In Shangaan, ‘Tintswalo’ means “the intangible feeling of love, gratitude and peace bestowed upon someone offering you a meaningful and worthy gift”. For the literal, ‘Tintswalo at Waterfall’ would then mean ‘feeling strongly about someone who just gave you a nice present, while getting soaked by cascading water’. Sometimes, it’s best to not take things too literally.

Tintswalo at Waterfall is, in fact, a 5-star boutique hotel situated midway between the madness of Midrand and stylish Sandton. Situated on a 240-acre country estate with achingly beautiful polo fields and manicured gardens, the building itself is modeled after a stable. Horsey people are generally quite posh, but this is quite possibly the stable of exquisite equine dreams. High ceilings, exposed wood & brick and plush furnishings give the entire space a stirring warmth, with each of the 16 suites named for a different horsey breed and decorated accordingly, and distinctively. There’s underfloor heating, a tempting minibar and a bathroom bigger than most chain hotel rooms, themselves. It’s easy to get carried away about a view of any kind of green space in Johannesburg, but the vistas from the hotel force you to grasp for adjectives. Waking up overlooking a polo field, backgrounded by the Magaliesberg mountains, is a good distraction from the fact that you’re going to have to brave the M1 into Sandton, shortly.

The Feedroom restaurant is more romantic than it sounds. Head Chef Eric Hlatshwayo’s food philosophy is founded on his 20 years of hard-boiled kitchen experience, rather than a formal qualification – which means that you get heart, not geometry, on your plate. Breakfasts are served on the patio overlooking the fields, or in-room. Ticking every box on the room service menu and throwing open the patio doors to take in the view in your dressing gown is a treat. Lunches are of the languid variety, while candlelit dinners beside the fireplace are all that you’d imagine.

There is, inevitably, a well-appointed gym, reached by a brisk walk from the hotel. If your thing is decreasing rather than increasing your heart rate, the dam-facing spa offers enough treatments, wraps and therapies to demand repeat visits. Alternatively, an afternoon flicking through books in the well-stocked library is certainly not a wasted one.

Tintswalo at Waterfall is located within the Waterfall Country & Equestrian Estate. Visit www.tintswalo.com/waterfall for bookings.

*This article was originally published in khuluma.