The Saxon Hotel and Shambala Private Game Reserve review: stay in two of Nelson Mandela’s favourite places

Two luxurious properties offer an opportunity to walk in the great social reformer's footsteps

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On his release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela often worked from his own private villa at Shambala Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Limpopo province, a refuge built specifically for him by the reserve's owner, businessman Douw Steyn. And it’s easy to see why. Set amid more than 10,000 hectares, the luxurious retreat provided Mandela with the space and tranquillity to recover from his 27 years in prison. That sense of space and calm can still be found in abundance at the reserve to this day.

Shambala's sister hotel, The Saxon, located in the exclusive suburb of Sandhurst in Johannesburg, also has strong links to the late South African president. It received him on his release from jail, and became his first home as he recuperated and began to think about his future - and the future of his country.

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