Big 5 Horse Safari at Ants River Lodge

You will be met at OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport and a shuttle will take you through to Ants River Lodge. The drive is approximately 3 hours and we recommend you arrive before 10am to make the most of your first day at camp. On arrival, you  will be handed an ice-cold drink and introduced to the staff before being shown to your room. After settling in, lunch will be served out on the deck and the team will chat you through the safety briefing and let you know what to expect over the next week.

Then it’s time to head out on your first first ride, an introduction to the horses and the reserve. These rides are deliberately taken at a slower pace to let you enjoy the sunsets and make the most of those Kodak moments provided by the extensive bird- and wildlife. You’ll arrive back at came in the evening light. After a hot shower, drinks and snacks are served in the riverside viewing deck before sitting down to a delicious alfresco dinner. Fall asleep to the sound of the hippos playing in the river below.

Your day begins with an early breakfast at the lodge as the bush slowly comes alive. The morning ride is a memorable way to explore the reserve. Riding through wide open grasslands and along winding riverbeds, you may encounter herds of plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu, and giraffe. With a little luck, you may also come across members of the Big 5 – all from horseback! Enjoy steady canters across open grasslands or gentle walks in quieter areas, taking in the landscape and wildlife.

Midday is spent deep in the bush, where a beautifully prepared picnic lunch awaits. Set beneath shady trees or overlooking sweeping plains, this is a highlight of the day, offering time to rest, refuel, and share stories from the morning’s adventure. In the afternoon, you head out once again on horseback, or on a
game drive to explore new areas of the reserve. As the afternoon progresses, the light softens, the wildlife becomes more active, and the scenery takes on a golden glow. The afternoon pace is often slower and more contemplative, allowing you time to truly absorb the rhythm of the bush and the thrill of riding among Africa’s wildlife. As evening falls, you return to camp, in time to freshen up. Dinner is served around the campfire beneath a blanket of stars.
This is the perfect moment to swap stories from the day and relive close encounters. Fall asleep to the distant calls of wildlife in the river valley. Tomorrow, another day of adventure awaits!

On your last day, enjoy a tranquil morning at the lodge followed by a hearty brunch before your departure at 12h00 back to OR Tambo Airport. We recommend you book your onward flights departing after 18h00.

BIG 5 GAME DRIVES
Explore the reserve in an open 4×4 game viewer, covering far more ground across the reserve. Here you have the chance of seeing over 50 species of mammal and 250 species of resident and migrant birds. On game drives, the focus is on getting close to big cats, elephant and other exciting wildlife – perfect for wildlife photos!
NATURE WALKS
An intimate encounter with nature and wildlife as you feel Africa underfoot on a guided bush walk with a highly trained field guide. Gain a more intimate knowledge of the local plants, insects and smaller creatures, and learn to recognise tracks of various species of wildlife and their behaviour.
PREHISTORIC ROCK ART VISITS
With hundreds of images spread across 15 sites, Kaingo offers the biggest variety of Waterberg rock art and archaeological finds dating to the Stone Age.
BIRDING
Ornithologists and bird watching hobbyists alike are treated to more than 250 bird species, including African finfoot and Narina trogon.
THE MOKOLO RIVER
With 13 kilometres of Mokolo river right outside the lodge, enjoy excellent fishing, photographic opportunities, or cruise the river aboard the Kaingo barge, a solar powered vessel.