The Saxon Hotel & Spa, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Saxon Hotel & Spa 5 Stars
"This tranquil Johannesburg boutique hotel hideaway is set in 6 acres of landscaped gardens, and counts Mandela as a past guest."
Hotel Overview
Review of The Saxon Hotel & Spa, by Matt Morley
The Saxon in Johannesburg is a great five star option for travellers after an authentic South African stay. Johannesburg is said to be the economic powerhouse not just of South Africa, but continental Africa as a whole and the city is home to a fair few HNW locals, many of whom decide to build themselves mansions in the Sandton and Hyde Park districts. Only a handful of these houses are ever converted into luxury hotels though, and The Saxon is the pick of the bunch.
South African insurance mogul Douw Steyn bought the Saxon estate in the 1980s and hosted ex-President Mr. Nelson Mandela there for 6 months in 1994 whilst Mandela's own home was under construction. Another six years later and Steyn decided to convert the house into a 5-star hotel and executive conference centre.
The Saxon's six acres of landscaped gardens are perhaps some of the most masculine of any hotel in Africa, particularly when set against the backdrop of the green-black, modernist-inspired building. An equally generously proportioned 900sqm outdoor pool nestled in amongst the foliage has been sensibly designed to harmonise with its surroundings and makes for an inviting early morning exercise venue.
Another, smaller, heated pool is located at the rear of the luxury hotel building. As anyone who has spent more than a week or two in South Africa will attest, this is a nation of devoted sports enthusiasts. Finding two pools on-site is therefore no great surprise, but The Saxon's gym is worthy of particular mention.
The latest Technogym equipment is fairly par for the course in the top five-star luxury hotels nowadays, but very few have bothered to invest in the new Kinesis workout system, or the revolutionary PowerPlate machines, let alone both. Add in a verdant view, 30-second journey time from Suite to sit-up bench, and the aforementioned pool that proves ideally placed for a post-workout plunge, and you've got something close to the definitive luxury hotel gym arrangement.
Luckily, The Saxon's 24 suites aren't bad either; in fact they balance a sumptuous elegance with a heavily Afro-inspired décor. Guests are never far away from a visual reminder of their location in Zulu territory whilst staying here; local artefacts, photos and sculptures adorn every wall.
Choosing a muted palette of natural beiges and browns for the walls prevents this choice from becoming over-whelming, but for those who prefer a more culturally neutral luxury hotel experience, go find a Hilton instead.
Most luxury hotels nowadays are proud to offer guests what is known in the industry as a 'genuine sense of place', and The Saxon is no exception. So check-in, soak up the atmosphere and do your best to get to grips with Africa's most exciting metropolis. Trust us, it's worth it…
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Awards
"Top 100 City Spa" Tatler 07; "World's Leading Boutique Hotel" World Travel Awards 06 and 07Who stays here?
Nelson Mandela stayed here, post-prison, while he edited his autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom".
Come for...
- The amazing infinity pool
- Sleek design features by Stephen Falke
- An eco-friendly outlook and sumptuous surroundings
- A peaceful escape from the busy city life of Johannesburg
Not Suitable for...
- Minimalist junkies - the decor here is chic and sumptuous, with plenty of African art on display
Eating in
Elegant, seasonal cuisine with an African flavour and an excellent wine cellar, guests may choose to dine in the main dining room, wine cellar, dining library or pool terrace.
The Press Say
"This boutique hotel is set in a large garden, surrounded by the sounds of nature... I swam under a gigantic ficus, which shades the swimming pool – an extraordinary piece of nature in a man-made courtyard." The Times 08Reviews
Review of The Saxon Hotel & Spa, by Gemma Pitcher
The Saxon Hotel & Spa is a boutique hotel which nestles behind Fort Knox-style security gates in Sandton, Johannesburg's most upmarket suburb. Once past the forbidding outer walls, an enormous mansion springs to view - incredibly, this was once a private home of an insurance magnate. Soon after its incarnation as one of South Africa's best-regarded boutique hotels, the Saxon Hotel & Spa hosted Nelson Mandela, who sensibly chose its luxurious surroundings to edit his autobiography after his release from prison.
The facilities
Once inside the boutique hotel, honey-coloured marble stretches for acres in every direction. Enormous attention to detail ensures that the Saxon Hotel & Spa can compete even with the super-boutique hotels of Asia for service and innovation. One of the swimming pools, big enough to sail a yacht in, even features underwater speakers which play soothing whale music to weary swimmers...
The elegant high-ceilinged restaurant is as impeccably designed as the rest of the boutique hotel, with young and funky waiting staff clad in flowing zen-like beige robes. The overall feeling at the Saxon Hotel & Spa is of top-to-toe classiness, inconspicuous wealth and an optimism about the new South Africa that's reflected in the sleek young black professionals who form the majority of the guests.
The rooms
The décor is suitably ethnic-chic, refreshingly free of the faux-colonial mustiness that infects many of Africa's top-end hotels. The predominant colours are neutrals, earthy reds and browns, with carved masks, baskets and African art lining the walls. The 24 suites at this boutique hotel range in size from spacious to vast, and are equipped with every imaginable facility from private saunas to personal DVD players.