Waterberg Safari Lodge

Introduction
Waterberg South Africa

Ride on horseback or jeep up to game such as rhino, giraffe and eland. Discover the mysteries of spoor (animal tracks), and learn the fruits and medicinal use of the local trees and plants. The mountains and gorges create amazing views and vistas of the Waterberg, and make sundowners and surprise bush breakfasts just perfect. The Waterberg safari lodges, located on a private game reserve, are in a unique part of South Africa's Waterberg mountains. Nestled in a secluded valley, it is home to a huge diversity of game, bird life and flora. The old colonial homestead of Ant and Tessa Baber, your hosts, now features two luxury lodges:

Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill are two unique bush homes located on their own private game reserves set in the beautiful and diverse malaria free Waterberg region of the Limpopo province of South Africa. Together, they offer some of the most exciting and quality game viewing and riding on horseback in Africa. With its classic furniture fashioned from local timbers, its warm fireplaces and crisp plunge pools make this the ideal place to unwind and to explore the magnificence of the surrounds.

With a fine selection of nearly 60 fit, reliable and responsive horses and ponies and over 11 years of experience we take great care in perfecting the match between horse and rider’s ability. Due to the varying topography and ecology across the reserves, the bush is teaming with an incredible variety of game species from rhino and buffalo to leggy giraffe, rare sable antelope, herds of eland, zebra, wildebeest, big spiral horned kudu to the fleet footed oryx just to mention but a few. 

The riding pace can vary from cantering with giraffe and wildebeest to meandering along high rocky bluffs watching the setting African sun, or quietly riding through a herd of grazing zebra or family of rhino. Both properties are ideal for not just the serious rider looking for a horse riding safari in South Africa, but also their non riding companions or families. The Waterberg Safari lodges offer a wide range of other activities on the property such as game drives, guided walks, mountain bikes, clay pigeon and target shooting as well as a host of different activities in the area such as elephant back rides and historical tours or just relaxing to the dreamy pace of Africa. Each guest can do as much or as little horse riding as they wish and we pride ourselves in our flexibility.

Accomodation

Both lodges are uniquely designed to blend into the natural environment around them, yet create open spacious living areas with the splash of bright colours from African fabrics and the warmth of the local rock, timber and thatch. Heated swimming pools, a delicious blend of local and international cuisine, al fresco dining, as well as relaxing full body massages, round off the experience after a day of riding. Ant’s Hill is hosted by wonderful staff that creates an open and friendly atmosphere. Built by Ant and Tessa on the edge of a cliff, this bush home offers breathtaking views across the Waterberg. With spacious rooms and vast folding doors, the thatched lodge blends into the bush while the exotic furniture and brightly coloured African fabrics make it both sophisticated and comfortable. The draped four-poster beds are seven foot wide and each bathroom is spectacular, offering guests sunken baths and waterfall showers. Set in boulders on the edge of the cliff the swimming pool cascades over the lip of the gorge (also heated), inducing you to relax there for hours. Ant’s Hill caters for a maximum of 12 guests and is booked on a non exclusive basis; however, if you wish to book the lodge on an exclusive basis, this can be done. The rooms consist of two privately appointed honeymoon cottages, one family cottage with a master bedroom and 2 twin rooms and twin room with a spectacular veranda over looking the gorge.  Ant’s Nest is where it all began. Lying in a natural amphitheatre the original homestead, with its wide verandahs, has a classic African atmosphere. The luxurious en-suite rooms accommodate a maximum of only twelve guests (6 bedrooms). Tessa, who grew up in Kenya, brought the colonial home a stylish warmth using classic furniture fashioned from local fabrics, timber and stone. There is a 15 meter pool in the garden, ideal for those needing some exercise or great for kids or purely cooling off after a day of riding, it is heated all year round. Extensive lawns and beds of indigenous plants surround the pool and home and there is a wonderful thatched chill out spot with vast sofa beds to relax on during the heat of the day. A wide variety of game frequents the waterhole in front of the house where horses and dogs abound. Ant’s Nest is booked predominantly on an exclusive basis i.e. to one group of guests at a time, although out of high season you can also book just one room. The concept we strive for is to create a bush home experience where one can become part of a working reserve and learn about the bush by experiencing being part of it from horseback. Wake up times, meals, activities etc are all dictated by our guests as we try to tailor make their stay. 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, doing game census on horseback etc. Meals We take great pride in our scrumptious home cooking, dining outside whenever possible under shady trees. We often end morning game activities with a bush lunch, whilst at night we sit around open fires under the stars. Excellent South African estate wines are served. We can cater for all dietary requirements and have a vegetarian menu available. Please contact us in advance if you have special needs.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

At both lodges there are two dedicated and hardworking teams who endeavour to give each guest a memorable African riding experience. They are all enthusiastic young people handpicked for their love of wildlife, horses and hospitality. Rides are always guided by two professional local guides who add to the experience their infinite knowledge of the game, flora, tracks, natural medicines and love of the bush.

Both lodges 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 rider would like. When you come across game you can often get so close the experience is unforgettable.

We have fit, reliable and responsive horses, providing a choice for both the professional rider and the absolute beginner (you do not need to have riding experience to ride with us). The herd of 60 horses is made up of big thoroughbreds and Arab-boerperd crosses and includes some fabulous children’s ponies. The horses live out and graze amongst the game on a daily basis, the thoroughbreds being stabled at night. This has allowed the game to become habituated to the horses thus giving one a unique opportunity of really getting in and amongst the various species whilst riding. 

We use comfortable Maclelan saddles and have English saddles available. Rides are led by two competent guides and the emphasis is on safety at all times. We therefore advise all guests to wear protective head gear whilst out riding. For the enthusiastic rider, you may wish to ride twice daily and turn your trip into a luxury riding safari, alternatively for the less eager; riding can be one of the many activities you can enjoy. Many guests learn to ride here. It is compulsory for all clients to wear head protection gear whilst riding. Should clients not have their own riding hats to bring with them, we do have a selection of various sizes at both lodges.

Riding helmets are mandatory for all rides and are available at the lodge.

Itinerary

From horseback you are able to get close to the wildlife, blending in and becoming one with the bush. Tracking rhino or giraffe from horseback is by far the most exhilarating and intimate way of viewing game in their natural habitat. Enjoy canters on the open plains and take in stunning views from the top of the mountains. There is a selection of excellent, well-schooled horses, suitable for any riding level. All rides are accompanied by two guides, with guest safety a top priority. Nothing beats an early morning 3-hour ride, culminating in a delicious bush breakfast overlooking the plains of Africa.
You can ride as much or as little as you like, combining this experience with other activities. From here guests are taken to discover other parts of the Waterberg such as Lapalala Wilderness (with its famous population of black rhino, bushman paintings and iron age sites), the Clive Walker Rhino Museum, Marakele National Park, or the spectacular Mokolo River, to name a few.
Maximum of 6 riders per group.

The Riding on a typical day:
The riding pace on our horseback safaris can vary from cantering with giraffe and wildebeest to meandering along high rocky bluffs watching the setting African sun, or quietly riding through a herd of grazing zebra or family of rhino. Both properties are ideal for not just the serious rider looking for a horse riding safari in South Africa, but also their non riding companions or families. Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill offer a wide range of other activities on the property such as game drives, guided walks, mountain bikes, clay pigeon and target shooting as well as a host of different activities in the area such as elephant back rides and historical tours or just relaxing to the dreamy pace of Africa. Each guest can do as much or as little horse riding as they wish and we pride ourselves in our flexibility. For families or couples where some ride and others don’t you can enjoy separate activities, alternatively as they have 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 bush homes

Guided bush walks:
For those who prefer walking, our guides will guide you through the bushveld on foot. These walks are informative and interactive, enabling guests to gain knowledge of the flora, fauna and animals resident on the reserves. Learning to recognize tracks is great fun. Whilst these walks can be in the form of a gentle stroll, the more energetic can hike over the plains and down impressive gorges.

Game drives:
Our guides will be available to take you out in an open 4x4 Land cruiser either for a morning or afternoon game drive or using a spotlight at night to find elusive nocturnal animals, such as the rare brown hyena, aardvark and porcupine.

Massages:
Whilst not traveling around or spending your time riding you can lounge by the pool or enjoy a massage.

Weddings:
Both bush homes make for a fabulous wedding venue and we can tailor make your special day.
In the surrounding area you can also visit a reserve to look for elephant or lion, which we prefer not to ride with, visit our local charity or enjoy elephant back safaris

Game list: Due to the diverse topography and vegetation both Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill carry an incredible range of different game species. There are: rhino, sable antelope, buffalo (a breeding conservation project at Ant’s Hill producing disease free buffalo) nyala, gemsbok (Oryx), kudu, giraffe, Livingstone eland, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, zebra, impala, bushbuck, duiker, steenbok, mountain reedbuck, waterbuck, warthog, Blesbok, baboons, bush pig, klipspringer, leopard, jackal, brown hyena, caracal, civet, genet to name but a few. There are 300 recorded bird species in the area to add to the exquisite variety of all forms of wildlife that the reserves.

Riding helmets are mandatory for all rides and are available at the lodge.

Rates and Dates for Waterberg Safari Lodge

Dates Note: arrival can be any day of the week

Other Info
Meeting: Ants Nest
Airport: Johannesburg
Transfer: Johannesburg Airport

Climate:  Summer (Nov to Mar) warm temperatures between 28 C- 32 C, with chances of thunderstorms in the evenings. Autumn (Apr-May) warm days 22 C – 28 C  and cool evenings 10 C-15 C. Winter (June-Aug) days are warm with temperatures in the mid 20’s and mornings and evenings very cold with temperatures between 5 C- 12 C. Weather starts to warm up again in Sept and Oct.

Clothing should be neutral bush colored. It is recommended that you travel with a set of clothes and essential items in your carry-on bags in case of luggage being lost.
The lodge accepts all major currencies (USD, GBP, and Euro). If using USD, please make sure to bring new notes as most countries do not accept old notes (with smaller heads). Also accepted: VISA and MC, but they have to be credit cards, not debit cards as we are not able to put a pin number in.
Voltage is AC 220V (110V North American appliances will not work), but plugs vary from country to country, so make sure to travel with a set of adapters to ensure your ability to charge and use your appliances on your safari. All rooms have a hair dryer - so no need to bring one.
Water which is served is safe to drink at both lodges, but if you would prefer bottled water, please request from staff and they will be happy to accommodate your wishes.
Please make sure to inform the lodge staff of any dietary requirements or allergies prior to travel.
Riding helmets are mandatory on all rides - available at the lodge.