African Rock Hotel & Spa, a Boutique Lifestyle Resort

Set in a residential suburb of Kempton Park, African Rock Hotel sits ten kilometres from Johannesburg's main airport, clear of the flight paths that pass closer to the runways. The location gives quick highway access to Johannesburg, Sandton and Pretoria without the noise. It is a small hotel by design, with eleven rooms across four family suites, seven doubles and a guide room, each with air-conditioning, a mini-bar fridge and a smart TV. The grounds hold a tropical garden, a heated pool, a spa, a gym and an outdoor patio with a fireplace for evenings outside. Otti and Zelda Meijer own and run the property themselves. The restaurant, the Blue Hippo, serves bistro-style brunch and lunch, then shifts to fine dining from the evening, with the chef presenting the menu tableside and pairing wines to match. Rooms mix African, Western and Oriental design elements, giving the interiors a warmer, less corporate feel than the category usually allows. The hotel operates for guests only; there is no walk-in trade through the restaurant, spa or gym. Airport transfers are complimentary, as is a concierge desk that arranges day tours to Pretoria, the Cradle of Humankind and the Cullinan Diamond mine. Wireless internet runs free throughout the property. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out by 11am.