Antbear Lodge, Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal
If you love traveling and are always looking for a new experience then Antbear Lodge near Giants Castle, in the Drakensberg, should be on your list of places to stay. They have accommodation with a difference – a cave!
Not any cave, but a cave that is cozy and comfortable. There is a Jacuzzi spa bath, a lounge with fire place and there is even has rock art on the walls. The wonderfully designed glass doors open onto a veranda with its hammock chairs. Unfortunately, there is only one cave, but there are also a variety of other very comfortable suites.
This award-winning lodge has been rated by TripAdvisor as The Best B&B in the Drakensberg and Trivago rates Antbear Lodge as Number 1 in the Drakensberg.
Owners, Andrew and Conny, say, “Antbear Lodge is one of those smaller, owner run establishments. Sustainability and responsible tourism are a huge part of the ethos of our lodge. We try to do just about everything ourselves. It starts with our alternative structures and ends with the cheese on your breakfast table.”
Accommodation at Antbear Lodge
On a par with the Luxury Cave, are the six Mountain View suites. As the name suggests, the veranda and windows of these suites face the Drakensberg Mountains. They offer the most spacious accommodation at Antbear Lodge and include a large lounge, a big bedroom with a king size bed and en suite bathroom.
The bathroom includes a Jacuzzi spa bath and a separate shower. The verandas are a great place to relax and enjoy the view. All suites also include a wood burning fireplace.
The five Garden Suites have a spacious bedroom with a queen size bed as well as a lounge area and en-suite bathroom. Some of the units have a Jacuzzi spa baths but all have showers. Inside, the rooms include a wood-burning fireplace. Each unit features an individual covered patio that looks out onto a private garden.
Features and facilities at Antbear Lodge
All accommodation at Antbear Lodge is on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Food is a very big part of the stay at Antbear Lodge.
Both Andrew and Conny love cooking. They serve a wide variety of dishes from Indian to German to Italian and all with a local mix of flavour.
Andrew says, “Meals are part of the real surprises that the Antbear Lodge has to offer where home grown cooking is part of the deal. We like to use our own home grown organic vegetables and if we haven’t got, then we lean heavily on those local providers with similar attitudes to our own.”
Conny adds, “Breakfast is served with our own home-made yoghurt and fresh fruit salad, freshly baked bread, scones or muffins as well as our own free range eggs, served with venison sausage or bacon.”
Antbear Lodge also offers a private dining experience where they prepare a table on the deck of your cave or suite and you dine by candlelight under the stars.
There is a lot that is unique about this lodge but none more so than the furnishings. Andrew has made every single piece of furniture, window frame and door himself. His carpentry results in works of art that are seriously big and bold. The woodwork alone makes this lodge a destination in its own right.
Activities
The Drakensberg is well-known for its hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and host of other activities.
Antbear Lodge has their own well trained horses. The horse trails at the lodge are ideally suited to beginners. Antbear Lodge uses horse whispering techniques to train their horses.
There is no better way to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Drakensberg than from the air. Take a trip with Andrew in his microlight and see the Drakensberg like never before.
Antbear Lodge also arranges hot air balloon flights that take off in front of the lodge. There are also 4 x 4 trails, quad biking, swimming, battlefield tours, bushman rock art, white water rafting, golfing, canopy tours, game viewing, bird watching, helicopter flips and fly fishing.
At the end of the day there is no better place to be than relaxing on the veranda or next to a fire.
Top reasons for staying at Antbear Lodge
- Accommodation with a difference – a cave!
- Incredible furnishings and very comfortable accommodation.
- Fantastic food
- Eco-friendly
For more information call 076 441 2362 or email reservations@antbear.co.za. To watch their video, click here. To find them on Google Maps, click here. To make a booking online, click here.
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