Oliver’s Lodge, White River, Mapumalanga – by Jeremy Williamson

Oliver’s Restaurant and Lodge just outside White River in Mpumalanga can certainly offer wonderful hospitality, luxurious rooms and fine dining, they even have a Spa too. Lana and I drove through from Durban to arrive mid afternoon, in time to check-in and explore the Lodge and its facilities. 

We were planning on departing early the following morning, so no time then as its off to a Lodge on a private Concession in the Kruger Park.

Oliver’s Lodge is a lovely, rather grand building, set on the edge of the White River Golf Course, with refreshing views over the greens – it was very tranquil, rather therapeutic even, relaxing comfortably on our elevated veranda off our suite, watching the colours deepen, the golfers depart, the odd jogger following close behind their retreat, and the last frenetic gathering of food by the colourful cosmopolitan birdlife.

View from our lofty Balcony

There are different categories of room at Olivers Lodge, which makes the venue suit a slightly wider clientele, from family to pretty top notch accommodation. 

Our rather opulent bathroom - shower to my left out of view

Our suite

There is now an additional accommodation unit, Oliver’s Family House, which has 4 suites, a lounge, kitchen and veranda, this must be booked as a unit by a single party.

Tea stations, bar fridges, air-conditioning, under floor heating and sumptuous bathrooms with all amenities and heated floor and towel rails.

Oliver’s is the ideal place to wind down after a hectic travel schedule, before moving on to one of the luxury wildlife Lodges in the area.  Take in a relaxing Spa treatment, a round of Golf? or just to relax in the opulence afforded by this five star facility. 

We had arrived on a Sunday, the night the principal kitchen staff and our hosts take time off. A reduced menu it was to be, well ! what a choice and what we ordered was truly of five tar standard. Makes one wonder what a normal nights fare would be like? Well done Oliver’s Restaurant. This is the reduced menu.

Sundowners in the comfortable lounge adjacent to the bar.

A brazier with a warming fire on the veranda.....

 ...and then to a candle lit dinner in the dining room, in a section so much like a Conservatory. The fresh fragrances of the gardens wafting in, complementing those of our delightful meal. 

This is where we were to have dinner in Oliver's Restaurant

Breakfast on the patio early morning was a delightful affair and the coffee was excellent. 

Breakfast patio

Off the the Kruger Park, only about 45 minutes to the Pabeni Gate via Hazyview on good roads. We could so easily have returned after visiting the few Lodges we were going to in Kruger and the Timbavati, such visits can be tiring with early morning and late afternoon into the evening game drives with latish dinners, so there’s a thought, on departure too.

Gardens at Oliver's

Public rooms and lounge

Oliver's Bar with picture window

All photographs by Jeremy and Lana Williamson