Mission To go on a “baby-moon”, a couple’s last blast holiday before they become parents. “Isn’t that just a clever marketing ploy by travel agents?” ask friends, who invariably don’t have an exotic two-week holiday booked. Maybe so, but who cares if it means another rites-of-passage holiday? At four months pregnant I felt it was my duty, and my right.

USP Deciding where to go was easy. As it was February, it had to be somewhere hot, so probably long haul (as it would be the last long flight for a while, our carbon conscience was eased). But anywhere with dodgy water or potential for runny tummies was out. I’d always fancied going on safari, so South Africa it was. Bushman’s Kloof, a reserve and retreat set in 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres), is 200km (125 miles) from Cape Town, in the Cedarburg Mountains, where there is no risk of malaria. And with only an hour’s time difference, jetlag wasn’t a problem.

Ambience There aren’t many spas that can boast 755 types of plants, 150 species of birds, 35 types of mammal and 130 sites of prehistoric rock art. On a one-hour sundowner trip we saw a clutch of ostriches, bontebok antelope, the local baboon population and a herd of zebra. An early morning drive took us to a rock art site, where thousand-year-old paintings depicted elephant hunting and initiation rites. All that, and massage, too! The spa treatment rooms are in a secluded cave, an outdoor cabin, and thatched lodges built in the Dutch style of the original farm, which has stood on the land for more than 150 years. There are four outdoor infinity pools and a gym, but most people seem to prefer keep-fit activities such as mountain biking, canoeing and archery.

Experience I opted for a head and back massage specifically aimed at pregnant women. My masseuse had superpowers in her fingers and I managed to doze throughout. My only worry was that she didn’t seem entirely confident treating a pregnant woman. She wasn’t sure how I should lie on the bed or whether the oils were suitable during pregnancy. To ensure that you are not doing you or your unborn baby damage, cut out and keep the box, right, as a reference.

Products Moya, the main range, is made from essential oils created from “fynbos”, the hardy vegetation that grows all over the Western Cape and Table Mountain. It contains local plants such as Cape geraniums and Cape chamomile.

In crowd German, English and French accents mingle with Afrikaans. Captains of industry come with their wives for R&R and to enjoy the wildlife.

Wallet watch Surprisingly reasonable: £105 per person sharing a double room, which includes all meals, visits to the rock art sites and evening nature drives. Spa treatments are extra and cost from £27 for 45 minutes of reflexology to £35 for a 75-minute aromatherapy and crystal massage.

Need to know Bushmans Kloof, Clanwilliam, South Africa, 00 27 21 685 2598, bush-manskloof.com. Flights to Cape Town cost from £460 return; 0870 7471111, www.fly-saa.com. For more details and further information visit www.southafrica.net.

Spa rules for mums to be

Massage can help to relieve muscle stiffness, back pain and insomnia during pregnancy, although finding a good position for your belly can be difficult. Many women find it comfortable to lie on their sides supported by pillows or kneeling forward on to a sofa. Lying on your front after 24 weeks is not recommended. Some therapists offer special pregnancy massages and use tables with the centre cut out so that you can comfortably lie face down, which are suitable until about 28-30 weeks. If there’s a problem with blood-flow to the placenta, don’t lie on your back. Provided there has been no bleeding, pain or the threat of miscarriage, massage is suitable at all stages of pregnancy, says Dr Donald Gibb, a consultant obstetrician at the Birth Centre, London (www.birthcentre.com ). In late pregnancy, if there is a risk of premature labour or if you are having a multiple birth, it is advisable to avoid abdomen massage.

Steam rooms, Jacuzzis, hot-tubs and saunas These are generally not recommended during pregnancy, especially the first 12 weeks, says Daghi Rajasingam, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Hot temperatures can raise your blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness, fainting, and dehydration.

Aromatherapy in pregnancy can help to relieve backache and anxiety. Certain oils should be avoided, such as juniper, myrrh, rosemary and camphor. Others, such as chamomile and peppermint, should be avoided for the first three months. Check that the therapist is registered with the Aromatherapy Council (www.aromatherapycouncil. co.uk) or the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists.

Acupuncture, acupressure, is often used as a drug-free treatment for morning sickness, constipation and to induce labour. However, certain points must be avoided as they may cause uterine contractions, so it’s important to find a qualified practitioner, preferably a member of the British Acupuncture Council (www.acupuncture.org.uk).

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