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The Magaliesburg area, on the border of Gauteng and North West, has long provided an escape from Joburg, and Mount Grace Hotel & Spa is one of those establishments that has become an institution.
A close 70km drive from Joburg (about 90 minutes), we think this is the ideal distance for a weekend getaway, and as you leave the city limits, the landscape shifts along with the pace.
The Magaliesberg mountain range extends from Pretoria in the north of Gauteng to south of the Pilanesberg mountains. Rising on average 330 metres in elevation, the mountain range divides the warmer Bushveld to the north and the cooler Highveld to the south. Scientists say that the rocks of the Magaliesburg are among the oldest exposed rocks in the country, and while the Magaliesburg mountain range is almost entirely private property, most of it was declared a natural area in 1977 and then a protected natural environment in 1993.
To be in the presence of this kind of natural environment almost forces one to slow down, and over the years since it was built (1993), Mount Grace has been a place that encourages that. For much of its existence, this property was a privately owned hotel, a quaint countryside weekend destination known for culinary excellence, and luxuries like a library, freshly baked scones served with afternoon tea, and a restriction on bringing children who were younger than 12.
A few years ago, the Marriot Hotel group took over Mount Grace and then sold the property to what is now Southern Sun in 2020, just as Covid started to bite deeply into the hospitality industry. Covid interrupted a lot of things in our lives, changing the way people travel and where they travel to. It also introduced a new generation of travellers. People who previously might not have wanted a hotel experience became attuned to the idea of escaping their homes, even if it’s just for a short stay or a short distance away. This is the type of property where everyone can find their happy place, from conference guests and couples to family groups.
Today’s Mount Grace had a very different feel from its historical counterpart. For one, the accommodation options have expanded across the immense four-hectare property. The library is gone and the scones are nowhere to be seen, but now there's a kid’s club and more of a resort feel that caters to many different needs. There are more swimming pools than we could count – hinting that this as a perfect summer retreat – and the spa is a highlight. Having won many awards, it has a great range of amenities, including a steam room, heated outdoor jacuzzi, heated flotation pool, infinity pool, and a gym with an incredibly pretty view of the property.
At the spa, we met a Swedish couple we had spotted in the morning setting out on a hike with their two young children. There is a choice of hiking trails and mountain biking trails. As they were checking in at the spa, they appeared lighter, as if the weight on their shoulders had lifted. With their children happily playing at the kid's club, the afternoon was about to become "me time".
There’s always a sense of indulgence when you are booked into a venue and get to walk just a few steps to the spa, and indulge in a 90-minute full-body massage with tinkling spa music in the background, while someone takes great care to ease the tension you arrived with. We visited in winter, when the air is fresh and crisp, and the fireplace in our suite was a welcome treat.
The hotel has retained its original reception area with multiple interlinked lounges, and the place buzzes with conversation, and warm and happy laughter. In the bar lounges, people relaxed on couches and chairs while watching sport. Next door, families gathered to play board games, relax and read near the fireplace.
Mount Grace is that kind of place. You feel compelled to relax; the staff are attentive and friendly; the food is wholesome and nourishing, and the portions are generous.
Mount Grace was never a chic location, but it excelled at countryside elegance. Over the years, the décor choices have perhaps not been optimal, and have dated the place, so if contemporary aesthetics are what you are after, this is not your spot. Leaving that aside, Mount Grace still has a way of inviting you in and creating a sense of ease.
We succumbed thoroughly. We stayed in a suite with a plunge pool on our patio and the aforementioned cosy fireplace for chilly evenings. Golf carts roam the vast property, so if you decide you would rather not walk the garden to the reception areas, it’s an easy trip in Uber 1, as the carts are named. We found the staff friendly and welcoming, and always eager to ensure our stay was to our liking.
Our plans to play tennis dissolved instead into time spent at the spa, lazing about indoors, or watching afternoon sport in the bar. Walks in the garden yielded sightings of rich birdlife and an incredible variety of trees, many of them named for easy identification. Set on a hilltop, the property offers many points from which to appreciate views of the surrounding countryside. "Nowhere to be and all the time in the world to get there," said a yoga teacher once at the start of a class. It’s the perfect advice for a stay at Mount Grace.
For more information or to book your stay at Mount Grace, visit southernsun.com/mount-grace-hotel-and-spa.
*We were invited to Mount Grace by the owners. The views expressed here are our own.
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