Sanctuary Mandela

Stayed at Sanctuary Mandala Hotel for one night before going onto our safari lodge as part of a tour. We were supposed to be staying at a different hotel outside of Johannesburg, but it was changed a few weeks before. So glad it was as the hotel was perfect. The hotel is in a quiet residential area about 27 kms from the airport. It should have taken around 30 minutes to get there but took around an hour because of all the traffic through the city. The hotel has 9 individual rooms built around what was Mandala’s home. The place is fascinating as its filled with memorabilia and is dedicated to his life. To add to the history, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the food (lunch, dinner & breakfast) was excellent. Do take the guided tour of the hotel if offered as it’s a fascinating look into the history of apartheid and Mandala’s life. The only disappointment is we spent only one night at the hotel and would have loved to have stayed for at least another night so we could have spent more time looking around and maybe get to use the hotel pool. If you get chance do stay at this hotel.

So obviously Nelson Mandela is held in high regard by many people around the world, so staying at his once-presidential house is pretty special, and we were made to feel special from the moment we arrived. We were the only guests staying overnight, but the restaurant was full because it's a very good restaurant and clearly a place people go for special occasions. Included in the dinner or stay is a tour of the house and various memorabiliae. The next morning they were preparing for some sort of corporate function in the main area, so they prepared a private table for two in an upstairs area. Very thoughtful.

On Christmas, my family and I had the chance to dine at Sanctuary Mandela, and it was a memorable experience during our visit to Johannesburg for the holiday. We were initially disappointed to find that the menu had changed, but we were pleasantly surprised by the excellent choices available to us. As it was a holiday, the restaurant was quite empty, which suited us just fine. The staff were incredibly attentive, and their pride in their roles was evident. I particularly enjoyed a perfectly cooked steak, which was not only delicious but also beautifully presented. The drinks were also top-notch. It's worth noting that this restaurant is situated at a former home of Nelson Mandela, which has been transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant.

Sanctuary Mandela is an incredible boutique hotel that celebrates Nelson Mandela. It was his residence during his presidency. There is so much history here as you get the tour of all the artifacts and the history of how this place was rebuilt to honor his legacy. The staff were amazing and it was so welcoming as the first words when we arrived was "welcome home". We stayed for 2 nights in September 2023 and enjoyed the Presidential suite. Breakfast and dinner were included as well as the mini fridge was well stocked. We were greeted with champagne and a charcuterie board in our room. We also did a tour of the Nelson Foundation which was close to the hotel. At one dinner we had Mandela's personal chef join us. Xoliswa Ndoyiya told us so many stories about him, we felt that he was there with us. I would highly recommend a stop here if you are in Johannesburg. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay so enjoyable and memorable.

Amazing introduction to Jo-Burg and South Africa. The staff embodies grace, warmth, hospitality and pride in the history of this special place. Was an honor to stay there and to be surrounded by the energy and spirit of such an important historical figure. The meals were outstanding experiences. Even bought the cook book as a special momento-will attempt to bring the experience home with us. Thank you to entire staff for taking such thoughtful care of our family💛

Sanctuary Mandela is truly a hidden gem. The hotel has a palpable energy about it. The space is well thought out and everything in the hotel really does lend itself to peaceful reflection. We enjoyed everything about our stay here. The staff are friendly and helpful. Sbu in particular was amazing and he went out of his way to make sure our evening was special. The quality of the food is top tier and the portions are quite big. We could not have picked a more perfect property to overnight at for our wedding anniversary and we will definitely be returning whether it be for a meal at Insights, another stay or Jazz Sundays.