Horse Riding Retreats
in South Africa
The riding retreat is on a private game reserve
Our luxury horse riding retreats are located in the malaria free Waterberg area of the Limpopo Province. The private reserve is 12000 Acres in size with a diverse ecology that supports a large variety of wild life, namely: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. Over 300 bird species have been recorded on the reserve. The reserve is only a 2 - 3 hours drive from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, transfers will be arranged.
There are two lodges on the reserve - Ants Nest and Ants Hill. Comfort and African rustic bush lodge decor with colonial undertones create the ambience.
What you can expect at the horse riding retreat
Both bush homes offer wonderful game viewing experiences, which can be in the form game drives, guided bush walks and mountain biking. Most of all there are also 70 horses. You will have the pleasure of superb game viewing experience's from horseback catering for both experienced and novice riders as well as children. The bush homes offer you a home away from home. The focal point of both lodges is the unsurpassed flexibility that you will have on your stay. You can do what you want, when you want. There is no specific wake-up time and you may tailor each day to suit yourself. you will be able to do up to 3 different activities in the morning and afternoon and there will always be a guide available to assist you. The staff at the retreat will endeavor to make your stay an unforgettable experience.
Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill are ideal for
couples seeking some alone time
honeymoons - for all the wonderful romantic options like bush lunches & pic-nics, private dinners, private sundowners
groups of friends travelling together- you can enjoy either of the bush lodges on an exclusive basis and enjoy the house to yourselve's
Serious riders with a riding programme
Amazing family safaris - children of all ages are wholeheartedly welcome, they can have their own special activities or are welcome to join their parents on all activities (child policy)
Ant’s Hill opened in 2003 and was created with a rustic but fun feel – stone, wild olive, waterfall showers and brightly colored fabrics . Ant’s Hill has 7 bedrooms (which includes two family cottages)
Ants Nest
Ant’s Nest main house is the original homestead established in 1996, the lodge has 6 en suite bedrooms and large pool and garden area. 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. Enjoy lovely views down the valley and surrounding 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. The 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.
The Main Lodges has six classic en-suite bedrooms and accommodates a maximum of twelve guests.
A 15 meter swimming pool to keep you cool.
Standard to deluxe, rooms can be booked individually:
Sable Suite
A deluxe family suite – Upstairs in the main house is a very spacious luxury suite, perfect for families.
A largemaster bedroom,dressing room and large bathroom. A twin en-suite dedroom. A 3/4 bed outside the twin room for a third child. Spacious sitting room, fireplace, dining area and full bar with tea and coffee making facilities. This opens up on to a very comfortable private verandah with shady seating area.
Weaver Suite
A deluxe Suite – This is the largest double room with a private verandah, with its expansive views across the valley, this room has a king-size four poster bed as well as a large four poster day bed and plenty 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 traditional African circular form with a 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 DavidsonStandard 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 make an ideal family suite 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.
Ants Hill is hosted by a wonderful team who create an open and friendly atmosphere. Built on the edge of a cliff, this bush home offers breath-taking views across the Waterberg. With spacious rooms and vast folding doors, the thatched lodge blends into the African bush, while exotic furniture and brightly coloured African fabrics make a sophisticated and comfortable interior. Each cottage is uniquely designed and the individual bathrooms are spectacular with sunken baths and waterfall showers. Set in boulders on the edge of the cliff, the heated swimming pool offers fabulous views across reserve, enticing you to relax there for hours. Ant’s Hill can cater for 16 guests and can be booked non-exclusively or exclusively to one group at a time.The main lodge boasts a spacious living area and dining room, both with fireplaces. A large veranda 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 frequented by a variety of game. Ant’s Hill has a variety of cottages ranging from standard to superior deluxe, they are scenically appointed and each cottage has been creatively designed to suit all types of travelers from families to honeymooners and their varying budgets, scroll down for more details on each cottage and take your pick.
Ants Hill
Worlds View
A superior deluxe cottage – Built with luxury and privacy in mind, 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 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, leading to the pool area with sunbeds. 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. Worlds view is based on a cottage rate up to 5 people, extra beds are available.
Hide Away
A superior deluxe cottage – secluded and private, this luxury cottage is perfect for honeymooners or couples looking for a romantic getaway, but 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 with French doors opening up onto the outside deck and verandah. The verandah features a carved day bed for relaxing in the shade, 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 which open onto the deck to bring 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.
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 with two four poster beds can be converted into a double giving you a 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. Family cottage is based on a rate for the whole cottage up to 5 people, extra beds are available at an additional cost.
Look Out
A deluxe cottage – This stunning cottage is ideal for honeymooners with a king-size four poster bed, as well as day bed that can be used to accommodate a child sharing with their parents. 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
Eagles Nest
Superior Standard room – Located above the main lodge, this delightfully appointed room has some of the best views the lodge has to offer, and it 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 Lookout as another option to family cottage or Worldsview.
Mobile +41767011712
Chruzweg 9
5603 Staufen
Switzerland