Sandton Accommodation
Sandton is an extremely affluent suburb of Johannesburg, the financial and commercial hub of South Africa. It is essentially the wealthiest suburb of the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in Southern Africa. Most of its tourism though is driven by business travellers. Consequently, the majority of accommodation in Sandton comes in the form of shiny 5 star hotels.
If a place could be materialistic, that is exactly how one might describe this suburb. Much of Sandton’s identity lies in the fact that it is not only the business capital of South Africa, but also the shopping capital. The Sandton City mall, at 144 000 meters squared, is the second largest shopping mall in the Southern Hemisphere and caters to all the tastes and emotional shopping whims one can imagine.
Nelson Mandela Square is a significant aspect of Sandton Mall, situated just outside it. The square is a cosmopolitan meeting point for local and international business people, as well as house-wives and local celebrities, who are overlooked by a large statue of South Africa’s darling, Madiba. The square is lined with trendy sidewalk cafes and some of South Africa’s finest restaurants. It is in fact an excellent spot to pass a few hours.
Perhaps the most significant establishment in the Sandton area is the Sandton Convention Centre, an asset with international standards. The convention centre sees thousands, even millions, of delegates pass through its doors every year, making it the lifeblood of Sandton tourism.
For the business traveller who likes a little recreation thrown in, numerous tours can be arranged from Sandton, arguably the most enlightening being the township tour of Alexandra, a very poor township situated less than 10 kilometres from Sandton.
As you might imagine, Sandton accommodation makes for a very convenient stay in Johannesburg. There are tuk-tuks to take you around the suburb and cab services, to get you further afield. The airport is 40 kilometres away and numerous Joburg and Gauteng attractions are easily accessible.
If you are looking for a convenient base from which to explore Johannesburg, Sandton accommodation is a very good option.