Becoming a writing home to Nelson Mandela after his release from prison, The Saxon Hotel Villas & Spa is now an elegant and super-modern boutique hotel which still pays homage to its past. With enormous rooms, abundant lounges, innovative dining and ten acres of landscaped gardens to roam, the property is a quiet retreat just a few miles from the restaurants and bars of Sandton.
Location
The hotel is located in Johannesburg’s tree-lined Sandhurst neighbourhood, just three miles from the buzz of Sandton. It sits within 10 acres of gardens up a long driveway so although close to the city, it feels more like a country retreat. Sandton itself is a modern city and shopping mecca with striking skyscrapers, a number of fine-dining restaurants and many art galleries and museums to explore.
Rooms
53 rooms are spread between the main building and surrounding villas. The open-plan bedrooms are decorated with mahogany four-poster beds, light wooden furnishings, marble floors and African artefacts spread throughout. Large bay windows fill the rooms with light and offer views of the gardens and cityscape beyond. En-suites also boast deep bathtubs. For a special stay, guests can book the Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite with its two-bedrooms, steam room and butlers kitchen.
Communal Areas
Although giving a nod to its past with photos of Mandela and other dignitaries on the walls throughout the hotel, there are a number of super modern features such as the Skywalk linking the villas to the main areas of the hotel and the retractable roof in the Piano Lounge. Â Guests can dine on the fig terrace of the Qunu restaurant or indulge in fine-dining at Luke Sale Roberts X The Saxon. For drinks, head to the Olive Bar, Wine Cellar or Cigar Lounge for a sophisticated tipple. An enormous heated swimming pool and terrace sits at the front of the hotel and the two-floor Saxon Spa and Studio offer a tranquil spot to spend an afternoon.
Activities
The hotel offers complimentary shuttles to Sandton where local curio shops, designer boutiques and the Rosebank and Hyde Park shopping centres await. Guests can visit Nelson Mandela Square and the multitude of art galleries and markets which line the streets. Visit the former gold mine of Gold Reef City or embark on cultural excursions to Lesedi Cultural Village and Ndebele Village. For wildlife spotting, head to the Lion and Rhino Park, a small game reserve full of lion, cheetah and white rhino.
Bed & Breakfast
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
SUMMER
A beautiful time of year with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The summer months are the wettest in the year, rainfall is however usually very short-lived arriving in the form of sharp afternoon thunderstorms.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau, and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
SUMMER
A beautiful time of year with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The summer months are the wettest in the year, rainfall is however usually very short-lived arriving in the form of sharp afternoon thunderstorms.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
AUTUMN
With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions, this remains a fantastic time of year to visit South Africa. We would particularly recommend the Southern regions of South Africa (Western, Garden Route and Eastern Cape), KwaZulu-Natal, the Drakensburg Mountains. This period is also the perfect time to visit the Kalahari (the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park).
Of all the countries in Africa, South Africa is arguably the most climatically diverse; the beauty of this is that it is one destination which can be truly great throughout the year, you just need to know where to travel. With this in mind, we could suggest getting in touch to learn more.
AUTUMN
With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions, this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
WINTER
These are the driest months of the year, with barely any rainfall and blue skies dominating. Mornings are however cold, so worth packing warm clothes should you wish to take in any outdoor activities
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau, and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
WINTER
These are the driest months of the year, with barely any rainfall and blue skies dominating. Mornings are however cold, so worth packing warm clothes should you wish to take in any outdoor activities
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau, and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
WINTER
These are the driest months of the year, with barely any rainfall and blue skies dominating. Mornings are however cold, so worth packing warm clothes should you wish to take in any outdoor activities
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau, and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
WINTER
These are the driest months of the year, with barely any rainfall and blue skies dominating. Mornings are however cold, so worth packing warm clothes should you wish to take in any outdoor activities
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau, and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
SPRING
With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions, this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
SPRING
With more pleasant midday highs and generally clear conditions, this remains a fantastic time of year to visit.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
SUMMER
A beautiful time of year with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The summer months are the wettest in the year, rainfall is however usually very short-lived arriving in the form of sharp afternoon thunderstorms.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
SUMMER
A beautiful time of year with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. The summer months are the wettest in the year, rainfall is however usually very short-lived arriving in the form of sharp afternoon thunderstorms.
Johannesburg is situated on the highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate. The city enjoys a sunny climate, with the summer months (October to April) characterised by hot days followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) by dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
Explore Johannesburg & Surrounds Properties
What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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Jamie was excellent. Once I described what we wanted I knew he would come up with the business. ..and he did!!! 5 stars
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
