Arriving at the gates of the Saxon, in the swank suburb of Sandhurst , you may not be too surprised to discover that the 53 suite hotel was once a private home. This is because the surrounding properties, many of them homes, are built on estates as large as the eleven acres of landscaped property that the luxury hotel is situated on.

The lobby, with its dual staircase, ostrich egg chandelier and definitively African artworks is grand, but not imposing. I’m told that Nelson Mandela edited Long Walk to Freedom here soon after his release from prison, and I spot at least one portrait of Oprah Winfrey on the walls.

I am assigned a butler – and soon realize that every guest has access to one. My suite comes with the type of bed and bath that has sophisticated opulence written all over it. When the butler rings with a bottle of champagne, I am very happy to cancel dinner plans and order in. These are rooms for luxuriating in, and only an invite to the chef’s table to indulge in the Ruinart champagne pairing experience at David Higg’s Five Hundred restaurant, the hotel’s signature fine dining space, can move me. Alas, this is the priciest menu in the country and way out of budget for me. The grill and pool restaurant are more in line with standard 5-star hotel prices.

Instead, I find humble joy in the fully kitted desk office (every room has one) and the array of plug points that would make any multi-device hoarder leap for joy. That, and the cocoon-like bed dressed in the finest linen.

The spa offers sound and sleep treatments that are unique in all of Africa. A good workout in the well equipped gym and a deep-soak in the large tub with Molton Brown beauty products may also do the trick if you’re in need of some shut eye.

The hotel, a patron of the arts, serves as an art exhibition too, so make sure you explore the common rooms and walls. There are over 200 original local artworks – including paintings, sculpture, basket weaving and woodwork to enjoy.