Company Limited, KenGen— is certainly an alluring invite for anyone looking for a perfect and affordable, yet exclusive getaway.
I could hardly wait to take a dip in this gem which is yet to be discovered by tourists.
There are various depths or levels and one can swim to the deeper end or to the middle where there is a little island, and just sit and enjoy the breathtaking view provided by 3,600 square meters of hot water.
It has been said that the crystalline water has therapeutic benefits. In Japan and Europe, bathing in naturally occurring hot water pools has been a long established tradition among locals who believe that such water has healing powers.
The jury is still out on the extent of the water's healing powers, but scientists have agreed on some of them.
For one, bathing in naturally heated body of water raises your hydrostatic pressure, which boosts blood circulation.
The water has minerals that are beneficial for the body, such as sodium and silica.
Sodium promotes lymphatic fluid balance, which improves the immune system, while silica helps in rebuilding and regenerating connective tissue, which irons out wrinkles.
It is present in large amounts at birth and decreases as we grow older, making the skin sag, and we are forced to use beauty treatments that contain collagen to restore it.
Silica is one of the largest components in collagen. It is possible to absorb it through lotions and other beauty products, but a dip in the spa offers better treatment than when it is just applied on the skin.
The spa helps in combating mild to moderate acne and bathing in it is certainly better that any beauty regimen.
At the very least, a good, relaxing soak in the spa eases muscle stiffness, relaxes the mind and relieves stress.
Volcanic activity causes hotspots near the surface which heat the water above it.
The spa is fed by a lagoon. The temperature in the lagoon is a blistering 300 degrees centigrade but the water passes through a cooling basin, and before it is pumped through an inlet, its temperature is controlled and maintained at 37 to 40 degrees.
The island in the middle is both for aesthetic purposes and for lighting at night as it has a lamppost.
There is also additional lighting around the spa meaning that clients can use the spa at any time of the day, but lifeguards are available from 6am up to up to 8pm on weekdays and 10pm on weekdays and public holidays.
For this one of a kind experience, a student will pay only Sh100. Adult citizens are charged Sh500 and non-citizens pay 50 dollars.
Next to the spa is a kiddie pool for children; and there are also fully furnished changing rooms, a classy restaurant with fine delicacies and a conference room.
The spa is also equipped with poolside furniture such as sun loungers, and fancy tables and chairs.
A short distance away is a guesthouse, but KenGen plans to construct cottages for accommodation.
Visitors to the spa can always seek accommodation in the various high-end and budget hotels and lodges in and around Naivasha town.
There are also private ranches and camping sites along the Moi-South Lake Road where the spa is conveniently located.
The spa, which was established in 2012, provides enough benefits to warrant what is guaranteed to be an exciting trip Naivasha.