Leisure in middle Johannesburg

By Ferdinand Mwongela

It was summer down south and the thoroughfares looked bare, at least compared to Nairobi.

No, this is not the first stanza of a jumbled up poem, this is Johannesburg in South Africa. Checking into the Davinci Hotel, you would have been forgiven for thinking you were in some Western capital.

Located next to what is envisioned as becoming South Africa’s very own wall street, Sandton City, Davinci Hotel mixes a sophisticated look with a homely feel.

The luxurious lounge at the Davinci Hotel.

Set on Nelson Mandela Square, the welcoming feel of this hotel right from the lobby is almost overwhelming. The decor is tastefully done and subtle. All through the hotel, they have employed creative mix of minimalist dÈcor without looking bare.

Its attractiveness, however, will have to be the location. I have to agree, this section of Johannesburg is in a class of its own. The neighbouring buildings, including Nelson Mandela Square interlink seamlessly with Sandton City across the street to give you a feel of one huge complex. You could easily walk through several different complexes without even realising it.

The hotel is set uniquely unlike many other hotels. Without the secluded feel most hotels adopt, it is linked to the rest of the complex to give it several avenues of access from the street or the rest of the complex.

The main restaurant serving the hotel guests is the Maximillien restaurant, and here Jazz obviously rules from the figurines on the walls, to the troupe that entertains patrons over dinner. There, however, is the Davinci Lounge and Bar.

Shopping complex

You do not have to confine yourself to the hotel. Take a walk through the Sandton Mall, with several world-class franchises from food to fashion and furniture, from fast food chain Macdonalds to Truworths. You could easily spend an entire day here, either lost in the endless shopping complex or awed by its sheer size.

Coming from Kenya, you do not have to get another phone line from South African networks. Some local network providers have roaming agreements with South African service providers at a premium price for calls and texts. Data charges while roaming are exorbitant though, but at DaVinci, you can easily make use of the free wifi provided by the hotel.

You will have to agree with me that the section for honeymooners is carefully thought out. It is usually an exhilarating experience especially when you are fresh in marriage and out of this world. It wouldn’t hurt to look south, especially late in the year when it is summer and the bright sun is the first thing you see when you open your eyes in the morning.