The Table Bay is THE address in Cape Town. Not only for travellers who want a five-star stay and the best views of Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront. Not only for Nelson Mandela himself (it was his favourite hotel in Cape Town). But The Table Bay is the Cape Town address preferred by Oscar the Fur Seal and his descendants.

A fur seal made friends with a fisherman and visited him at the waterfront every day, even coming into the quay from the open water between Robben Island and the city’s shores. When this immaculate five-star hotel was being built in the late 1990s, workers would join the seal and the fisherman, Oscar, on the waterfont, impressed with the unlikely friendship between the two.

Oscar died shortly after The Table Bay opened, but the seal would still come to the pier every morning looking for him. Staff named him Oscar, after the fisherman, and he continued to visit with his pups until he died. His great-grandpups still bask in the sun on Table Bay’s jetty. Danie De Jager created a sculpture honouring Oscar, which sits outside the hotel’s stunning lounge. Whether you’re sitting on the patio or inside, be sure to make a toast to the seal and to friendships made in South Africa with an Oscar Lager.

The Table Bay is the rare hotel that gets the combination of friendliness and service perfection right. The hotel is luxurious but you don’t feel like anyone is judging you whether you’ve chosen to dine at the Atlantic dressed to the nines, just want a relaxing and casual day visiting the spa or hanging out at the pool, or return tired after exploring the top of Table Mountain but want to sit down for a snack.

The Table Bay’s luxe rooms are decorated in beautiful shades of Sun gold (the hotel is a Sun International property). They have every amenity you could want, as well as twice-daily turndown service to make sure your towels are fluffed, your Nespresso machine and shortbread cookies stocked, and you have anything else you might need. There’s a huge range of accommodation types so you can have a room or a suite with views of the sea, Table Mountain or Signal Hill.

Hotel facilities and services include a heated outdoor pool (which is in the sun throughout the day), a spa, a health club and gym with views out to Robben Island, formal afternoon tea, complimentary shuttle service to various highlights in Cape Town, and even a foraging tour with hotel chefs.

Given Cape Town’s water crisis, The Table Bay has an impressive strategy to reduce the use of this precious commodity. This includes significant water reduction activities as well as encouraging guests to make sustainable choices (for example, you’ll need to ask for the plug for your beautiful bathtub, and are instead encouraged to take a two-minute shower, as well as use hand sanitizer and even a toilet water neutraliser to reduce flushing; you’re even asked to use bottled water rather than tap for drinking and for making coffee and tea).

Like Nelson Mandela and Oscar, you’re sure to love your experience at The Table Bay.

Located on what is known as Africa’s “richest square mile”, The DAVINCI is a modern city hotel ideal for those visiting Johannesburg on business or for pleasure. The hotel is in Legacy Corner, part of Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg’s suburb of Sandton.

Entering The DAVINCI, I’m struck by the stunning black and white vases decorating the entrance way and by the tall ceilings of the sitting area. Up one floor to reception, there’s more vivid art waiting in welcome, with cozy corners for relaxing. Off the lobby is a two-tiered deck with umbrellas surrounding the infinity pool.

More beautiful design in blacks, whites and greys is up in the rooms and suites. The tree branch wallpaper behind the bed reminds me that I’m in South Africa with its incredible national parks. Guests can choose a king bed or two twins, or suites with up to three bedrooms. Some rooms have patios with views over the swimming pool.

I loved the spacious bathroom with tub, separate rooms for shower and toilet, and the organized closet with a space for everything beside the sink. The Charlotte Rhys amenities revitalized me after my long flight. For those travelling with someone else, the bathroom can be separated from the rest of the room with sliding glass doors and curtains.

With mini-fridge, Nespresso maker and the 40-inch TV with more than 50 channels, it is tempting to just curl up and relax in this comfortable room. But you can’t be in Johannesburg without seeing the sites around the hotel as well as those in and around the city. Johannesburg’s top sites, like Constitution Hill and Soweto, will surely be on your list. But don’t miss the contemporary art galleries and boutiques in the Keyes Art Mile and save lots of room for sampling the array of snacks at the Neighbourgoods Market in the Braamfontein neighbourhood.

While I’m sure The DAVINCI’s room service is excellent, don’t miss breakfast at the Maximillien Restaurant, below the lobby off the mall. You can order off the menu or choose selections from the elegant buffet (or both). Staff are warm and friendly and dishes go well beyond typical buffets. The light-filled room is also open for lunch and dinner.

Dining is also available surrounding the swimming pool and in the DAVINCI lounge. Sample some of the world’s rarest whiskies (accompanied by a cigar, if you like) at the Maxim Lounge.

The Legacy Group also has beach resorts, safari lodges and city hotels in South Africa’s best destinations and beyond.