After leaving Madagascar we were faced with a 26+ hour layover in Johannesburg and I saw the perfect opportunity to give my Papa a lovely surprise. He was under the impression that we would be going to a non descript airport hotel and simply killing time until we began our journey to Tunisia – but this was not the case.
Back in 2018 I was lucky enough to spend an evening at what is undeniably the most luxurious and most historic hotel in all of Johannesburg – The Saxon. Ever since that stay I have dreamed about returning and so I reached out to the lovely PR manager and before I knew it, a collaboration was in the works.
The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa is snuggled away in the heart of Sandhurst, one of the most affluent and opulent suburbs in all of Johannesburg. It is centrally located enough to be convenient for those wanting to explore all that Jozi has to offer whilst also being tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making it also perfect for relaxation and rest.
The hotel has a long and illustrious history of hosting South Africa’s most rich and famous, but it is the name Nelson Mandela that is the most noteworthy. Before the Saxon was transformed into a luxury hotel, it was a private property owned by billionaire Douw Steyn. After Mandela was released from prison he lived at this property for a number of months while he completed his incredible book, ‘Long Walk to Freedom’. After the property was converted into a hotel Mandela remained a regular guest, so much so that he has a suite named in his honour! It isn’t hard to see why Mandela kept returning to the property, something which will soon become evident.
I decided to surprise my Dad with this stay for a few reasons. Firstly, the joy of giving someone you love something special is a delight like no other. Secondly, I had felt minor guilt for flying in premium cabins during the trip while Dad was stuck back in economy. Lastly, I knew that Mandela’s connection to the property would be appreciated greatly by my father given our own family history.
My late grandfather spent many of his formative years living in South Africa and he actually attended the same primary school as Mandela – although a few years separated them. I know that one of Dads goals in life (and one I intend to make happen in the near future) is to travel to South Africa and visit all the places that he grew up listening to his father talk about. While that might not have been what we accomplished on this trip, Dad described his visit to the Saxon as a ‘full circle moment’ – it was pretty dang special.
Now, onto our visit!
Check in was a breeze and we were getting settled in our gorgeous room in no time. We stayed in a ‘luxury suite’ which is the Saxon’s entry level room. Typically these rooms have a double bed but the team were kind enough to add in a single bed so that Dad and I didn’t have to share – so thoughtful!
These rooms are undeniably warm in look and in feel. Sleek wooden furnishings are accompanied by African artworks and textiles, highlighted by accents of white and marble to bring the room into a delightfully harmonious yet eclectic cohesion.
Each of these suites features a king bed, dedicated workspace and a bathroom that features an enormous bathtub and his and hers vanities.
Upon entering the room we found a perfectly chilled bottle of bubbles waiting for us and a thoughtful handwritten card welcoming us to the hotel – a gorgeous touch.
The mini bar features a selection of quintessentially South African spirits as well as an array of mixers and beers. This mini bar is included in your stay and you can drink every drop without any fear of additional charges.
Wooden doors open to reveal the gorgeous bathroom behind them. The shutters above the bathtub can be closed for privacy or left open if privacy isn’t your thing.
Papa and I wasted no time in popping the bubbles before it was time to get changed for what would prove to be an absolutely phenomenal dinner.
If you’ve been following my travels since 2018 (and it’s kinda crazy that there are still a whole bunch of you around from that era – mucho love to you) you may remember that we had a dinner at the Saxon’s signature restaurant – Qunu – and that it was memorable in the best way possible.
Given my fond memories of the place, it only made sense to book us in that evening for another special dining experience.
Our meal started with bread and butter alongside a delightful pâté and words cannot express how perfectly the milk bread paired with the pâté – Dad isn’t a huge fan of pâtés in general which was ideal for me because it meant minimal sharing was required.
Next we were spoiled to a couple of creative canapés – it’s safe to say that you won’t go hungry or get bored when dining at Qunu.
Our first course was absolutely phenomenal – Papa ordered the scallops and this might be one of the prettiest dishes I have ever seen. The fact that the closed his eyes and completely stopped talking to me whilst eating it also spoke volumes, he looked like he had ascended to food heaven!
For the main course I opted for the most famous and most popular dish on the menu, the Diane. This dish isn’t just delicious, it’s also a spectacle. 180g of wagyu beef and an indulgent sauce of black truffle, rich cognac, silky cream and flavourful chestnut mushrooms are prepared right at your table, with the beef cooked exactly to your liking.
This was easily one of the best steak dishes I have ever had. Ever.
If you ever dine at Qunu, make sure at least one person in your party orders the Diane!
That evening we slept in blissful slumber in beds that felt like soft yet supportive fluffy clouds before waking up bright and early to explore the grounds before the majority of guests had emerged from their suites.
The grounds of the hotel are expansive and you could easily spend hours just wandering around the ten acres of them. From the koi pond to the enormous infinity pool, there is so much to explore.
The classic decor of the bar leads out into the open air dining area, which then flows on to the enormous swimming pool which is surrounded by hills of lush green grass and columns swathed in luscious purple bougainvillea – if you are looking for serenity, this is most certainly the place to find it.
If you have the time, I can highly recommend a visit to the Saxon Spa. I enjoyed two treatments at the spa, a massage and a facial and both of them were absolutely exceptional.
After our exploring we had worked up an appetite and what better way to start the day than with oysters and champagne? If this ain’t heaven then I don’t know what is!
Oh and the oysters were just the starter, I followed that up with a ridonkulous avocado on toast. South Africans and Australians both seem to share a mutual love of avo on toast so I knew it would be delicious and I wasn’t wrong.
As an added bonus, I had mentioned that our flight wasn’t departing until close to midnight and while we were eating breakfast we were greeted by the GM who told us that we were welcome to keep our room until the car came to pick us up at 8pm – what incredible service!
Since we had the luxury of time on our side, after our heavenly breakfast we decided to head back to the room and just relax. I ran myself an enormous bubble bath, admired the pregnant looking belly that all this delicious food was affording me and enjoyed sitting around in an uber fluffy bathrobe and pair of slippers.
By lunchtime we certainly weren’t hungry but there was also no way we were going to pass up an opportunity for another Saxon meal! We were seated at one of the poolside cabanas and ordered some light bowls to share as well as a few glasses of wine (essential) and enjoyed our gorgeous surroundings.
I mentioned earlier in this blog that I highly recommended their spa, so let’s get into it! After another indulgent meal we headed to the spa for our treatments. Now, no matter what kind of treatment you are looking for, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the Saxon Spa will be able to accommodate you.
Facial? Check.
Massage? Check.
Manicure? Check.
Sauna, steam room, plunge pool? Check, check, check.
Heck, if you are looking for a turkish style hammam experience? That’s a check too.
My facial was great but my massage was truly excellent – my masseuse was an angel and did an amazing job of getting the many knots in my shoulder blades to loosen up.
After our treatments we had just enough time to head back to the room, shower and get ready for a quick dinner and drinks. We headed to the gorgeous bar and after chatting with the bartender we were both served some really phenomenal cocktails. The accompanying biltong – especially the chilli one – was also a delight.
We couldn’t resist one more meal at Qunu but unfortunately we were racing against the clock! We arrived at the restaurant at 7pm and had a car booked to pick us up at 8pm which left us around 45 minutes to dine – definitely not enough time in a fine dining establishment! Despite our time crunch the staff were fantastic and our meal was once again exemplary – just look at the dessert!
All too soon our 26ish hours at the Saxon Hotel and Spa were over, it definitely wasn’t long enough but I feel that there is no amount of time I could spend at the Saxon that would ever be enough for me. Our layover in Joburg was idyllic, indulgent and weight gain inducing in the best possible way – it was utterly perfect.
Disclaimer: We stayed at the Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa on a complimentary basis, however, this post was not commissioned or sponsored and all thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest, unbiased and in no way influenced by the Saxon brand, their management or affiliates.
Stay tuned for a review of a quirky but enjoyable business class flight with KLM!
The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa: This hotel is easily the most luxurious in all of Johannesburg. Rooms start at around 15,000 ZAR per night ($1290 AUD) for two persons. It’s a splurge but in my opinion, for the incredibly luxe experience and the unbelievable service this is quite a reasonable price. Click here to learn more or to book
Qunu: You do not need to be a guest of the Saxon to dine at Qunu. If you are in Jozi and looking for a fine dining experience or want to celebrate a special event, I highly recommend them, click here to learn more
Remember: Surprising a loved one with a treat like this is all kinds of special <3
