Scenic, friendly, efficient: White River has everything in its favour

Though a small town, White River has high-quality features such as good schools, nearby malls and an airport, yet it retains its close-knit village feel. By Zani Barrish

- By Zani Barrish

Some of the volunteers of The Power of 8000, a community action group.

Framed by the unmistakeable silhouette of Mount Legogote, which resembles a reclining lion with its head raised, White River is defined by lush vegetation, a vibrant and close-knit community and enviable Lowveld weather.

"We feel safe living under the watchful sentinel of Legogote Mountain, and of course the Kruger National Park is right on our doorstep," says resident Celia Breed.

"Don’t forget the White River Country Club for some golf, or Klipkopje Dam, which is ideal for watersport or fishing," adds her husband Jan.

Set just north of Mbombela, White River offers a slower pace of life without sacrificing convenience. Within minutes there are excellent schools, major shopping centres and the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. “We don’t have the traffic, but we do have all the amenities,” says Hitesh Motiram, the owner of Nakuls clothing store, who was instantly drawn to the town’s gentler way of living.

White River takes its name from the whitish kaolin-rich water in the river that skirts the town. It was established after the South African War as a settlement for former British soldiers; however, this scheme failed and it developed into a farming town.

Walking is the best way to experience White River, and everything is close by.

As resident Dr Matluli Mdhluli says: “Everything is within walking distance. We are a walking community.”