I had the pleasure of staying at Tintswalo at Waterfall during my time in Johannesburg recently. This boutique hotel, conference venue and restaurant is a blend of urban luxury in a country setting and offers a reprieve from the stresses of everyday city life.

Read on to find out about my stay at Tintswalo at Waterfall, the cuisine, hotel facilities and what to expect on your visit to this hotel.

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Update: There has been a change of ownership since my stay and Tintswalo at Waterfall has been rebranded as Riboville.

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Tintswalo at Waterfall Hotel Review

Location

Situated in the heart of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs in South Africa within the secure Waterfall Country Equestrian Estate, Tintswalo at Waterfall is the ultimate farmland experience on the boundary of the city.

Centrally located 30 minutes from OR Tambo International and Lanseria airport, it is located on the doorstep of the new Waterfall City hub and the Mall of Africa and a short drive from to Johannesburg’s most vibrant nightlife and restaurants.

To gain access into the secure private estate with 24/7 security you need to sign in with security at the gate that will confirm your reservation with the hotel.

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Parking

Once you’ve signed in and entered the security estate, the hotel is found directly in sight and following the curved road for a couple 100 meters brings you to the entrance. There is ample parking for visitors and guests adjacent to the main building and this is included in the stay.

Interior and décor

Located in an equestrian estate, Tintswalo at Waterfall is elegantly designed as a spacious barn echoing this setting. The lavish double-volume barn design, with the equestrian-themed art and decor continues the equestrian theme throughout the hotel’s décor.

I found plenty of space to chill or read whether in the public lounge area, breakaway rooms or the patio overlooking the fields. The fireplaces would provide a warm respite during those chilly South African winter nights.

Welcome and check-in

Check-in was quick and effortless at the reception area situated directly at the right-hand entrance of the main building, following which I was given a tour of the hotel and shown to my suite.

Rooms

The intimate hotel features 16 luxurious suites with the finest in hospitality luxuries.

The equestrian theme is continued in the rooms with each offering a lavish king-size bed, seating area and a quant balcony. I thoroughly enjoyed the super comfortable suites that all have en-suite bathrooms with a bathtub & separate shower.

Room amenities and services

The room also features the following:

• Air-conditioning
• Under-floor heating in bathrooms
• DSTV selection
• Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water
• Electronic room safe
• Minibar
• Hairdryer

Views

All suites feature a small balcony overlooking either the polo field or estate dam. I had requested a view of the former and this is what I woke up to:

The view on the opposite side of the building overlooking the tranquil damn looks something like this:

I would suggest booking or requesting a view of the polo fields.

Service

I felt and experienced the Tintswalo signature service firsthand by all the staff that were more than willing to make my stay as comfortable as possible. Although I didn’t make use of room service, this is also available on request.

Cuisine

Even though the hotel is centrally located to some of Johannesburg’s finest restaurants, I would recommend in-house dining because it is that good.

The five star decadent dining experience at the Freedom Restaurant caught me by surprise. A pleasant surprise with elegantly prepared dishes by the Executive chef.

For dinner I went with the butternut quinoa vegan salad as the starter served with chickpea, slow roasted cauliflower and tofu.

The Norwegian salmon served on a cauliflower mash base alongside kimchi, pea and a ponzu glaze was my choice for the main course and this comes extremely highly recommended.

To finish off the meal, my dessert consisted of a trio of caramelia chocolate fondant, vanilla panna cotta and blueberry sorbet

There is a private dining room and upstairs dining area in addition to the large patio overlooking the polo field.

There is an age restriction applicable at the Freedom restaurant – Kids under 6 are not allowed in the dining room.

Breakfast was another winner looking something like this:

Wi-Fi

There is unlimited wifi connection included in the stay to listen to some dope African songs. This is faultless in the main area, but can get spotty and loose connection the further away you go.

Hotel facilities

Tintswalo at Waterfall’s vast lounge and restaurant areas offer a venue for functions and special occasions. The hotel offers conference rooms and executive boardrooms for the business traveller.

Other facilities found on site:

• Swimming pool
• Waterfall Spa
• Fully licensed bar
• Wine cellar offering the Cape’s finest vintages

In the local Shangaan language, Tintswalo means, “the intangible feeling of love, gratitude and peace bestowed upon someone offering you a meaningful and worthy gift,” and I certainly felt on the receiving end throughout my stay here.

Contact details

Waterfall Equestrian Estate
R55 and Maxwell Drive, Waterfall city
Johannesburg
South Africa