ANTS
NEST |
By
Mike Hewitt
Development & Marketing
Date of Visit: October
2004 |
Ants Nest is delightful - full
of charm and stamped with the personalities of owners
Ant and Tess, who have created a safari lodge exuding
charm and reminiscent of East African bush homes,
except this one is nestled in a magnificent part of
malaria free Waterberg, just 3 hours drive north of
Johannesburg in South Africa.
This is a place for families – in fact, Ant’s
Nest must rank as one of the top family safari destinations
in Africa. Not only is there tremendous appeal in
being in a malaria free zone, but there are a wealth
of activities to keep all members of the family happy,
busy, exhilarated and exhausted.
Ant and Tess have recently completed a new lodge,
Ant’s Hill, situated on a ridge overlooking
the Welgevonden wildlife conservancy. The new addition
– with only 5 suites – is also a perfect
honeymoon destination and in keeping with their plan,
the owners prefer the lodges to be occupied on an
exclusive basis to enable guests to experience true
exclusivity, privacy and personal attention to their
requirements.
Situated on a vast tract of land, the lodges offer
a myriad of interesting activities, with horse riding
being at the forefront, as both Tess and Ant are avid
riders. With a stable of over 30 fine horses, there
is a good choice for every level of rider –
on our morning ride we got up close to a group of
white rhino, which was a really memorable experience.
The land is also home to a selection of antelope rarely
seen in other wildlife reserves, including the mighty
eland, magnificent sable antelope, bushbuck, reedbuck,
waterbuck, nyala and many others, beside giraffe,
zebra and white rhino. A recent addition are buffalo,
although for the safety of riders, these are kept
in their own reserve. |
|
Of course, there are game drives in open
4 x 4 vehicles, bush walks, target shooting, stargazing
and massage – so there is something for everyone.
Guests have even been known to join in on the farm’s
maintenance programs, such as burning fire breaks and bush
clearing, although this is certainly not required, but it
is surprising how much one wants to experience and do and
discover when one is at Ants Nest!
The décor at both lodges is East African, with bright
fabrics and cushions draped across carved wooden furniture,
vibrant colours and interesting artwork, all of which were
part of Tess’s upbringing in Kenya.
We found the mood relaxed and informal, the company delightful
and the cuisine generous and tasty, while the rooms, particularly
at Ant’s Hill, are alluring and inviting.
A great place to go and certainly one I would return to
visit for a good number of exciting days, lazy evening and
glorious peace. |
