ONE FOR THE FAMILY
LOCATION
Specialising in family safaris, Ant’s Hill (and sister lodge Ant’s Nest) are both private bush lodges on a 5 000ha private reserve in the Waterberg region of the Limpopo Province. It will take you about three hours to drive there from Joburg. Built on the edge of a cliff, Ant’s Hill offers breathtaking views of the Waterberg.
BUSH STYLE
Ant’s Hill caters for a maximum of 16 guests and is booked on a non-exclusive basis. However, should you wish to book the lodge on an exclusive basis this can be done.
With thatched roofs throughout, the lodge blends seamlessly into the bush, incorporating stone, reeds and wooden beams into the architecture. Brightly coloured fabrics and exotic furniture, faintly reminiscent of the Maasai Mara, make this a luxurious yet unpretentious environment.
There are two honeymoon cottages (one with a private plunge pool), one family cottage with a master bedroom and two twin rooms.
There is also a spectacular two-bedroom cottage with vast living and verandah areas, a plunge pool and a twin/double room above the main lodge.
The four-poster beds are 2.1m wide and each bathroom is an experience in itself, with sunken baths and waterfall showers. The two-bedroomed cottage has not two but three baths, one outside on the upper verandah, where you can immerse yourself in bubbles under the vast sky.
But the biggest focus here is on rhino conservation and owners Ant and Tess Baber are pioneers in the field, having founded the Save the Waterberg Rhino initiative.
SERVICE
The service here is fantastic with most staff locally recruited and trained. Nothing is too much trouble and smiles abound.
BUSH GRUB
The food is simple yet delicious and all meals are freshly prepared. Breakfast is cold meats and cheeses, plus fruit and pastries with the usual made-to-order eggs and bacon. Expect burgers, kebabs and salads for lunch, while dinners usually consist of three courses. The ostrich steak on the first night and the cream cheese and pesto stuffed mushrooms, roast pork and crème brûlée on the second night were all stand-out dishes.
ACTIVITIES
Nothing compares to the unique experience of coming within touching distance of wild animals — especially the rhinos — on horseback in the bush. The reserve may not have the Big Five but 40 species of game — including giraffe, white rhino, leopard and jackal — make up for it.
But game is certainly not the only selling proposition of this special place. Ant’s is one of the most child-friendly lodges in Africa, with activities for the whole family including guided walks, pony rides, mountain biking, archery, rhino tracking, bird watching and night-sky safaris. Both lodges offer flexible activity times so you’re not held hostage by a schedule.
BEST TIME TO GO
Best are the winter months from May to September for game viewing and enjoying a glass of red in front of the fire. Summer will see you around the pool, relishing the views.
FACILITIES
There isn’t a spa but massages are offered inroom at an additional cost. There is a main heated swimming pool and gorgeous stone fireplaces in every room. Each room also has a well-stocked mini-bar. Wifi is available throughout the lodge, including in rooms.
RATES
SA residents’ rates start from R3 100 per person per night in a standard room. This include meals, drinks, horse riding, game drives, game walks, mountain biking and laundry. Not included is the rhino conservation fee of R75 per person per night.
CONTACT
See https://waterberg.net/ants-hill/ Reservations: https://waterberg.net/contact/
Kromberg was a guest of Ant’s Hill