WELCOME TO OLIFANTS RIVER LODGE

A River Valley Break
an Easy Drive from
Johannesburg

A River Valley Break
an Easy Drive from
Johannesburg

A River Valley Break
an Easy Drive from
Johannesburg

Set in a valley on the banks of the Great
Olifants River, just off the R555 between
Middelburg and Emalahleni, and under two
hours from Johannesburg, Pretoria or Mbombela.

Set in a valley on the banks of the Great Olifants River, just off the R555 between Middelburg and Emalahleni, and under two hours from Johannesburg, Pretoria or Mbombela.

Book Your Stay

STAY YOUR WAY

Camp, Caravan
or Settle Into
a River View
Apartment

Camp, Caravan
or Settle Into
a River View
Apartment

Pitch a tent on a riverfront site,
park the caravan, or unlock a self-catering
apartment with a braai on the patio. There are
245 beds here, in a lot of different shapes.

Pitch a tent on a riverfront site,
park the caravan, or unlock a self-catering apartment with a braai on the patio. There are 245 beds here, in a lot of different shapes.

View Accommodation

EAT WELL

Hearty Plates and
Cold Drinks at
Gramadoelas

Buffets, set meals, milkshakes for the kids and
a bar with a big screen. The Sunday lunch
buffet is the one the regulars come back for.

Buffets, set meals, milkshakes for the kids and a bar with a big screen. The Sunday lunch buffet is the one the regulars come back for.

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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Four Pools, Two
Water Slides and
Nine Holes
of Mini Golf

Four Pools, Two
Water Slides and
Nine Holes
of Mini Golf

Archery, canoe hire, a hiking trail, jukskei,
a giant chessboard and a heated indoor pool
for the days the Highveld turns cold.

Archery, canoe hire, a hiking trail, jukskei, a giant chessboard and a heated indoor pool for the days the Highveld turns cold.

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MEET IN THE BUSHVELD

Nine Venues and
a Centre That Seats
Up to 800

Nine Venues and
a Centre That Seats
Up to 800

The Enkulu Centre and its breakaway rooms handle
everything from a ten-seat boardroom session to a full
conference, with team building on the grounds outside.

The Enkulu Centre and its breakaway rooms handle
everything from a ten-seat boardroom session to a full
conference, with team building on the grounds outside.

Build a Conference Quote

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2 Adult, 0 Children
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1 Room
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WELCOME TO OLIFANTS RIVER LODGE

A Malaria-Free Valley on the Great Olifants River

Olifants River Lodge sits cradled in a valley on the banks of the Great Olifants River, a malaria-free stretch of semi-bushveld on the R555 between Middelburg and Emalahleni. It is under two hours from Johannesburg, Pretoria and Mbombela, which makes it the kind of place you can reach after work on a Friday and still watch the light go off the gorge.

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The property carries 245 beds across a wide spread of options. Camp or caravan on a riverfront site, take a log cabin or a cabana, book a thatched rondavel for a simple overnight, or spread out in a self-catering river view apartment with a braai on the patio. Families, groups of friends, corporate teams and busloads of scholars all fit here, and none of them pay hotel prices for the privilege.

There is a lot to do without leaving. Four swimming pools, one of them heated and indoors, water slides, a nine-hole mini golf course, a hiking trail up into the hills, canoes on the water and a games room for when the weather turns. Gramadoelas Restaurant handles the cooking when you would rather not, and the shop stocks ice, charcoal and the things you forgot to pack.

It also works hard as a venue. Nine conference and function rooms, the Enkulu Centre seating up to 800, wedding and banqueting space, and team building run across the grounds, the mountains and the river.

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OUR RESORT

Welcome To
Olifants River Lodge

WHERE YOU WILL STAY

Discover Our Accommodation

From a riverfront campsite to a three-bedroom river view apartment, pick the version of this place that suits the trip you are taking.

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Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel
Rondavel

From R918/Night

Rondavel

Book Now View Room
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet
Chalet

From R1,190/Night

Chalet

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Cabana
Cabana
Cabana
Cabana
Cabana
Cabana
Cabana
Cabana

From R1,190/Night

Cabana

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Log Cabin
Log Cabin
Log Cabin
Log Cabin
Log Cabin
Log Cabin

From R807/Night

Log Cabin

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2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment

From R1,479/Night

2-Bedroom Riverview Apartment

Book Now View Room
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment
3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment

From R1,878/Night

3-Bedroom Riverview Apartment

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Campsite
Campsite
Campsite
Campsite
Campsite
Campsite
Campsite
Campsite

From R391/Night

Campsite

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THINGS TO DO

Fill the Day, or Do Very Little

There is a full day’s worth of activity on the property and no obligation to use any of it. Archery and air rifle for the competitive, canoes and a hiking trail for the outdoors, mini golf and a jumping pillow for the children, and a shaded patio for everyone else.

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Laser Clay Pigeon

A variation on traditional clay pigeon shooting. Real shotguns are disabled and fitted with harmless infra-red laser equipment that registers hits on modified reflective clays. Up to five people can shoot at the same clay at once, and it works after dark too.

Archery

Traditional archery with longbows, taught from scratch in a compact but thorough lesson covering handling and aiming. Groups compete against each other for the highest score, and it is usually the person nobody expected who turns out to have the eye for it.

Air Rifle

Air rifle shooting is run on the property alongside the archery and laser clay pigeon range.

9-Hole Mini Golf

The nine-hole course is a hit with children and adults alike and a good excuse to get out into the sunshine. Add it to a team build or split the family into teams and let some healthy competition take care of the afternoon.

Canoe Hire

Canoes are available for hire on the Olifants River, which runs along the foot of the property.

Fishing and Rod Hire

The river is open to anglers and rods can be hired on the property, though most regulars bring their own tackle. Bird watching along the same banks turns up a good deal while you are waiting for something to bite.

TAKE A LOOK

Get A Closer Look

AT YOUR DISPOSAL

Discover Our Most Popular Services And Amenities

Discover Our Most Popular Services And Amenities

View Our Facilities
  • Gramadoelas Restaurant
  • Bushveld bar with big screen TV
  • On-site shop and kiosk
  • Conference and function venues
  • Banquet and wedding venue
  • Coin-operated laundromat
  • Parking
  • Wi-Fi in the main lodge area
  • Indoor heated swimming pool
  • Two outdoor swimming pools
  • Kiddies pool and water slides
  • Nine-hole mini golf course
  • Games room
  • Ollie's Playpen and jungle gym
  • Sports courts and cricket nets
  • Backup generator

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

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EAT AND DRINK

Explore Cuisine in Style

This is mountain living, without the effort. Everything is considered, inviting you to slow down, and reconnect with what matters.

Sauvage

Gramadoelas Restaurant

Gramadoelas handles breakfast through dinner without any fuss. Set meals, generous buffets, hot coffee, milkshakes and cold beers, and a kitchen happy to put together something simple for the children. The Sunday lunch buffet is a standing fixture and books up. Day visitors and Sunday lunches are by booking only.

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EVENTS AT OLIFANTS RIVER LODGE

Our Latest Upcoming Events

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View all Events

September

2026

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October

2026

  • No events this month
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IT ALL STARTS WITH A DREAM

We Have The Perfect Holiday Waiting For You

Our packages pair a stay on the river with the things that make a trip worth the drive, and they change through the year. Have a look at what is running now, and if nothing fits, the rest of the Dream portfolio is a click away.

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Family Moments

Cap Classique & Champagne Wine Festival Package

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa

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INCLUDED

This Champagne Festival package includes:

  • 1 night's stay in the beautiful winelands, including breakfast for two
  • 2x entry to the Champagne Festival Saturday / Sunday.
  • Complimentary bottle of wine and fruit platter on arrival to start the sparkling weekend. Use of Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa's facilities:
  • Shuttle service is complimentary to Franschhoek Town
View Package
Romantic Moments

Romantic Date night in the Winelands

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa

View Package

INCLUDED

This Explore Franschhoek package includes:

  • 1-night stay in the beautiful winelands including breakfast for two
  • 2-course Dinner for 2 including a glass of wine each.
  • Wine Tasting at Holden Manz Wine Estate
  • Special Romantic Turndown with bubbly complimentary Use of Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa's faclilities:
View Package

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Guests Say

Testimonials

The best hotel in Franschhoek- the rooms and hotel looked like a palace – very aesthetically pleasing! There is a big pool & a hot tub as well! The car service was very excellent- you just have to drop a message and the car is ready to go to the town! The chef here made special food arrangements for us as we opted vegetarian food – good outdoor area for evening drinks by the pool side. The staff was very well trained & welcoming.

Khushi Agarwal

Recently Stayed at Olifants River Lodge

Testimonials

From the moment we walked into Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa, we were treated like royalty. The service throughout our stay was absolutely impeccable! Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming.

Chelsea Fredericks

Recently Stayed at Olifants River Lodge

Testimonials

We loved our stay at this tranquil hotel. Every member of staff that we came across provided exceptional customer service. Breakfast was a delightful experience, with a huge variety of tempting food on offer. The shuttle service was a real bonus, making it easy to get into town or to the Wine Tram. Thank you to all the staff. If we come back to Franschhoek we would definitely want to stay with you again.

Ali Davies

Recently Stayed at Olifants River Lodge

Testimonials

Fabulous hotel. Pity we couldn’t stay longer. Staff are great. Service is great. Breakfast absolutely spectacular – the best we had in South Africa.

Geoff Telford

Recently Stayed at Olifants River Lodge

Testimonials

Lovely hotel just outside of town. The service and staff are friendly and fantastic. The complimentary shuttle service into town is brilliant allowing you to enjoy Franschhoek whilst staying in a beautiful country hotel.

Callum Skinn

Recently Stayed at Olifants River Lodge

THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

Travellers' Reviews

Good to Know

FAQ

The lodge is at 8 President Street, Presidentsrus, on the R555 between Middelburg and Emalahleni in Mpumalanga. It is roughly 158km from O.R. Tambo International Airport and under two hours from Johannesburg or Pretoria.

No. The final approach to Olifants River Lodge from the Presidentsrus turn-off is a maintained gravel road. A standard car handles it comfortably in normal conditions, but take it slowly after heavy rain.

Yes. Olifants River Lodge sits in a malaria-free part of the Mpumalanga Highveld, which is one reason it works well for families with small children.

The property ranges from riverfront campsites and caravan stands to log cabins, cabanas, thatched rondavels and self-catering river view apartments. Most units are self-catering with braai facilities.

Day visitors are welcome by booking only, as are Sunday lunches. Day visitors may not bring their own food or drink onto the property, since the restaurant, kiosk and bar cover everything you will need.

Olifants River Lodge runs a backup generator. Some services may be limited while it is running, and a daily generator fuel levy can apply, so check with reception when you arrive.

Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge area. It does not extend to the units or the campsites, so plan for a quieter connection once you are back at your patio.

Yes. Nine venues serve groups from a small boardroom session upward, and the Enkulu Centre and its breakaway rooms combine to seat up to 800 people for conferences, banquets and weddings.

CONNECT

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info@olifantsriverlodge.co.za

+27 (0)13 243 9401/2

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