Book Saxon Hotel Johannesburg with VIP Benefits

The infinity pool is a central feature of the estate. Its terrace looks across the gardens and toward a stocked koi pond, with sunset views from the outdoor seating area. Indigenous planting extends through the ten-acre grounds, surrounding both the main hotel and the villas.

The Saxon retains a direct connection to Nelson Mandela. He edited his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, in the suite that now bears his name. Original sketches by South African artist Dean Simon, displayed around the hotel, include a work tracing Mandela's life through five portraits.

Accommodation is divided between suites in the main hotel and suites in villas set in the gardens adjacent to it. The hotel has Luxury and Presidential Suites as well as the Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite. Villa Luxury and Villa Presidential Suites occupy the separate villa buildings; three stand-alone Saxon Luxury Villas can be reserved as complete properties.

Luxury Suites measure 80 square meters. Marble, light wood, geometric prints and African artifacts appear in their decor. Each has a king-size bed, a bath and walk-in shower. An open-plan lounge and dining area includes a business desk, while shutters open toward the gardens, pool terrace or city skyline. A small balcony admits daylight, and the bathroom includes a double vanity.

The villas have a defined arrangement. Single-story Villa One contains seven Villa Luxury Suites. Villa Two and Villa Three each have seven Villa Luxury Suites downstairs and four Villa Presidential Suites upstairs. Within those buildings, the open-plan Luxury Suite layout includes seating, dining and a desk; the Presidential category has separate rooms. Villa suites have a bath, dual sinks and a walk-in stone-clad shower.

Presidential Suites measure about 200 square meters. An entrance hall leads to a dining room and lounge opening onto a balcony. The bedroom has a four-poster bed and walk-in cupboards; the bathroom has a freestanding bath and walk-in shower. A guest bathroom and fully equipped butler's kitchen complete the layout. Latticed shutters open to garden and skyline views. Stone cladding and contrasting light and dark woods appear in the decor.

The Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite measures approximately 400 square meters. It has a king-size main bedroom and a guest bedroom, separate lounge, dining room and business area with a desk. A glass-enclosed elevator leads to the suite, which also has a butler's kitchen. The suite also has an entrance hall and guest toilet. The main bathroom includes a bath, walk-in shower and steam room.

Villa Presidential Suites also measure about 200 square meters, but occupy the villa buildings. Each has a king-size bed, a freestanding bath and walk-in shower, guest toilet and butler's kitchen. The balcony faces the gardens and city skyline. Their separate lounge and dining room distinguish this layout from the open-plan Villa Luxury Suite.

Art reaches beyond the interiors. Works shown in partnership with the Everard Read gallery are placed in the gardens, making the planted grounds part of the collection's setting. The collection also includes Speelman Mahlangu's Four Figures, a study of human interaction. Some garden works are available for purchase. Inside, the villas carry local artworks chosen to reflect South African creativity.

Abstract paintings by Marcel Greyling occupy large dining areas, while Beverley Watson's large-format monotypes appear in public spaces. The latter works address conservation and environmental themes through abstract form. Spier Arts Trust has curated works from its Spier and HUB collections for the Saxon.

Sandile Zulu's commissioned canvases have seared and scorched surfaces. Amalie von Maltitz contributes sixteen stoneware sculptures, the collection's three-dimensional works. Their abstract forms recall bones, rock formations and the human figure. Titia Ballot's etchings draw on African geology and mythology.

The Creative Block initiative brings another scale of work into the hotel. South African artists transform blank blocks in their own media, and selected pieces are available to buy at the Saxon. Each block carries a short artist biography, and the initiative purchases selected works from participating artists.

Qunu focuses on locally inspired cooking, homegrown seasonal ingredients and contemporary technique. Small plates designed for sharing sit alongside a la carte and three-course choices. Wine pairings are selected by the sommeliers, placing South African produce within a more formal restaurant experience.

The Terrace faces the gardens and the infinity pool. Its lighter meals and snacks draw in part on herbs and vegetables grown in the hotel's own garden.

Breakfast can be taken in the Piano Lounge or Olive Bar. The Piano Lounge is also used for al fresco dining and morning and afternoon tea, while the Olive Bar offers cocktails and other drinks near the main Terrace.

The Saxon's White and Red Wine Cellars accommodate small private dinners. Dark wood gives the rooms a distinct interior character, and the hotel's sommeliers oversee a wine collection for these occasions.

Saxon Spa Sandhurst is on the hotel estate. Cascading water features, a fireplace, copper and Himalayan salt shape its interior. Hydro facilities, outdoor stones and gardens extend the setting beyond the treatment rooms, bringing the site's planted grounds into this part of the property.

Treatments at Saxon Spa Sandhurst begin with a mindfulness exercise led by a therapist. The Saxon Fitness Centre offers personal training sessions and individual fitness arrangements, booked through the spa.

The Saxon stands five kilometers from Sandton's city center and ten kilometers from Rosebank Mall. Its setting is Johannesburg's residential Sandhurst district.

Business meetings and celebrations are part of the Saxon's event program. The Pavilion is its newest and largest event space, with an adaptable layout for corporate gatherings, product launches, weddings and private occasions.