By Mumtaz Saley Moosa
29:06:2021

In March 2021 news report surfaced that the famous Houghton home belonging to an iconic world leader and former president Nelson Mandela would soon be hosting world leaders and other critical international figures.

Three months later, the Johannesburg property has been refurbished, and bookings will open in August. Lush gardens surround the expansive two-storey villa. Even without the Mandela connection, it seems like it would be a reasonably pleasant place to stay in a capital city lacking unique properties.

Guests of The Sanctuary Mandela can expect to pay anything between R4 000 and R14 000 for an opportunity to feel a step closer to the celebrated former head of state.

The hotel boasts nine curated rooms that celebrate Mandela’s life and the different names he went by and can accommodate 18 guests. The boutique hotel will allow guests to immerse themselves in the legacy of Madiba.

This is the only residence of the former president that has not been turned into a museum.

This home is an important step to test a model for the sustainability of heritage sites related to the life and work of Nelson Mandela.