Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / South Africa / Johannesburg / Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa
Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa
Johannesburg, South Africa · Independent · High Luxury
Nelson Mandela came here in February 1990, days after leaving prison, and edited Long Walk to Freedom inside what was then insurance magnate Douw Steyn's Sandhurst house. Steyn opened the family home as a 26-suite hotel in 2000; it now has 53 rooms, still independently owned, with a dedicated Mandela Platinum Suite. Forbes Five-Star and a MICHELIN One Key, it is a Leading Hotels of the World member.
- 53 rooms
- Opened 2000
About Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa
- Nelson Mandela stayed here immediately after his February 1990 release from prison and edited Long Walk to Freedom within its walls.
- Built in the early 1980s as insurance magnate Douw Steyn's private Sandhurst residence; he opened it as a 26-suite hotel in 2000 and still owns it independently.
- The Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite honors that stay; the house has since grown to 53 rooms after a 2020 refurbishment that reopened in May 2021.
History
The Saxon began in the early 1980s as the private residence of South African insurance magnate Douw Steyn, built on manicured parkland in the affluent Sandhurst suburb of Johannesburg. Its place in history was sealed in February 1990, when Steyn's friend Nelson Mandela, newly released from prison, came to stay and edited his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom there (published 1994).
In 2000 Steyn converted the family home into the Saxon Hotel, opening as a 26-suite luxury retreat; it has since grown to 53 rooms and suites. After a comprehensive refurbishment during 2020 it reopened on 1 May 2021. Still owned by Steyn, it remains proudly independent and celebrates its Mandela heritage with a dedicated suite.
Restaurants and bars
- Qunu — Restaurant
Experiences
- Spa treatments — Spa treatments can be booked directly with the hotel's spa team.
- High Tea — Guests can book High Tea at the hotel, as listed on the booking menu.
- Leader's Club programme — Membership of the Leaders Club Programme, offering exceptional experiences tailored to members' desires.
- Tailor-made itineraries and packages — The hotel says it creates its own standards and will tailor make a stay.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Private pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Cigar lounge
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Travel + Leisure World's Best Hotels (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
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