Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill are two beautiful lodges situated on its own private game reserve in the spectacular, malaria-free Waterberg region of South Africa.

Here, in the heart of the South African province of Limpopo, you will experience what is probably the most fabulous riding safari but there is also a range of other activities on offer. Guided bush walks, vehicle game drives and cycling safaris are also available. Ant’s was established 25 years ago by Ant & Tessa Baber and continues to be run by Ant, whose family has lived in the Waterberg since 1865. They have won a reputation for a homely and friendly welcome that offers guests of all ages an unforgettable adventure. Ant Baber and his team have perfected the art of the luxurious and very personal safari. The lodges are ideal for riders and non-riders alike as activities can be tailored to suit each person in the group.

Great pride is taken in the delicious cuisine on offer. Enjoy bush breakfasts, starlit dinners around open fires or impromptu lunches beneath a shady tree. Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill not only offer a fabulous game viewing experience and a wide variety of activities; they are superb places to relax in the idyllic African surroundings and watch the sun go down for those needing a well-deserved break.

If you would like to explore the surrounding areas, the guides can also take you sightseeing in the Waterberg area. For instance, you can visit bushman paintings, and archaeological sites, or a vehicle game drive to a nearby Big 5 game reserve. For those who are a little saddle sore or in need of real relaxation, you can enjoy a massage. All these extra activities are at an additional cost.

The Davidson Suite is downstairs in the main lodge and has two bedrooms. Each has a private bathroom and also opens up into the garden. You have the option of your room being a double or twin bed. The rooms also access a cosy library and seating area, with an open fireplace, which is ideal for relaxing on those cool winter evenings. The two rooms can be booked independently at any time.

These rooms are the latest addition (for 2022) rooms built downstairs, below the Weaver Suite. Each room has a double bed, which would be suitable for a couple or someone traveling by themselves. Both rooms have a private bathroom and can open up into the garden. Kingfisher and Flycatcher cannot be made into twin rooms.

The Rondavel is set to one side of the main lodge. It’s a lovely room built in a traditional African circular form with a high-thatched roof and an outside veranda with a private seating area. The bedroom has a four-poster double bed as well as a four-poster daybed. This means that the room can be made up of twin beds as well. The third bed would be ideal for a small child traveling with parents. Leading from the bedroom, there is an en-suite bathroom and an outdoor shower. There is also a minibar where one can make tea or coffee.

The Sable Suite is upstairs in the main lodge and is perfect for friends, two couples, or a family. The master bedroom has a king-size, four-poster bed and a large window overlooking the lush gardens and African bush beyond. The large bedroom leads through to a spacious bathroom, with a bath and shower. The second room (which also has its own bathroom) is smaller and can be made up as twin or triple beds.

There is an open sitting area with comfortable sofas and a large fireplace, which is ideal for chilly evenings or even to relax after a long day. There is also a dining area and a fully kitted mini-bar with tea and coffee-making facilities. The dining area leads to a spacious veranda with a cool leafy seating area. The two Sable rooms are generally booked as a unit, except on Game Census weeks and occasionally in low season. During these times it is possible for the two rooms to be booked separately. When the rooms are booked separately, the sitting area and veranda are shared.

The Weaver Suite is a beautiful, spacious, and light upstairs room, set to one side of the main lodge. It has a king-size four-poster bed. There is a large veranda, overlooking the bush, which is perfect for relaxing with a cold drink from the mini-bar. The en-suite bathroom has a bath and a separate shower. The dimensions of this room easily allow for beds to be added for two children traveling with their parents. It can also be made up as a twin room for two friends. There are tea and coffee-making facilities.

ANTS HILL

Ant’s Hill is built on the edge of a gorge and offers breathtaking views across the reserve. This lodge can take a maximum of sixteen guests. The main lodge has a large sitting room and dining room accompanied by views overlooking the gorge. Set into boulders on the edge of the cliff, there is an infinity-heated saline swimming pool that cascades over the lip of the gorge.

The following rooms are available at Ant’s Hill:

Located above the main lodge building, this splendid room can consist of either two twin beds or one double bed. It has an en-suite bathroom and spacious, outside balcony and daybed, which allows guests to have a spectacular view over the valley.

Lookout is an exquisite room with a king-size bed that can also be converted into a twin bed, which is ideal for two friends. An additional bed can be added for a child visiting with parents. The spacious open- plan en-suite bathroom consists of a bath with a view; a waterfall shower as well as an outdoor shower, overlooking the valley for that ultimate ‘in the bush’ feeling. The bedroom features a fireplace to keep you snug on the cool winter evenings and also opens out onto a deck that overlooks the valley and a water hole. The room has a mini bar with tea and coffee-making facilities.

Hideaway is a secluded luxury cottage. Tucked away, with a king-size, four-poster bed, it is perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway. It can also accommodate a second bed so is suitable for a child traveling with their parents or for two friends. The bedroom opens up onto an outside deck area with carved daybeds, ideal for relaxing in the cool shade. There is a cosy seating area inside with an open fireplace. The open-plan en-suite bathroom features a sunken bath and French doors that open onto the deck to bring the outside indoors. There is a waterfall shower inside and an outside shower overlooking the valley. The outside deck leads down to a private sunbathing area and a private (unheated) plunge pool for cooling off in the heat of the day. This room also has a mini bar with tea and coffee-making facilities.

There are also two spacious cottages at Ant’s Hill. These are normally booked on a per-cottage basis, either by a family or group of friends. During the Game Census and occasionally in low season, the individual rooms of the cottages may be booked and in this case, the lounge area is a shared area.

The spacious en-suite master bedroom has a king-size, four-poster bed accompanied by an open-plan bathroom consisting of a bath and a luxury waterfall shower. A second bed can be added to this room if two friends are sharing. The twin bedroom has two three-quarter size four-poster beds which can be made up as a double or a twin bed. This room shares a bathroom with the loft bedroom, nestled under the thatched roof, which can sleep three children. However, the loft bedroom isn’t really suitable for adults.

This cottage has a spacious sitting room, with an open fireplace and dining area. This opens onto a balcony with gorgeous views over the valley. There is a mini bar with tea and coffee-making facilities in the lounge area.

World’s View Cottage is the ultimate bush retreat. There is a double bedroom upstairs that opens onto a private balcony, featuring an outside bath looking over the stunning valley below. There is a spacious bedroom downstairs (which can be a twin; double or triple bed) that opens onto the deck area. It has an en-suite bathroom with a bath and an outside waterfall shower.

There is a sheltered veranda outside for relaxing during the heat of the day, leading to the pool area with sunbeds and a private (unheated) plunge pool for cooling off. On chilly winter evenings, you can cosy up next to the open fire in the sitting room with a glass of wine from the mini-bar.

BUSHWILLOW CAMP

Bushwillow consists of 1100 hectares of open spaces along with the camp itself. The camp includes 3 basic standard en-suite double/twin standalone rooms and one two bedroom, two bathroom unit. It sleeps a maximum of 10 guests and a minimum of 4 guests at a time. All rooms offer the same amenities along with air conditioning and tea and coffee making facilities. All the rooms surround the main lodge and are within close proximity of each other. The main lodge offers a swimming pool, bar, lounging and dining area.
Bushwillow is best suited for experienced riders.

All lodges are open all year. You can arrive and depart on any day and stay for as long as you wish (minimum three-night stay). We recommend a stay of seven nights.
Child discounts apply to children aged 2 – 11.
Either lodge can be booked exclusively at any time of year (subject to availability). This gives unlimited flexibility with up to 3 or 4 different activities at any time.

In high season, the Family Cottage and World’s View Cottage at Ant’s Hill have a ‘per night’ rate based on up to 5 people. At other times, the rooms in each cottage can be booked individually.

A private guide may be pre-booked at an additional cost per day (including a morning and afternoon activity).