Addo’s New Epitome Spa Creates 36 Jobs: A Powerful Win for Eastern Cape Tourism
The Epitome Spa at Addo Elephant National Park has created 36 job opportunities through tourism investment and a young woman entrepreneur’s vision.
A new wellness business at Elephant National Park is putting a spotlight on how tourism investment can create opportunities beyond traditional accommodation and wildlife experiences. The Epitome Spa & Wellness Centre, founded by entrepreneur Lucia Ratshivhadelo, is a 100% black woman- and youth-owned business supported by the Department of Tourism and the National Empowerment Fund.
The facility has generated 36 employment opportunities, including 20 temporary construction jobs and 16 permanent operational positions. Its development is being presented by government as an example of how targeted funding can help emerging entrepreneurs establish businesses in established tourism destinations.
A business built from education and specialist experience
Ratshivhadelo’s journey began with a foundation in science and professional training. She holds a B.Tech in Pharmaceutical Science and developed further expertise in skincare, body treatments, aromatherapy, beauty technology and professional product applications.
The Department of Tourism says she established The Epitome (Pty) Ltd in 2024, drawing on her academic background and industry experience to pursue the goal of owning a professional wellness business.
Her approach connects scientific knowledge with wellness services. Ratshivhadelo has spoken about her interest in understanding the science behind effective treatments and creating a professional guest experience.
The spa opened to the public earlier in 2026 and is located within Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. The setting gives visitors another experience to consider alongside the park’s wildlife, accommodation and outdoor activities.
Government and NEF support helped bring the project to life
The project received financial support through a partnership involving the National Empowerment Fund and the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Transformation Fund.
The Tourism Transformation Fund supports black-owned enterprises seeking to establish or grow businesses in the tourism sector. Its scope includes specialised services connected to tourism, hospitality and leisure.
For a new business, access to finance can determine whether an idea moves beyond planning and becomes an operating enterprise. In this case, the support helped fund development of the spa facility and enabled it to open ahead of the summer tourism season.
The Department of Tourism says the project demonstrates how development finance can help entrepreneurs turn professional skills into business ownership. NEF chief executive Mziwabantu Dayimani has also highlighted the difficulty that capable entrepreneurs can face when they lack access to the capital needed to build an enterprise.
36 job opportunities linked to the spa
The employment figures are an important part of the project’s impact. The 36 opportunities comprise 20 short-term jobs created during construction and 16 permanent positions connected to the spa’s operations.
The distinction matters. Construction work provides temporary income while a facility is being built, whereas the 16 operational roles are intended to support the business after opening.
The spa’s founder has said she wants employees to develop their skills and grow professionally. That ambition is significant in a sector where service quality depends on practical expertise, customer care and consistent standards.
Although the project cannot solve the Eastern Cape’s wider unemployment challenges, it provides a concrete example of a tourism business creating ongoing work while adding a new service to a major visitor destination.
Addo gains another visitor experience
Addo Elephant National Park is one of South Africa’s best-known conservation destinations. SANParks describes it as the country’s third-largest national park and notes that its wider marine environment is home to the Big Seven.
The park already offers game viewing, guided drives, hiking, birdwatching and other outdoor activities. SANParks also lists The Epitome Spa & Wellness among the activities available to visitors.
The spa’s own service information describes wellness experiences for private guests, couples, corporate groups and visitors staying at luxury lodges and accommodation establishments. This gives the business potential to serve different types of customers, although actual demand will depend on bookings and visitor spending.
Tourism growth creates an opportunity
South Africa’s tourism figures provide wider context for the investment. The Department of Tourism reported 7,581,455 international tourist arrivals between January and August 2026, an increase of 11.7% compared with the same period in 2025.
August alone recorded 1,005,286 international tourists, up 7.4% year-on-year. The department has said the priority is to convert growing visitor numbers into investment, jobs and economic opportunities that reach more communities.
More visitors can create demand for accommodation, restaurants, transport, guides, wellness services and local suppliers. However, growth in arrivals does not automatically mean surrounding communities benefit. Businesses need to employ people, buy goods and services, and build relationships with local suppliers if tourism spending is to circulate more widely.
The Epitome project illustrates one route through which that can happen: a locally owned enterprise operating within a national park, supported by targeted tourism finance and employing people in permanent roles.
A milestone for women entrepreneurs in tourism
Ratshivhadelo’s business also highlights the role of women entrepreneurs in sectors where access to capital and ownership opportunities can be difficult to secure. Her qualifications helped her build specialist knowledge, while funding support helped turn that knowledge into a commercial operation.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu has said tourism growth must translate into opportunities for South Africans, including ownership, skills development and employment.
The longer-term measure of the project will be its ability to maintain service quality, attract customers, sustain its permanent jobs and grow as a viable business. Its opening is an encouraging development, but continued success will depend on sound management and consistent demand.
For Addo, the spa adds another visitor offering. For the Eastern Cape, it provides 16 permanent operational opportunities and a practical example of how tourism funding can support new business ownership. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Ratshivhadelo’s journey shows how education, industry experience and access to finance can combine to create an enterprise.