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Polo Holidays

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. Ride horses, hike, learn about nature or go on a jeep safari.

Waterberg Safari Lodge

Ride on horseback or jeep up to game such as rhino, giraffe and eland. Discover the mysteries of spoor, 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 Barber, your hosts, now features two luxury lodges: Ant's Nest and Ant's Hill. 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.

IT-SASR03
Rates include luxurious private safari lodge accommodations at Ants Hill, all meals, daily rides and safari excursions
5 day/ 4 nights  $ 1,595     
starting Dec 1, 2007
5 day/ 4 nights  $ 1,760
Low Season $ 1,480  
... see full rates list
High Season:
12/01-02/19   03/21-05/14   07/01-11/04
Low Season:
02/20-03/20   05/15-06/30   11/05-11/30

HT SPECIAL 
6 days/ 5 nights $1,695  for November

Meeting:  Ant's Hill
Airport:    Johannesburg
Transfer: $235 per car from J'burg (2 pax)
                 each way  ... see details
Novice to Intermediate
Mclellan, English and Australian Thoroughbred,  Anglo Arab
Pace:        Moderate with trots and canters
Max Riders: 8

Note: luxury combined with excellent riding and wild game make this one of the best rides in South Africa.
Please make sure to bring sufficient funds for extras such as tips and shopping with you as the lodge doesn't accept credit cards!
Single supplement can be waived outside of High Season.

Horseback and more:
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 2 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.
Game Drives are also a wonderful option for those who find themselves a little saddle sore. A great way of seeing the bush from the comforts of an open 4x4 land cruiser. Let Ant take you up the mountainsides or down into the valleys viewing game in a more sedate manner. Days wind down with sundowner drinks during a magnificent African sunset atop the mountain and a sumptuous meal back at the lodge.

Accommodations:
These secluded bush homes cater for a maximum of 8 people, in 3 double bedrooms and a twin room. The accommodation consists of a separate thatched Rondavel with ensuite bathroom and private verandah, an upstairs thatched guest bedroom, also with bathroom ensuite and a private elevated verandah, with wonderful views over the plains and Waterberg hills in the distance - the perfect chill out spot! The main house has a double ensuite room and a twin room with its own adjacent bathroom. This house has a cozy sitting room and open fireplace with adjoining dining room.

The large verandah surrounding the main house is an ideal setting for afternoon siestas or for reading that good book. All our double rooms feature unique hand crafted, wooden, four poster beds. Surrounding the lodge are beautiful landscaped gardens filled with indigenous succulents and plants, very attractive to our native bee-eaters and rarely seen black sunbirds. The plunge pool is a popular feature, inviting guests in the hot sunny afternoons.
Tessa with her influence from Kenya has brought, to the old colonial homes, a stylish warmth in her use of classic furniture fashioned from local timber, fabrics and stone. An atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility awaits you. Each lodge caters to a maximum of eight people and you may have exclusive use with a group of four.
This safari lodge takes pride in it's sumptuous cuisine, carefully prepared by a chef, from fresh and native produce. Meals are taken in a variety of secluded and alternative places. You may find yourself enjoying a hearty breakfast under a shady syringa, somewhere out in the bush, or a 3 course evening meal dining in the cozy reed boma, around an open campfire, under a starlit African sky.
The reserve is one of diverse topography and vegetation. Not only are there over 15 species of antelope (including Sable, Nyala & Oryx), but it is also home to White rhino, Giraffe and Burchels Zebra. An abundance of bird life, both native and migratory, can also be found in the Waterberg.

Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill are two exceptional bush homes situated on adjoining private game reserves in the malaria free Waterberg, 3 hours north west of Johannesburg. Ant and Tessa Baber have a general policy of taking only one family, group or couple at a time, allowing guests exclusive use of the lodge of their choice. Our aim is to provide a uniquely flexible safari experience offering guests a wide choice of activities, keeping everyone entertained from the youngest to the oldest, the fittest to the most in need of a rest.

Location: The reserves are situated on an escarpment looking out over the Waterberg Plateau in the Limpopo Province, 3 hours north of OR Tambo International Airport (formally known as Johannesburg International Airport.) We are 3.5 hours east of Madikwe and 5 hours west of the Kruger National Park.

Getting here: We can arrange private road transfers or air charters between destinations but let us know if you would rather hire your own car. See directions at bottom of page, for any other directions not listed please contact us.

Airstrip co-ordinates: Surface =grass, co-ords =S 241208 E 280558, Elevation =3780 ft, Length =1000 m, Direction = 03/21

Recommended stay: 4-7 nights (this could be at one of a combination of both lodges)

What’s included: Accommodation on a full board basis, all beverages, laundry and all game viewing activities including riding, walking, game drives and mountain biking Not included: massages, clay pigeon and target shooting, additional activities off the property and curio shop purchases.

Meals: We are able to cater for all dietary requirements, but would require you to advise us in advance if you have special needs. Special children meals can also be prepared.

Facilities: Ant’s Nest consists of the main house, which has a double bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and a twin room. There are also two double rooms, with private bathrooms and verandas across the lawns.

Ant’s Hill consists of two honeymoon chalets situated away from the main lodge with a family cottage that has two bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms as well as a private sitting room and balcony. Another luxurious double bedroom with a private veranda is located above the main lodge.

What to bring: Sunglasses, sun cream, hat, swimming costume, bush clothes: shorts, trousers, shirts, riding helmets and leather chaps with comfortable old riding clothes (helmets are also available at the lodge) walking shoes or trainers. We recommend a warm fleece/jacket throughout the year.
We do accept credit cards – Master and Visa for extras only.

Seasons:
Summer (November to March) – the days can get quite warm (up to 28-32 degrees on average, but it is a dry heat) we do get summer rainfall, normally in the form of thunderstorms, these rarely affect guest activities and are usually in the evening.
Autumn (April to May) – days can still be warm but the evenings cool down. Average day time temperature 22-28 degrees. Evenings 10-15 degrees.
Winter (June to August) – days are warm (temperatures in the mid twenties) evenings and early mornings very cold, average early morning temperatures 5-12 degrees. No rain during this time.
Spring (September, October) – days start getting hotter, evenings and mornings could still be crisp but not as cold. A very slim chance of rain. On occasion we can get very hot days.

Medical: The whole area is malaria free and since we have excellent local doctors with one of the country's leading paediatricians 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.
Tick bite fever can be contracted from pepper ticks in the summer months. This is easily treated and please consult us for symptoms

Game List: We usually find: white rhino with their young, zebra, giraffe, warthog, blue wildebeest, sable antelope, nyala, waterbuck, impala, red hartebeest, Blesbok, kudu, the rare Livingstone eland, Oryx, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck and nyala, steenbok, mongoose, springhare, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, duiker, black backed jackal, scrub hare, lesser bush baby, tree squirrel, rock hyraxes. 
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.

Rates - per person per night in US Dollars (min 3 nights) and are fully inclusive of all meals, all drinks, guided walks, game drives, riding and laundry.  Additional activities are available in the area such as elephant back safaris at an additional price.

Ants Hill Rates
valid to Dec 1  2007 to Nov 2008
Ants Hill is sold on a non-exclusive basis

Ants Nest Rates
valid to Dec 1  2007 to Nov 2008
sold on an exclusive basis during High Season - other times with minimum rate

For more information about Ant's Nest and Ant's Hill, please fill out the Information Request Form or Contact Us directly. You can also check out our South African Polo Safaris.