Antbear Guest House

Affordable Guest House accommodation in the Central Drakensberg near Giants Castle

Description

The Antbear Guesthouse is a thatched, whitewashed cottage built high on a natural platform overlooking the Bushmans River and Giants Castle. This cottage is a bit off the beaten track and is more of an insider tip than just another bed and breakfast. We cater for small intimate groups and never have more than 10 guests at a time.

It’s a laid back, lovingly cared for kind of place where you feel a sense of happiness and peace. Honeymoon stays turn into anniversary commemorations just as guests become friends. Even foreign tourists return for a second and third taste. The name “Antbear” comes from its previous resident who lived under the floorboards before its restoration just a few years ago. It’s filled with gorgeous hand crafted furniture, wonderful wooden sculptures and a seemingly never ending collection of artistic aspects to discover.

Plan for slow and decadent dinners by candlelight prepared by your hosts Andrew and Conny. Sometimes it’s a Moroccan spread including a genuine Moroccan tagine prepared on wood coals or maybe it’s a surprise of just how delightful Chinese food can be. Breakfast is served with freshly baked bread and scones and often it becomes a 2 hour affair. There is plenty to do in the area too. Walks in the Drakensberg mountains, visits to bushman paintings, horse trails though a private game reserve, canoe trips, canopy tours and the Midlands Meander to mention but a few. So if your looking for a place where art, beauty and time away are important then Antbear Guesthouse is worth a second look.

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Attractions

Wagondrift dam and Moor park (8km from the Antbear) are two small conservation service nature reserves where bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, black wildebeest, zebra and impala abound. Moor Park is renowned for its bird life including a pair of nesting black eagles. A major feature of the park is the old Boer furrow trail which visitors can follow.

Kamberg (35km from the Antbear) has inspired many a dedicated fisherman to rise before dawn, get to out in the foothills of the Drakensberg and bag his trout. For anglers interested in not only catching trout, but also learning about their lifecycle, Kamberg is a special treat. The hatchery is right here and visitors are welcome. For those of us not so interested in fishing follow the 5km trail passed the waterfall and chance upon the most exquisite examples of San rock art that can be seen anywhere.

Giants Castle in the Central DrakensbergGiants Castle (35km from the Antbear) with its splendid mountain scenery and towering escarpment is a mecca for those who love strenuous hiking trails, as well as those who prefer a leisurely stroll along the contour path to experience the peace and silence of the wilderness. This reserve is famous for its caves and shelters are rich in San rock art. Another popular attraction is the Lammergeyer hide where Lammergeyers (an endangered bird of prey) and Cape Vultures can be viewed feeding. weenen safari game viewing part of the Drakensberg and Natal Midlands and BattlefieldsThe Weenen Game Reserve (40km from the Antbear) is one of those rare safari places without malaria. At a relatively modest 5000 hectares Weenen is not like a large game reserve but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in variety. There are views where the waving grasslands dotted with flat-topped acacias resemble a miniature Serengeti, complete with modest assemblages of zebra, giraffe and rhino. Other areas, cleft by deep gorges are thickly forested. In the south an escarpment looks down on to the Bushman's river meandering in its deep secluded valley and on the plateau beyond stretches the reserve's wilderness area which is only accessible by foot. Weenen Game Reserve also boasts the highest density of rhino per square kilometer in South Africa. Horse trails and safaris in a game reserve in the Drakensberg regionJoin "Sengani Horse Trails" for a horse safari (45 km from the Antbear) in the pristine KZN bushveld at Mtontwana Game Reserve. This bushveld area is malaria free too. These professionally guided trails take you within meters of towering giraffe and snorting wildebeest. This is an activity that novices can also partake in and something that that seems to make folks come back time and time again. There are also options for a sundowner ride and day tips for more experienced riders.

The Antbear overlooks the Bushman's river, which rises in the high Drakensberg near Giants castle and meets the Tugela north east of the small town of Weenen. It flows through one of those places on earth where the drama of human events seems to be etched forever into the landscape. In the south the huge mountains form the backdrop to this gigantic natural stage and down on the plain bisected by rivers and studded by thorn trees, the red tinge of grass still seems to hint at the bloody battles that were fought here. It is an area of huge vistas, a myriad of vantage points where the landscape rolls out for as far as the imagination.

Facilities

Accommodation

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The Antbear Guest House has six double bedrooms. Each room is differently decorated with uniquely eccentric and artistic wooden furniture. The choice between an ensuite double or a luxury suite is yours. All our rooms are comfortable and have the standard features you expect like hair dryers, tea and coffee trays, a complimentary caraf of cherry and a mini fridge.

Ensuite Double

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All our rooms have queen size double beds and en-suite bath rooms. We can put an extra single bed into the rooms if you require this. The rooms have their own wood burning fireplaces as well as panel heaters.

Honeymoon Suite

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Our honeymoon suite is an intimate ensiute accommodation with a jacuzzi spa bath and a fire place in the bedroom. Of course every detail has been attended to with a slant towards arty and unique. Just lay in the king size bed and look out as the sun rises onto the whole high Drakensberg. A spectical of colour unsurpassed.

Luxury Suite

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What makes the luxury rooms special is that they are very generous, have their own private lounge and of course have king size double beds. The bathrooms have a jacuzzi spa bath included.

The Lodge

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Our home and guesthouse lies in the middle of a network of dirt roads where the traditional way of life is, for the time being, preserved. A place where your soul can find peace and spirit become recharged. That rustic country feeling has been kept without losing any comfort. Candles are used extensively for atmosphere, as are the fireplaces.

The Views

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And the views are to die for. We encourage guests to go for walks right here, and picnic baskets can be arranged for a light lunch on the hill. Of course there is plenty to do in the area but if you want to lie back and chill thats's a great option too.

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