Vaal River Gauteng

Cruise the Vaal River in a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat! Just an hour’s drive from the south of Johannesburg, this destination offers the opportunity to explore the most interesting inland waterway in the country. Located just off Millionaires’ Bend on the Vaal River Barrage, with 55 km of permanently navigable waterway and a string of magnificent waterfront properties, it is no wonder that it’s known as South Africa’s ‘inland Riviera’.

Be Captain of your own holiday

Be Captain of your own holiday and dock at restaurants, bars, spas, golf courses and or even the Emerald Casino Resort along the waterfront. Try your hand at watersports or do some house-spotting. Test your skill with a fishing rod and catch carp, yellowfish, bass, barbel and mudfish. Experience the buzz of the waterway by day and enjoy the peace after dark. Join the jet set and dock at the Waterfront Country Lodge, River Palace, Stonehaven on Vaal, Riverside Sun Hotel, Emerald Casino Resort or Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club, to enjoy a meal or a drink. At night there are numerous exciting spots where you can moor your houseboat including some riverfront restaurant jetties. Or retreat to the tranquility of the unspoilt wetlands. The popular annual Vaal River Meander Wine Route in July and August offers more than 25 different venues on and around the banks of the Vaal River where premier South African wines are showcased. Taste and purchase wine to take back to your boathouse.

Chilling out

The river is deep, wide and easy to navigate. If getting away from it all is what you are after, then head off to a creek, drop anchor and enjoy the sounds of the birds and the occasional jackal. The otter family may drop in for a visit. If you fancy some pampering while you are on holiday, visit the beauty salons at the Riverside Sun and Emerald Casino Resort, or the spas at Emfuleni Golf Estate and Riviera on Vaal. Emfuleni and Riviera on Vaal also have excellent golf courses. You can self-cater on this holiday, take advantage of the many waterfront restaurants or order one of our delicious food hampers to be delivered to your craft.Keeping the Kids HappyChildren love the houseboating expreience. Whilst on board they can swim, tube and fish (we do have rods for hire.) Equipment can be hired locally for skiing and wakeboarding. We also have two portable DVD players for hire, but bring your own DVDsThe shore-side venues offer a number of activities for children. there’s a kiddies playground with Aquadome, wall-clumbing, games arcade, mini-golf, 10 pin bowling and a mini-zoo at the Emerald Casino Resort. At Stonehaven they’ll discover a farmyard, jumping castle, sandpit trampoline, swimming pool, treehouse and computer games.Our craft Our Leisure Liner craft are custom made to our specifications and can sleep up to five people in comfort. They are fully equipped for a self-catering holiday and all you need to bring are your clothes, toiletries, food and beverages. You do not need any previous experience and we will show you the ropes before you become Captain of your own holiday!