Nestled in the scenic, hilly Lowveld and a quick hour’s drive from the Kruger National Park, the little town of White River seems to charm its way into the itineraries of more than just a few unsuspecting tourists.
Founded around the 1880’s, the town originally sprung up as a result of citrus farming that took place in the Crocodile River Valley after the Anglo-Boer War.
Today, it is a launch pad for tourists to Mozambique, the Kruger National Park and the numerous other game parks in the surrounding bushveld, as well as a trendy retreat for up market urbanites seeking a taste of ‘country life’. So much so, in fact, that the town has recently been referred to by amused locals as ‘The White Riviera’.
Given its magnitude, visitors to this little town are often pleasantly surprised by what it has to offer. Within the town itself, one can indulge in a farm style shopping experience at various shopping centers, play a round of golf at one of two pleasantly situated Golf Courses, and eat in some unique culinary hideaways.
This having been said, it is usually the outdoor areas surrounding the town that attract most of its visitors. Within close driving distance is God’s Window, aptly named for its magnificent panoramic views over the Lowveld, and the precipitous ravines, rocky waterfalls and leafy indigenous forests that stretch up into the Blyde River Canyon. Also not far are the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Pinnacle, awe-inspiring geological phenomena that are not to be missed.
In addition to these special spots, outdoorsy types will revel in the abundance of hikes, mountain biking trails and adventure centers in and around nearby towns Graskop, Sabie and Hazyview.
The farming tradition of the community that settled here after the Anglo-Boer War has remained virtually unchanged to this day. Lord Milner's (administrator of the defeated Transvaal) attaché, the aforementioned Tom Lawrence, demarcated land on the 'Emansimhlope' - a tributary of the Crocodile River whose name translates from the Swazi as 'White Waters' - to demobilised British Anglo-Boer War soldiers.
Not surprisingly, the name ‘White River’ is attributed to a nearby watercourse. The river’s milky appearance (caused by high levels of Kaolin in the water) inspired the town’s name, as well as its Swazi and Afrikaans names, Emanzimhlope and Witrivier.
The climate is said to be one of the best in South Africa, neither excessively hot in summer when rainfall is at its highest, nor overly cold during the sunny winters. The farms tend to be relatively small but the agriculture is intensive with tropical and citrus fruits in abundance, and vegetables, cut flowers and macadamia nuts readily available.
The Lowveld National Botanical Gardens lie about 11kms from White River. These gardens are a plant lover’s playground featuring an enchanting African Rain Forest and the mighty Cascades at the confluence of the Nels and Crocodile Rivers.
White River nightlife is limited to a few bars and pubs which become festive at the weekends.
