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Archive for July, 2012

Historical Highlights of the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club

Posted in Riviera on Vaal Hotel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 26, 2012 | Leave a Comment »


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Situated in Vereeniging next to the Vaal River, the historical highlights of the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club and its surrounds are endless. Here are only a few proud historical moments:

  • 1878: George William Stow discovers the first coal deposits on the bed of the Vaal River, which initiates Anglo American and New Vaal Colliery.
  • 1882: The first industry of the Vereeniging village is founded, building bricks from clay deposits near the coal mines.
  • 1892: The small village, Vereeniging, is established due to the focus on the coal finds and the newly formed mining company, Zuid-Afrikaansche en Oranje Vrystaatsche Mineralen en Mijnbou Vereeniging (later known as Vereeniging Estates Ltd.)
  • In this same year the first train from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg crossed the Vaal River after Sammy Marks persuaded Paul Kruger to connect the Cape with Transvaal via Vereeniging rather than Potchefstroom.
  • 1905: Leslie’s weir is built, which ensures reasonable and continuous water supply to Vereeniging.
  • 1913: Roy Lewis builds the Vereeniging Country Club in this year.
  • The first steel slab is also cast and rolled at the Union Steel Corporation of South Africa in this year. This starts Vereeniging off at becoming the hub of steel and engineering industries and later evolves to become DCD Mittal as we know it today.
  • 1936: Mr. Schlesinger, a movie maker from America, opens the doors of the ultra modern Riviera Hotel with en suite bathrooms for each room.
  • 1938: The construction of the Vaal Dam as one of Rand Water‘s initiatives to increase water supply to the Witwatersrand. The Vaal Dam is SA’s biggest by area and fourth largest by volume, and was completed where the Vaal and the Wilge Rivers meet.
  • 1949: The Treaty of Vereeniging is formally proclaimed.
  • 1970: The Riviera Hotel is taken over by the Behr Family and gains popularity from its spectacular buffets and Sunday dinner and movie evenings.
  • 2003: Mr. Mac van der Merwe buys the Riviera Hotel on auction.
  • 2004: The first 30 rooms of the fully refurbished Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club, which is bought on a 99 year lease, are officially reopened.

From then on the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club has gone from strength to strength and in 2012 they proudly represent the Vaal on many levels, including golf, water sport, conferences and many other activities.

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Celebrating aboard the Petit Verdot

Posted in Family, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 25, 2012 | 1 Comment »


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It’s always a mission to find a venue for celebrating, but with Riviera on Vaal’s Petit Verdot there’s no need to search any further.

The Petit Verdot is Riviera on Vaal’s floating restaurant. With this multipurpose restaurant, you not only have the opportunity to celebrate with friends and family, but you also get to see the beautiful backdrop the Riviera on Vaal Resort forms when you pull away from the river banks. This is a guaranteed special experience for special people.

What to expect from a celebration on board the Petit Verdot:

  • The experience of a memorable cruise aboard a floating restaurant
  • Delicious dining options to choose from when booking a cruise
  • Magnificent views along the Vaal River
  • A capacity of 70 guests for a sit down celebratory dinner
  • A capacity of 95 guests for a stand up cocktail celebration
  • An additional experience to your visit at the Riviera on Vaal Resort
  • From the moment you have been welcomed aboard the Petit Verdot you are guaranteed a smoothly organized event to remember.

Contact (http://www.rivieraonvaal.co.za/contact-us/) the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club for booking your celebration aboard the Petit Verdot.

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Wrapping it up at Zorgvliet Spa

Posted in Zorgvliet Spa, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »


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Wrapping up your week at Zorgvliet Spa might just be the thing you are looking for. After running around with the kids and solving problems at work, why not check in at Zorgvliet Spa for a refreshing Wrap treatment?

Wrap treatments were originally done by wrapping Ace bandages or plastic wraps around the body for quick weight loss through vasodilation. Today’s spas wrap you with body masks to keep you warm for 20 minutes, after which it’s rinsed off. It’s mainly detox treatments, relieving your body from toxins. The treatments end with a lotion that’s gently applied, rather than massaged, onto the skin.

The rinsing off process is very refreshing and usually takes place in a wet room, equipped with a shower where you rinse off the scrub and other body oils.

Keep in mind:

  • A body wrap is not a massage.
  • If you have claustrophobia, this treatment might not be such a good idea.
  • You might be left alone during the treatment. If you prefer to have someone in the room at all times, consider requesting a scalp massage during the twenty minutes of being wrapped.

Zorgvliet Spa Wraps:

  • Theravine Purifying Clay Wrap
  • Theravine Purifying Gel Wrap
  • Theravine Contouring Gel Wrap
  • Theravine Firming Gel Wrap
  • Theravine Recharging Clay Wrap
  • Grape Seed Exfoliation with Relaxing Body Oil and Vine Cream Wrap
  • Grape Seed Exfoliation with Slimming Body Oil and Gel Wrap
  • Exfoliation (Lime & Honey Scrub) with Detoxifying Oil and Purifying Clay Wrap

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Function Food Facts

Posted in Weddings and Conferences, tagged , , , , , , , on July 10, 2012 | Leave a Comment »


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Ever attended a conference or a function at a hotel and felt that the food was not up to standard? In fact, you drove to KFC instead during the one hour break. Riviera on Vaal Hotel aims to meet your needs when it comes to function food and invites you to make special requests on the matter.

It seems that the typical food types served at conferences include the normal, high carbohydrate foods anddeep fat fried canapés. That’s great, and many hotels serve really fine samoosas, cocktail sausages and meatballs. Still – what about the ladies watching their figures? The vegetarians and the different religions requiring specially prepared foods? And even though the men (who were put on diets by their wives) would be glad for the break, what about them? Also, last but not least: what about brain food? You know? The food that adds some minutes or hours to your concentration span.

Today, people are much more aware of what they should or should not eat. Therefore, the Riviera on Vaal Hotel caters to your every need and provides you with a wider variety of different food types. Yes, they still have the traditional samoosas and meatballs, but they also serve mushrooms, fruit kebabs, and other foods to your liking.

The hotel also boasts with conference breaks with a difference, which include options such as:

  • The Riviera on Vaal Ice Cream Parlour
  • Spa Health Break
  • Cinema Break
  • Smoothy Break

Should you need more information on the above or about a function venue at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club, feel free to ask about the food that will be served at the gathering and state your requests so that the hotel can make your special experience even a better one.

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High Tea at Riviera on Vaal

Posted in Riviera on Vaal Hotel, tagged , , , on July 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »


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Do you know where high tea originated from? Not in South Africa, that’s for sure, and definitely not at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel, even though it is enjoyed at the hotel quite often.

The story of high tea starts way back to the 18th century in Britain. Anna Russel, the Duchess of Bedford and lifelong friend of Queen Victoria, started the original afternoon teadue to noon meals that became skimpier and dinners that were served fashionably late. She would have her servants sneak in a pot of tea with a few breadstuffs at around four in the afternoon. Later she started inviting friends over for an additional afternoon meal which consisted of small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and tea off course. This became so popular that she later named it “Tea and a Walking the Fields.” During the Industrial Revolution, families would come home from work exhausted and find the table set with all kinds of meat, breads, butter, pickles, cheese and tea. This meal was mainly for the working men of that time and they mostly enjoyed the meal while standing or sitting on high chairs. Due to the fact that the tea was not served at the lower tea tables anymore, but rather on higher ones, this late afternoon meal became known as the high tea as we know it today.

High tea snacks then evolved into a larger selection including not only the traditional breadstuffs and small cakes, but also meats, pickles, cheese and relishes.

Riviera on Vaal surely knows how to cater for high teas in South Africa. With a lovely venue beside the Vaal River, it is easy to fit into the “Tea and Walking the Fields” scenario. Book a high tea at Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club on Saturdays and indulge in their wide variety of tea time snacks.

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