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- General Info
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Breakfast Included
Categories:
Game & Nature Reserve and Game LodgeSpecial Categories:
Birder-Friendly, Eco-friendly Accommodation, Family Friendly, and Game Reserves and LodgesGeo Co-ordinates:
Location:
Nearest Airport/s:
Child Policy:
We welcome children of all ages at Ants & have a variety of activities to keep them entertained during their stay. Both lodges have trampolines, sandpits, board games, toys, books, rackets and balls etc. At Ants we also provide baby sitting and children’s meals can be specially planned.
The Safari Awards
Best Family Safari Experience – 2015 (1st / South Africa)
Best Family Safari Experience – 2015 (2nd / Africa)
Best Riding Safari – 2014 (1st / South Africa)
Best Ecologically Responsible Safari Property – 2014 (2nd / S.Africa)
Certificate of Excellence 2014 / 2015 / 2016
Lying in a natural amphitheater the original homestead, with its wide verandahs, has a classic, relaxed, African atmosphere. A wide variety of game frequents the waterhole in front of the bush home bringing game viewing to your door step. Tessa, who grew up in Kenya, brought a stylish warmth to the colonial house using classic furniture fashioned from local fabrics, timber and stone.
Ant’s Nest not only enjoys lovely views down the valley but is also surrounded by open plains where horses, rhino and other game frequently graze in extremely close proximity, don’t be surprised to have a rhino grazing 10 meters from your pool lounger. Our team at Ant’s Nest are exceptionally hospitable and will go above and beyond to exceed your expectations to ensure your stay is a memorable and life changing experience.
Main Lodge
The Main Lodges’ six classic en-suite bedrooms accommodate a maximum of twelve guests. There is a 15 meter swimming pool in the garden, ideal for those needing some exercise or for purely cooling off after an active day and this is great for kids as it’s heated all year. Extensive lawns with indigenous plants surround the pool and there is a wonderful thatched chill-out spot with vast sofa beds where you can relax during the heat of the day.
Ant’s Nest features different room types from standard to deluxe, rooms can be booked individually, however, should you be looking for a very private stay, Ant’s Nest can be booked exclusively, ideal for multi-generational family bookings, friends traveling together or for specialised interest groups / special occasions.
Sable Suite
A deluxe family suite – Upstairs in the main house is a very spacious luxury suite, perfect for families. The master bedroom features a king-size four poster bed with incredible views overlooking the gardens and bush beyond. This leads through to an exceptionally large bathroom and dressing area with bath and shower. Located beside this is an en-suite twin (which can be converted to a double), ideal for two children travelling with their parents. An additional ¾ four poster bed is located just outside this bedroom, for a third child. There is a spacious sitting room with comfortable sofas and a fireplace, alongside a dining area and full bar with tea and coffee making facilities. This opens up onto a very comfortable private verandah with shady seating area.
Weaver Suite
A deluxe Suite – This is without a doubt our largest double room and private verandah that we have, with its expansive views across the valley, this room has a king-size four poster bed as well as a large four poster daybed and still lots more room for an extra bed should you have kids sharing. The en-suite bathroom has a bath and separate shower. The verandah overlooking the bush is perfect for relaxing in the heat of the day and is ideal for private dinners. A perfect suite for honeymooners or families traveling with small kids. There is also a mini bar with tea and coffee making facilities.
Rondavel
Superior Standard room – This is a charming double room, built in the traditionally African circular form with high thatched roof, set to the side of the main house. The outside verandah offers a private seating area with chill out day bed, leading into the bedroom with rustic four poster bed, perfect for couples wanting to enjoy a romantic escape. The room also contains a four poster day bed, suitable for a child sharing with parents. Leading off the bedroom is an en-suite bathroom with bath, shower and an outside shower. There is also a mini bar with tea and coffee making facilities.
The Davidson
Standard Rooms – these are two comfortable bedrooms located downstairs in the original homestead. The double room has a four poster bed and en-suite bathroom, with doors opening up onto a private verandah area with outside seating. Located just next door is a twin room (which can be converted to a double), also with en-suite bathroom and doors opening out to the verandah. These rooms can be booked individually or booked by a family as the rooms are adjacent to one another for those on a budget. These rooms are connected by a passage to a cosy sitting room with an open fireplace, perfect for relaxing on those chilly evenings, and an indoor dining and bar area.
Our Reserve
Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill are situated on their own private game reserve which covers 12500 acres of pristine Waterberg bushveld. The reserve is made out of 12 different ecological zones from open grassy plains to thick montane bush to savannah bushveld.
Since the Waterberg lies on an intercontinental divergence zone we have a wider variety of flora and fauna than elsewhere in Africa. The diverse topography of the reserve also enables us to naturally sustain over 40 species of game including giraffe, white rhino, sable antelope, Roan antelope, buffalo, nyala, gemsbok (Oryx), kudu, Livingstone eland, blue wildebeest (gnu), red hartebeest, zebra, impala, bushbuck, duiker, steenbuck, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, warthog, blesbuck, baboons, bushpig, klipspringer, leopard, jackal, brown hyena, caracal, civet and genet to name but a few. For those of you who are passionate about birds, there are well over 300 species of resident and migrant birds. Guests are always welcome to join in on any management activities on the reserves such as game capture and relocation, treating injured animals, burning firebreaks, game census on horseback etc.
Sable antelope are today one of the most conservation dependant specie in South Africa and rarely seen in any National park. We started with a small core herd in 2001 and today have a successful, well established and viable breeding herd.
The Waterberg Area
The Waterberg is an exceptional and internationally recognised natural heritage site and is a unique wilderness area of South Africa yet to be fully discovered. The first English and Boer Voortrekkers traveled up from the Cape in their wagons in the 1850’s. Its beauty lies in its superb vistas, mountain gorges, crystal clear streams and rolling bushveld hills. The Waterberg’s charismatic beauty and bio diversity which covers 14500 sq km has been recognised worldwide in being awarded the status of a World Biosphere reserve by UNESCO and the only savannah biosphere in the world.
It’s size is equivalent to 80% of the Kruger National park and approximately 70% has already been designated a conservation area and home to the Big 5 and more, Sable and Roan antelope (rarely seen anywhere else today) are an iconic species of the area and a must see! Both of which can be found at Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill. The Waterberg is immensely rich in cultural, archaeological and biological diversity and has a fascinating history. It has been inhabited for at least 2000 years with the earliest people being the San Bushmen. There are numerous archaeological sites and bushman paintings showing evidence of these hunter gatherers. Many of which can be visited from Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill in the form of day excursions.
The Waterberg is also home to the incredibly beautiful Marakele National Park which today hosts one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of the endangered Cape Vulture. These magnificent birds nest on the cliffs of the Santech towers which is the highest point in the Waterberg and boasts some of the best vistas imaginable.
From Johannesburg/Pretoria
- Take the NI north. Once on the N1 you will go past the outskirts of Pretoria and continue for at least 60-80 minutes.
- At the third toll station (this is known as the Kranskop Tollgate) ensure you are in the very left lane as you will coming off the highway here. Turn left towards Nylstroom/Modimolle on the R33.
- Drive straight on this road through Nylstroom/ Modimolle and continue for 60kms to Vaalwater.
- Once in Vaalwater keep driving straight, there is a Total Garage and Spar on your left, take the road right on the R33 towards Ellisras / Lephalale.
- Once on the R33 follow this road for 11kms – take right hand turn down the road which says to Dorset. This is a gravel road.
- Follow this for 10.5 kms on the left you will see a sign for Ant’s Nest, there is a thatched entrance.
- Open the gate and follow the road for about 3kms down into the valley and to the lodge. There are signs indicating lodge.
- Please note that there is a very steep pass down into the valley, but a normal saloon car will make it down fine if you take it slowly in 1st gear.
From OR Tambo International Airport
- Take R21 to Pretoria.
- After about 15-20 minutes you will see an off-ramp road that says Pretoria East/Pietersburg (now called Polokwane) N1, take this off ramp and continue on the N1 north.
- Once on the R33 follow this road for 11kms – take right hand turn down the road which says to Dorset. This is a gravel road.
- Follow this for 10.5 kms on the left you will see a sign for Ant’s Nest, there is a thatched entrance.
- Open the gate and follow the road for about 3kms down into the valley and to the lodge. There are signs indicating lodge.
- Please note that there is a very steep pass down into the valley, but a normal saloon car will make it down fine if you take it slowly in 1st gear.
Breakfast Included
Ant’s Nest Rooms types
The Davidson double and twin: two en-suite rooms situated in the main house both with verandahs.
Standard room – starting from R3900 per adult per night, R2500 per child per night, extra beds R1500 per night
The Rondavel: a double room with large day bed, private verandah and en-suite bathroom with an outside shower.
Standard room – starting from R4600 per adult per night, R2500 per child per night, extra beds R1550 per night
Weaver Suite:
A very spacious double room with large four poster day bed, ensuite bathroom and vast private verandah.
Sable Suite: luxurious two bedroom family suite with en-suite bathrooms, large lounge / dining area and fireplace and spacious veranda.
Deluxe Rooms – starting from R4750 per adult per night, R3400 per child per night, extra beds R1550 per night
Rates Include
- All Meals – lunch on arrival OR departure
(Lunch is served between 12 and 2. No lunch will be served after 2. High tea will be served before the afternoon activity. Extra lunch is charged at R200 per person - All local drinks (soft drinks, spirits, beers and house wines)
- Horse riding
- Game drives and night drives
- Game walks and walking safaris
- Mountain biking
- Rhino tracking
- Fishing
- Bug walks
- Snake & reptile handling
- Bush lunches and sundowners
- Guest to guide ratio 4:1
- Unique flexibility
Child Policy:
We welcome children of all ages at Ants & have a variety of activities to keep them entertained during their stay. Both lodges have trampolines, sandpits, board games, toys, books, rackets and balls etc. At Ants we also provide baby sitting and children’s meals can be specially planned.
Deposit Required:
Payment conditions
- Bookings made by tour operators or travel agents will only be considered confirmed if the operator responsible is holding a minimum of 20% as a deposit.
- Should clients cancel once booking is confirmed, this 20% must be paid to us.
- Direct clients bookings will only be confirmed by us once we have received a 20% deposit.
- Full payment is required 30 days prior to arrival
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation policy
We do not like it to charge guests for not staying with us. We will therefore never charge 100% cancellation fees! Unfortunately cancellation costs to the lodge are as much a reality as taking out travel insurance will be to our visitors. When it happens that you have to cancel your booking we would therefore like to advise you of the following policies that are in place:
If you are holding a confirmed booking and you then inform us that you will not travel.
- 60 days or more before arrival we will charge 25% of RACK rate
- between 30 and 60 days before arrival we will charge 50% of RACK rate
We accept that cancellations done 30 days or less before arrival are due to unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances for our clients.
Late cancellations:
The cancellation charge is 50% of RACK rate and if the guest decides to rebook at any time during the subsequent 12 months (for bookings made in the same season as the original booking) we will only charge 50% of RACK for the new booking!!
Payment Methods Accepted:
Credit Cards Accepted:
- Facilities for Children
- In-room Facilities
- On-Site Facilities / Services
- Services / Facilities in Area
- Activities in Area
Ant’s has got to be one of the most child friendly safari lodges found in Africa, we will give your children and family a life-changing experience from grandparents right down to babies. Our unique policy is to allow children of all ages to join their parents on all game viewing activities, so you can witness their first encounters with wildlife. At Ant’s – family safaris are our speciality, we have an abundance of exciting and thrilling safari activities to offer kids of all ages, allowing them to leave with an intimate knowledge of the bush.
What makes us different?
We have an exceptional variety of family friendly activities available on offer these include:
- Game drives
- Guided walks / walking safaris
- Led pony rides for beginners or under 4
- Bug and spoor walks / learn to become a ranger
- Horse riding lessons
- Fishing
- Horse riding safaris / full day rides
- Snake and reptile talks / handling
- Swimming with the horses
- Mountain biking
- Archery
- Rhino tracking
- Big 5 game drives
- Night sky safaris
- Visit to our local children’s home
Both lodges are small and intimate which allows us to offer you maximum flexibility, there are no fixed times and we will tailor your day according to your needs. Children are welcome to join their parents for dinner. Alternatively, special suppers or meal times can be arranged. As a family you can also book private dinners. Although your children can join you on all activities, however should you, wish to leave them at the lodge and enjoy a more challenging walk or ride, we can offer full child minding.
We have a selection of wonderful ponies catering to both the novice and experienced child rider. Beginners will be led by a competent guide and riding lessons are also available. Under 4 year old children will be led on a pony in and around the lodge area as they are still too young to be taken out on long outrides. Both lodges have various facilities ideal for kids, such as the heated swimming pool which is heated all year round, a trampoline, sand pits, a badminton & volley ball court as well as a selection of toys and books. Due to our relaxed and informal atmosphere, Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill are ideal for families with kids of all ages.