The rooms consist of two privately appointed honeymoon cottages, one family cottage with a master bedroom and 2 twin rooms and, lastly, a twin room situated above the main lodge with a private verandah overlooking the spectacular gorge.
The main lodge boasts a vast living area and dining room, both with fireplaces. A spacious verandah and deck overhang the gorge so are ideal for early morning breakfasts and evening sundowners. To top it all Ant’s Hill overlooks a waterhole frequently visited by a variety of game.
An equipped gym is available for those wanting some serious exercise and there is a curio shop for those in need of retail therapy.
Horse Riding
Both Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill offer the opportunity for
some of the greatest game viewing in the African bush – from
horseback. You can 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 guests
can get so close to the game that the experience remains
unforgettable.
The lodge has fit, reliable and responsive horses, providing
a choice for both the professional rider and the absolute
beginner. (You do not need to have ridden before). The herd
of over 60 horses is made up of big thoroughbreds and
Arab-boerperd crosses and includes some fabulous children’s
ponies. Each ride is led by two competent 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 there
are always two guides on each ride novices can go out with
their more competent partners without slowing the ride.
Basic lessons for non-riders are available at both reserves;
many guests learn to ride and gain confidence here.
Tack and equipment: We use comfortable Maclelan saddles made
locally for long hours in the saddle. These are based on the
famous US cavalry saddle designed for the comfort of both
horse and rider alike. There are a few English saddles
available. No client will be allowed to ride with us unless
they are wearing a riding hat so we do stock a selection of
sizes. It is however, recommend that you bring your own
well-fitted helmet if you plan to spend many an hour in the
saddle. Wide brim hat covers are advisable. In order to be
covered by both your own and our insurers the wearing of
riding helmets are compulsory. Weight limit is 120 kg (19
stone).
Reserve
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,
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. The lodge started with a small core herd in
1998 and today have a successful, well established and
viable breeding herd.
