Contrasting Luxury

Where do the moneyed people go when they are in South Africa? To answer that question we would need more information. For example, if a billionaire wants to relax and not be bothered by work, he should consider visiting one of the private game reserves or an exclusive hotel off the beaten path.

However, if he has to stay in Johannesburg, here are the options:

Johannesburg: City of Gold

It’s very common to see luxury cars, large houses and expensive dog harnesses when walking around the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. It isn’t called the City of Gold for nothing. One of the top accommodations in the city is the Westcliffe Hotel. It has a spa, restaurants, zoological gardens, 4 pools, tennis court, gym, 80 luxurious rooms and 35 suites. There’s also a golf course for hotel guests not far from the premises. Every room has a butler, 24 hour room service, and all the usual room amenities. Business meetings are held in function rooms overlooking spectacular views of the city or the hotel’s plush facilities.

Sandton: Johannesburg’s Richest District

While Johannesburg is considered to be the richest city in South Africa, Sandton is Johannesburg’s richest district. It is divided into 2 areas: Sandown and Bryanston. This is where you find the powerful and rich South Africans and visiting VIPs. The shopping in this area is stifling. You need big bucks to be able to splurge in Sandton. If you’d like to purchase items from the luxury of your hotel room, however, online shopping in South Africa has really taken off in the past few years.

The talk about Sandton is that it has the country’s most expensive real estate. If, however, you’d like to verify this for yourself, take a look at the beautiful property for sale in Hyde Park.

If a billionaire has ideas about visiting a more exclusive location, here are 2 ideas:

Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Sabi Sand is an exclusive “lodge within a lodge” with 5 star accommodation and facilities. It is located inside Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve, Ulusaba. This place is located very near the Kruger National Park and one has the option of either joining a safari or leisurely spending your day doing whatever you want with your personal chef at your beck and call. There’s a private Jacuzzi for each of the 2 available suites but the most jaw-dropping part of visiting Sabi Sand is that it’s accessible only by private airplane.

Bushmans Kloof

Bushmans Kloof was voted among the top 50 resorts in Africa for 2011. It is located near Cape Town along the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains. It has a wellness spa, 5 star service, and incredible waterfalls, zero threats for malaria, ancient rock formations, and an abundance of nature, free from predators. It’s very exclusive with only 16 private rooms and suites available, and is able to provide each guest with privacy from snooping eyes and ears even if the guest wanders outside to enjoy the facilities. It’s the perfect weekend getaway where one can find rest and rejuvenation away from the commotion of the rest of the world.