When Nelson Mandela wanted to escape the pressures of being one of the most famous men in the world, and to finish his autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom, he used to retreat to the home of his friend Douw Steyn in the peaceful Johannesburg suburb of Sandhurst.
Today that house is the five-star Saxon Hotel, still owned by Steyn and still offering a tranquil haven with all the pampering and indulgence a guest could want.
The style is modern and dramatic but with traditional African touches. So the 25 spacious suites use the muted colours of the bushveld and different artisan-style textures in the decor but they also have fast Wi-Fi, bathrooms with oversized tubs and king-size beds to sprawl across.
Art and artefacts from both established and emerging artists are a major feature of the hotel and its 10 acres of beautiful grounds.
We ate delicious food at breakfast, lunch and dinner, both in the Qunu restaurant and the 500 where diners can see through a glass wall to chefs creating their award-winning dishes, many of which are inspired by what's grown in the hotel's rooftop garden.
Earlier we'd enjoyed a special cocktail combining alcohol with rooibos tea and cranberry juice, and before that I'd tried out the spa's two-masks facial - the first a rubber one to analyse the skin, the second a plaster-of-Paris one to help press collagen into it. On another day I tried its sound therapy, which uses the vibrations of different sized brass bowls to soothe and refresh.
The hotel is 20 miles from the airport and within easy reach of the centre of Johannesburg . It can also arrange chauffeur-driven guided tours for guests who want to learn more about this vibrant city and its momentous history.
