Luxury Hotels in South Africa

April 21, 2010 | Updated: February 27, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More

The picturesque Steenberg Hotel is a favorite gathering place for
affluent Cape Town residents as well as visitors to South Africa.

There’s no shortage of luxury hotels in South Africa. More important: it isn’t impossible to find authentic lodging – properties that reflect the local culture. Here are two of my favorites:

In Johannesburg, I recommend that you book one of the 24 suites at Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa - one of the great luxury hotels in South Africa - located in Sandhurst, the city’s most exclusive neighborhood. Until 2000, the building was a private home. Since then it has become a top-rated hotel, and Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Nelson Mandela have been guests.

The spa has six treatment rooms, including one for their signature “sound therapy.” The hydrotherapy area (Jacuzzi, plunge pool, outdoor showers, and petite swimming pool) has a view of a lovely garden. The staff assured me that one hour in their salty floatation pool was equal to eight hours of sleep, which might be just what you need to recover from jet lag.

The Saxon is one of the great luxury hotels in South Africa.

What impressed me about the Saxon was the number of neighborhood residents who used the spa and ate in the restaurant. I liked that it wasn’t the exclusive domain of tourists and business travelers. For me, Authentic Luxury Travel is all about feeling like a local without sacrificing luxury amenities.

Click here to get the best rate at the Saxon Hotel.

More luxury hotels in South Africa

The serene Steenberg Estate outside of Cape Town includes an 18-hole golf course, vinyards, a winery, an excellent restaurant and lodging in Cape Dutch style buildings.

The serene Steenberg Estate outside of Cape Town includes an 18-hole golf course, vineyards,
a winery, an excellent restaurant and lodging in Cape Dutch style buildings.

I feel the same way about the Steenberg Hotel, located just outside of Cape Town in the Constantia wine region. Here, local folks flock to Sunday brunch served – with live jazz – on a brick patio overlooking lush gardens and white washed Cape Dutch buildings. Affluent Capetonians also choose this scenic site for wedding and other social gatherings.

The rooms and suites at the Steenberg are built on an historic wine estate and many of the accommodations offer vineyard views. The sprawling resort also offers an 18-hole golf course, a chic little pool, a spa, sweeping lawns, and extensive gardens that include herbs, roses, and numerous Edwardo Villa sculptures.

Edwardo Villa sculptures, placed around the grounds of the Steenberg Estate, add the beauty of the location.

The original manor house dates from 1682 and Catharina’s Restaurant – where we enjoyed our best meals in South Africa – is located in the original winery. Today, a modern winery on the estate turns out award-winning vintages. (Bring along a JetBag so you can safely carry wine home in your checked luggage.)

The Steenberg Estate Winery is on the grounds of one of the best luxury hotels in South Africa.

I remember sitting on the patio during Sunday brunch, looking out over the historic buildings, the perfect lawns, and the hedges of lavender and white roses…and thinking I’d been dropped onto a movie set about someone’s perfect tony life.

I hope you’ll have a chance to share this experience and to have fun exploring exciting Cape Town.

Click here to get the best rate on the Steenberg Hotel.

If you’re headed to South Africa, you may also want to read “Ten Perfect Days in South Africa.” I wrote this article for Ranch & Coast, San Diego’s luxury lifestyle magazine, where I am the Travel Editor.

Have fun,

Elizabeth Hansen