The Ant Collection - South Africa

Ant’s Nest is hosted by Ant and Tessa Baber with their competent and friendly team. 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 ten guests. 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 refreshing pool in the garden surrounded by extensive lawns and beds of indigenous plants. A wide variety of game frequent the waterhole in front of the house where horses and dogs abound. It is a children’s paradise

Ant’s Hill is hosted by wonderful staff who create an open, 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 every bathroom is amazing. Set in boulders on the edge of the cliff the swimming pool cascades over the lip of the gorge, inducing you to relax there for hours. Ant’s Hill caters of a maximum of 12 guests and is perfect for a group of four or five couples or a couple of families traveling together

Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill will give your children a life-changing experience. Special actives are laid on for children and teenagers who enjoy getting involved in the running of a game ranch. Toys and games are available to keep young ones occupied between activities and the lawned gardens surrounding both bush homes create a safe haven for them to play in. Special food and meal times can be arranged and children are welcome to come to supper in their dressing gowns. While the variety of activities keep all well entertained you will all learn a great deal about wildlife and gain inspiration to last you a lifetime. It’s quite educational

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 transverse 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 for the professional rider and the absolute beginner. The herd of 30 horses is made up of big thoroughbreds and Arab-boerperd crosses and include some fabulous children’s ponies. 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. Many children learn to ride and learn how to appreciate the environment here

For those who prefer walking, our guides will guide you through the bushveld on foot. These walks are informative and interactive, enabling guests to glean knowledge of the flora, fauna and animals resident on the reserves. Learning to recognise 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

A game ranger will be available to take you out in an open 4x4 Landcruiser whenever you wish, using a spotlight at night to find elusive nocturnal animals

We usually find: White rhino with their young, zebra, giraffe, warthog, blue wildebeest, sable antelope, waterbuck, impala, red hartebeest, blesbok, kudu, the rare Livingstone eland, oryx, mongoose, springhare, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, duiker, black backed jackal, scrub hare, lesser bush baby, tree squirrel, steenbok, rock hyraxes, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck and nyala. We sometimes spot nocturnal species such as: leopard, carcal, aardvark, brown hyena, porcupine, bush pig, bat eared fox, stripped polecat, honey badger, serval cat, African civet, genets, wild cat and klipspringer. Whilst we have a number of small lakes we do not have enough water for crocodile or hippo but can look for them in the river valleys nearby

We are very happy to take you through the Waterberg to see other interesting sites including: Bushman paintings and Iron Age villages. The rhino and cultural museum, visiting orphaned rhino. A crocodile farm with 10,000 reptiles and hippo in the Palala River. To a local ‘Big Five’ game reserve, so you can try to find the lion and elephant we would rather not ride with. Ant’s father, Charles Baber will give you the historical background to the area, taking you on a tour of his cattle stud and farm, where 9 hippo have invaded the irrigation dams. There is a tennis court and pool below the beautiful gardens at Charles’ house. We go to a historic thatched church on Sundays where you can meet local people and see the 1914 building designed by Sir Herbert Baker. Children can attend a colourful Sunday school where the Sotho children sing choruses in rousing harmony. We are happy to take you shopping in the local town. Whilst not traveling around you can lounge by the pool or enjoy a massage. We have a library of books and a curio shops stocked with original, handmade crafts. The staff often sing traditional songs after dinner

The whole area is malaria free and since we have excellent local doctors with one of the countries’ leading pediatricians living nearby, the Waterberg is one of the safest places to visit in Africa. You will only need to ensure your tetanus injections are up to date

We take great pride in our sumptuous home cooking, dining outside whenever possible under shady trees. We often end game drives with a bush breakfasts, while 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

Location: The reserves are situated on an escarpment looking out over the Waterberg Plateau in the Limpopo Province, 3 hours north of Johannesburg International Airport. We are 4 hours east of Madikwe and 5 hours west of the Kruger National Park. Getting there: We can arrange private road transfers or air charters between destinations but let us know if you would rather hire your own car. Recommended stay: 3-7 nights What’s included: accommodation on a full board basis, food, wine, all beverages, laundry and all activities at Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill. Meals: We can cater to your every whim; just let us know what you like to eat and drink. Facilities: Ant’s Nest consists of the main house, which has two double rooms. There are also two double rooms, with private bathrooms and verandahs across the lawns. Ant’s Hill consists of 2 honeymoon chalets situated away from the main lodge with a family cottage that has two bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms as well as a private sitting room and balcony. Another luxurious double bedroom with a private verandah is located above the main lodge

Both our lodges are small and intimate catering to a maximum of 10 / 12 guests each. We offer the lodges mostly on an exclusive basis for families. We are very flexible to accommodate families unique needs, and parents do not have to worry about noise levels or disturbing other guests. At Ant’s Hill we have a family cottage which consists of two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a large living area and a nice verandah (particularly good for families with younger children e.g. 0-14 years). The other rooms also have private bathrooms and verandahs situated well away from one another At Ant’s Nest we accommodate families in the main house in the adjoining double and triple room with en-suite bathrooms. There is also a separate honeymoon cottage and chalet which both have a sleeper couch where younger children sharing with adults can be accommodated