While riding in the wild is an incredible experience for both novice and experienced riders alike, nothing quite beats a long gallop across an open plain with the wind in your hair and sun in your face. It’s horse riding in its rawest, truest form.
Avid horse-riders, Lauren Bartholomew and her mum have been wanting to do a riding holiday for a while. Having heard about Ant’s Hill through In The Saddle, they decided to give it a go and were definitely not disappointed. Lauren shares a little more about her experiences at Ant’s Hill, which she calls ‘the holiday of a lifetime’:
“We wanted to do a riding holiday in South Africa that would have an adaptable itinerary in centrally based luxury accommodation and Ants fit the bill best. All of the reviews were positive which also helped our decision. It was our first trip to South Africa. I have been to Uganda before, and it has been a dream of my mum’s for a long time to visit Africa too.
One of my favourite things about staying at Ant’s Hill was the friendly staff who ate meals with us and had so many interesting stories to tell. It made us feel like we were among friends. The riding was also obviously a favourite, especially when we were able to take part in a ‘fast and furious’ capture of a kudu for conservation purposes. It was great to see what actually goes in to obtaining the animals and then seeing one released afterwards was very special.
We were also able to feed the white rhino. It was magical to see these rare animals at such close range and even to touch them. In terms of the game we saw whilst riding, the giraffes were fabulous and they towered above the horses. I was also so thrilled that we got a chance to swim the horses as that is something I’d always wanted to do.
The views from Eagles Nest in the Hill were breath-taking and we were made to feel welcome and included from the moment that we arrived. The atmosphere was relaxed and we really liked the flexible approach to the itinerary. No two days were ever the same and we never rode the same route.
The chef was accommodating with my picky eating and you hardly went a few hours without food being on offer. The horses were great – responsive and forward going. My favourite was Masai and my mum’s was Madikwe. My mum was also very happy to have someone else do her washing! We would love to come back one day and I can see why you have a lot of repeat customers.”
[:de]A horse-rider’s holiday of a lifetime at Ant’s Hill
Combining the exhilaration of exploring the untamed African bush, with the thrill of doing something that you love, a horseback safari should be on every horse-lovers bucket list. While riding in the wild is an incredible experience for both novice and experienced riders alike, nothing quite beats a long gallop across an open plain with the wind in your hair and sun in your face. It’s horse riding in its rawest, truest form.
Avid horse-riders, Lauren Bartholomew and her mum have been wanting to do a riding holiday for a while. Having heard about Ant’s Hill through In The Saddle, they decided to give it a go and were definitely not disappointed. Lauren shares a little more about her experiences at Ant’s Hill, which she calls ‘the holiday of a lifetime’:
“We wanted to do a riding holiday in South Africa that would have an adaptable itinerary in centrally based luxury accommodation and Ants fit the bill best. All of the reviews were positive which also helped our decision. It was our first trip to South Africa. I have been to Uganda before, and it has been a dream of my mum’s for a long time to visit Africa too.
One of my favourite things about staying at Ant’s Hill was the friendly staff who ate meals with us and had so many interesting stories to tell. It made us feel like we were among friends. The riding was also obviously a favourite, especially when we were able to take part in a ‘fast and furious’ capture of a kudu for conservation purposes. It was great to see what actually goes in to obtaining the animals and then seeing one released afterwards was very special.
We were also able to feed the white rhino. It was magical to see these rare animals at such close range and even to touch them. In terms of game we saw whilst riding, the giraffes were fabulous and they towered above the horses. I was also so thrilled that we got chance to swim the horses as that is something I’d always wanted to do.
The views from Eagles Nest in the Hill were breath-taking and we were made to feel welcome and included from the moment that we arrived. The atmosphere was relaxed and we really liked the flexible approach to the itinerary. No two days were ever the same and we never rode the same route.
The chef was accommodating with my picky eating and you hardly went a few hours without food being on offer. The horses were great – responsive and forward going. My favourite was Masai and my mum’s was Madikwe. My mum was also very happy to have someone else do her washing! We would love to come back one day and I can see why you have a lot of repeat customers.”
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2. Unlike game vehicles, horseback safaris are eco-friendly and do not contribute to noise and fume pollution in wilderness areas.
5. The pace is slower, allowing you to appreciate all the little aspects that are usually missed in a vehicle.
If you stay with us during that time, you can expect healthy, locally sourced meals that are prepared in-house daily, including fresh fruit and veggie juices and smoothies. As always, your daily itinerary is completely tailored to your desires, and during this time we will be offering a few extra activity options such as pilates, meditation, running, swimming and body weight training, as well as all the normal activities such as horse riding, game drives, cycling and many more. We will also be offering each guest a free massage for every 3 nights spent with us.
I embarked on a horse safari which made me look at these beautiful animals with new eyes, sharing in it with a very intelligent guide, teaching us more about the wildlife as we came up close to some of the many animals on the farm. Later the afternoon, we went on a game drive and came up very close with the farm’s rhinos, a rare moment as we had to remember ourselves that if we do not protect these “giants” our own children might not be able to see them in the wild. We are not too sure where we found the time, but we were even surprised with a massage during our stay, that also took place in the comfort of our private villa, the 
All and all an incredible experience and if you are looking for some quality time away and wanting to recharge your batteries; look NO further than ANT’S HILL AND ANT’S NEST BUSH HOMES!
Tequila a little black and white Jack Russell who belongs to Craig, the general manager at Ant’s Hill. She was given to Craig by his brother when he moved to Zambia. Although she may be small, she’s a fiery little creature with quite the queen bee attitude. Small dog, big heart. Before moving to Ants, she used to herd up to 60 beef cattle all by herself. She’s been on death’s door more than once though. The worst was when she was attacked by a German Shepard. You can still feel the indentation on her side where her ribs where crushed. She is a little fighter though and is going 16 this year. Harry is Jess’s childhood dog and the oldest here at 17 years old. He is mostly deaf now but still takes his little missions up and down from the house to the office and vice versa. Then we have Tess, a timid little daschund, who belongs to Poppet. She is very particular about who she lets give her rubs or attention and is usually found trailing loyally behind Poppet.
Keep an eye out for our next blog article which will feature the dogs at Ant’s Nest![:]
