Jiva Hill Resort ★★★★★

With a 98-acre private estate with its own lake and heliport, it’s hard to know where to start, so I’ll begin with the bedrooms. The hotel, a member of Relais & Chateaux, has 27 deluxe rooms and 6 junior suites - which each have their own garden and private Jacuzzi.  Our deluxe room is impeccably decorated and the soft, deep-pile carpet, glossy leather in a palette of soft beiges and browns, and original artwork lends a distinguished feel to the room. The view across the hills from the large bay window is sublime, and the large light-filled bathroom has a shower big enough for two. It has all the additions you would expect from a five star room, plus a dressing room and private terrace. This is in part thanks to designer Jean-Phillipe Nuel, but the slight South African feel evident throughout the resort can be traced to owners Virginia and Ian Lundin’s love for the country.

It won’t be long before the view of 70 acres of untouched nature will have you wanting to get out and stretch your legs.  Try your hand at a spot of golf. The hotel’s 9-hole course has 18 tees and is playable all year round, with a few water hazards and a fantastic view of Mont Blanc thrown in for good measure. If you’re not a golfer then borrow one of the hotel’s mountain bikes for a dose of fresh air. For the more adventurous, depending on the season, you can even try waterskiing or wakeboarding on the private lake. Being so close to Geneva it would be a shame not to venture into the city and the hotel offers many excursions. Visit the cheese factory in Gruyère, or take a trip to the vineyards to taste Swiss and Jura wines, or why not enjoy a romantic paddle steamer cruise and dinner on Lake Geneva.

The spa is also definitely worth spending some time in. The architecture and lighting combine to create an atmosphere of calm.  Practise a few graceful strokes in the heated 17m pool, enjoying the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then luxuriate in the Jacuzzi, or relax and invigorate your body at the same time in the sauna, Turkish baths and plunge pool. Indulge in some pampering in the Sangoma spa and CARITA treatment centre… try a hot stone massage, it’s deliciously relaxing and eases muscular tension leaving you with a sensation of calm wellbeing.

Take the long route to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks - because it just doesn’t seem right to hurry anywhere in this calm and refined atmosphere -and admire the nearly 200 works of contemporary art displayed throughout the hotel.  Then sip a glass of Coupe Brut or savour a 16–year-old Lagavullin in the Vodka Bar overlooking the swimming pool. You really should try the Shamwari cocktail which combines champagne, strawberry liqueur and cranberry juice, or ask the barman to create your very own cocktail...

The Shamwari restaurant is decorated in dark tones, and Chef Emmanuel Olivier creates contemporary French gastronomy with a nod to tradition. You’ll find dishes like Foie gras, blue lobster, and Provencal tart. Hints of Africa are everywhere from the name of the restaurant to the guinea fowl and Madagascan vanilla that appear on the menu. Browse the wine menu on the restaurant’s many iPads; the interactive guide supplies you with a plethora of information about grape varieties, regions and the best food pairings. Better still, let sommelier Gregory Mio advise on the finishing touch to your meal. You can even enjoy a private wine tasting session in the tasting cellar ...