Ant’s Hill

CEDARBERG RATING

Premier

Overview

Ant’s Hill has a panoramic hillside setting overlooking the bushveld in the Waterberg

  • Reminiscent of a luxury Safari House in East Africa
  • Lots of open airy spaces
  • Romantic rooms for couples
  • Two Exclusive-Use cottages – suitable for families with children (over 6) or friends
  • Superb range of safari & bush activities on offer at Ant’s Hill
  • Horse-riding – some of the most exciting game viewing on horseback in Africa

Ant's Hill is a private bush home in the north of South Africa. It is a wonderful destination for honeymooners, families and keen riders alike. It lies on a ridge above a spectacular gorge in its own private game reserve in the magnificent, malaria-free Waterberg region with its dramatic mountain settings. The aim at Ant's Hill is to provide you with a unique safari experience, offering a wide range of activities to keep everyone entertained.

Ant's Hill is owned and run by Ant and Tessa Baber. The Baber family were one of the earliest pioneers in the area, settling in South Africa in 1886. Of English and Irish decent, they carry a love for Africa's wide open spaces, adventure and a passion for its wildlife.

Safaris

You enjoy game viewing in a variety of ways at Ant's Hill. The main focus is their horse riding safaris. They are famous for having almost 100 horses who walk among the game. They offer some of the most exciting game viewing on horseback in Africa – whatever your age or riding ability. However, if you fancy a change from horse riding safaris, Ant's Hill also offers guided game walks, from a gentle stroll down the plains to a more strenuous hike over rugged hills, enabling you to gain a detailed knowledge of Africa's fauna and flora. Game drives in open 4x4 Landcruisers allow you to cover more ground and experience wildlife in a traditional but less energetic way with lots of plains game on offer.

Safaris at Ant's Hill are very flexible. Your guide will tailor-make each day specifically to suit you – so wake up when you want and enjoy a time of pure relaxation or action-packed excitement.

Note that this is not a Big Five reserve and so unless horse-riding safaris are your thing, we would recommend teaming up a safari here with a safari in a more classical game-viewing area such as the Kruger, Madikwe or even the nearby Welgevonden Game Reserve.

Family Safaris

Ant's Hill is also known for its family safaris, because of its excellent family accommodation (see above) and also its flexibility. However, we don't recommend Ant's Hill for younger children under 6 years because of the long drops from the terrace of the buildings. You may like to consider its sister lodge, Ant's Nest, for younger kids.

As well as the family suites, all of the deluxe rooms are large enough for children to share with parents. There are special kids menus. Alternatively, they can also enjoy dinners together as a family. (They also have cots and high chairs for infants & toddlers.)

Your ranger is also happy to arrange special activities if parents are out on other activities. These could include bug walks, archery game drives or nature walks. Back at the lodge, there are heated pools, trampolines and toys to keep them entertained. Horse-riding is often a big hit with the children. (But note that children under 4 will only be allowed out on a pony/lead rein near the lodge. And not on longer outrides.)

At A Glance

  • Off the beaten track
  • Mountain biking
  • Recommended for families
  • Good Food & Wine
  • Horse-riding
  • Mountain Biking
  • Swimming pool
  • Rural location
  • Wifi on premises
  • Wildlife

Ant’s Hill on the map

Rooms

Eagles Nest standard room

A standard room – located above the main lodge, this delightfully appointed room has some of the best views the lodge has to offer and can be booked as either a twin or double room. It has an en-suite bathroom and spacious outside balcony with carved day bed - the perfect place to chill out in the heat of the day. There is a mini bar with tea and coffee making facilities. For those with older children, this room is ideal in conjunction with the Lookout, as another option to the Family Cottage or Worldsview.

Lookout Cottage

A deluxe cottage – this stunning cottage is ideal for honeymooners . It can also be converted into a twin if need be and there is as day bed that can be used to accommodate a child sharing with their parents or a third adult. The bedroom features a fireplace to keep you cosy on winter evenings and opens out onto a deck with carved daybed, overlooking the valley and a water hole where animals often come to drink. The open plan en-suite bathroom features a bath with a view, a waterfall shower and an outdoor shower overlooking the valley for that ‘in the bush’ feeling. The room has a mini bar with tea and coffee making facilities on the veranda

Family Cottage

A deluxe cottage – ideal for families of up to six people, this is a home away from home. The spacious en-suite master bedroom features a king-size four poster bed and open plan bathroom including a bath with a view and waterfall shower. The second bedroom, a twin/double with two four poster beds, can be converted into a double king-size bed, should there be two couples travelling together. This room shares a bathroom with the loft bedroom, nestled under the thatched roof, which is perfect for children. This cottage has a large sitting room, with open fire place and dining area, opening onto a decked balcony with views over the valley. There is a mini bar with tea and coffee making facilities in the lounge area. The Family Cottage is based on a rate for the whole cottage up to 5 people. Extra beds are available at an additional cost.

Hideaway Cottage

A superior deluxe cottage – secluded and private, this luxury cottage is perfect for honeymooners or couples looking for a romantic getaway, yet is large enough to accommodate beds for two children sharing with their parents. The king-size four poster bed has stunning views across the valley, through the French doors that open up onto the outside deck and verandah. The verandah features a carved day bed for relaxing in the shade, whilst wooden steps take you down to a private garden and plunge pool. For those winter evenings, there is a cosy seating area inside with an open fire.

The open plan en-suite bathroom features a sunken bath and French doors leading to the deck, bringing the outside indoors. There is a waterfall shower inside and an outside shower overlooking the valley. The room has a mini bar with tea and coffee making facilities

Worlds View Superior Family Cottage

A superior deluxe cottage – Built with luxury and privacy in mind, our World’s View cottage is the ultimate bush retreat. It is perfect for families of up to five people or two couples travelling together. The en-suite double bedroom upstairs with bath and shower opens up on to a private balcony with an outside bath overlooking the stunning valley below where giraffe, zebra, kudu and eland can often be seen wandering.

The spacious bedroom downstairs opens on to the private pool. This room can either be a twin, double or triple and has an en-suite bathroom featuring a bath with a view, a shower and an outside waterfall shower. There is a covered verandah with comfortable day beds outside for relaxing during the heat of the day that leads to the pool area with sun-beds. On chilly winter evenings, one can cosy up next to the open fire in the sitting room with a glass of wine from the mini-bar. Tea and coffee facilities are also available. World’s View is based on a cottage rate up to 4 people. Extra beds are available.