Ants Hill Game Lodge

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The Ant's Hill Safari Lodge nestles on a private game reserve in the malaria-free Waterberg in South Africa.

This Game Reserve is situated on a slope looking out over the Waterberg Plateau in the Limpopo Province, 3 hours north of OR Tambo International Airport.

The safari lodge is a 3.5 hours drive east of the Madikwe Game Reserve and a 5 hours drive west of the Kruger National Park.

This unique Bush Lodge provides excellent and adventurous wildlife viewing experiences, which can be enjoyed on safari drives, guided bush walks, mountain bike or horseback.

The lodge possesses 60 horses and offers a superb wildlife viewing experience from horseback catering for both experienced riders and novice riders as well as children.

This Lodge offers the opportunity for some of the most exceptional wildlife viewing in the African bush - from horseback. Guests are invited to canter along open sandy tracks or traverse high ridges with spectacular vistas. The pace can be as fast or relaxed as the riders would like. Often the rider gets so close to the game that the experience remains unforgettable.

The horses are fit, reliable and responsive, providing a choice for both the professional rider and the absolute beginner. Each ride is led by two qualified guides, and the emphasis is on safety at all times. The enthusiastic rider may wish to ride twice daily and turn their stay into a luxury riding safari. Families or couples, where some ride and others don't, can enjoy separate activities.

As we always have two guides on each ride novices can go out with their more competent partners without slowing the ride. Essential lessons for non-riders are available at both reserves; many guests learn to ride and gain confidence here.

For guests who prefer walking, the guides lead them through the bushveld on foot. These walks are informative and interactive, enabling visitors to gain knowledge of the unique African flora and fauna. One can often miss the smaller details of the beautiful environment when on a vehicle or horseback, so guided walks are highly recommended.

While these can be in the form of a gentle stroll, the more energetic can hike over the plains and up impressive gorges. While identifying insects and birds and learning about the medicinal uses of various plants, visitors also learn how to track game. Specialised bug hunts are available for children at both bush homes.

Safari Drives

The guides drive open 4x4 Land Cruiser on their morning or afternoon safari drives. At night, a spotlight is used to find elusive nocturnal animals, such as the rare brown hyena, aardvark bushbaby and porcupine. The advantage of a safari drive is that you can cover more ground across the reserves. Safari drives and walks can often be combined to make wildlife viewing and photography more exciting.

The guides sometimes spot nocturnal species such as leopard, caracal, aardvark, brown hyena, porcupine, bush pig, bat-eared fox, striped polecat, honey badger, serval cat, African civet, genets, wildcat and klipspringer.

Family Safaris

The Safari Lodge provides children with a life-changing experience. The Lodge's policy is to allow children of all ages to join their parents on all wildlife viewing activities. The lodge provides a selection of ponies catering to both the novice and experienced youth rider. A qualified guide will lead beginners, and riding lessons are also available.

The lodge has created specialised kids walks, although driving in an open 4 X 4 on safari drives is always accessible. Both lodges provide various facilities which are ideal for children, such as the heated swimming pool, a trampoline, sandpits, badminton and volleyball net with a selection of toys and books. Children are welcome to join their parents for dinner. Alternatively, own suppers or meal times can be arranged.

This Lodge is also ideal for families with children of all ages offering a range of activities to keep all well entertained; guests will learn a lot about wildlife, gaining inspiration to last a lifetime.

Dining

The Lodge takes great pride in their sumptuous home cooking, dining in a variety of places and outside whenever possible. Often morning game activities are ended with a bush lunch while at night one sits around open fires under the stars. The chefs can cater for all dietary requirements, and excellent South African estate wines are served.

The day at the lodge usually begins with a light breakfast of cereals, fruits, yoghurt and toast although a cooked breakfast is available on request. A light lunch, with a variety of salads and other delicious dishes, is usually served at midday, followed by high tea before your afternoon wildlife viewing. A scrumptious three-course dinner or barbeque rounds off the day.

The Waterberg, South Africa

As the malaria-free Waterberg region of South Africa is on an intercontinental divergence zone, a wider variety of flora and fauna can be found here than elsewhere in Africa. There are well over 300 species of resident and migrant birds in the reserves. Guests are always welcome to join in on any management activities such as; game capture and relocation, treating injured animals, burning firebreaks, game census on horseback, etc.

Sable antelope are today one of the most endangered species in South Africa and rarely seen in any National Park. The reserve had started with a small core herd in 1998 and today have a thriving, well established and viable breeding herd. The reserve also has a breeding conservation project at the lodge producing disease-free Cape Buffalo.

Climate

The Lodge is in the Waterberg region of the Limpopo province in the northern part of South Africa. This beautiful area is malaria-free and at an altitude of 4,500 feet above sea level offers a wonderfully temperate climate and can be visited all year round. Summer (November to March) - the days can get quite warm (up to 28-32 degrees on average), but it is a dry heat. This area of South Africa receives summer rainfall, usually in the form of thunderstorms. These rarely affect activities and are generally in the evening. However, the African climate is still always unpredictable.

Autumn (April to May) - days can still be warm but the nights cool down. Average daytime temperature 22-28 degrees. Evenings 10-15 degrees. Winter (June to August) - days are warm (temperatures in the mid-twenties) nights and early mornings are average with temperatures of 5-12 degrees. It very rarely rains at this time when the Bush is golden and dry. Spring (September, October) - days start getting hotter, evenings and mornings could still be crisp but not as cold.

Amenities

  • Bar Fridges in Room
  • Bathrobe
  • Ensuite private bathroom
  • Fireplace
  • Hairdryer
  • Heater in Room
  • Housekeeping
  • In-room safe
  • Internet Access
  • Mini bar
  • Standing Fan
  • Tea and coffee making facilities

Facilities Available at Ants Hill Game Lodge

  • Day-use facilities for early arrivals and late departures
  • Open Air Boma
  • Parking
  • Private guest library/ lounge
  • Restaurant
  • Swimming Pool

More Information on Ants Hill Game Lodge

FAQs about Ants Hill Game Lodge
What is the contact number for reservations?

The contact numbers to make a reservation at Ants Hill Game Lodge are:

•  Cape Town Reservations +27 (0) 21 794 9050
•  Durban Reservations: +27 (0) 31 941 5945
•  Johannesburg Reservations: +27 (0) 10 446 8045.

Alternatively, you can check availability and book online by clicking here.

Where about is Ants Hill Game Lodge located?
Ants Hill Game Lodge is located at the following location / address: Waterberg Biosphere, Limpopo Province.