Posted on April 13, 2025
Olwen sends us this report of her recent visit to Bushwillow at Ant’s Lodges.
“I first visited Ant’s Nest in 1997 not long after Ant Baber had taken over the farm. In the almost 30 years since then Ant’s Lodges have become established as the perfect riding safari. It’s a personal favourite of mine and my family and I just love spending some time there. Ant’s leadership and vision runs across all three properties with each one offering well trained horses, knowledgeable and friendly guides, great riding, lots of animals to see, beautiful accommodation and really good food.
My visit in February 2025 was to see and stay at the newest lodge in Ant’s portfolio – the lovely Bushwillow which borders onto Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill.
Viewing buffalo at Bushwillow
The landscape at Bushwillow is much flatter and more open than at Nest or Hill. The going can be fast along the sandy tracks or open grassland and we had some lovely long canters.
Riding alongside the bushwillow shrub which gives the reserve it’s name
The Bushwillow stables is a short drive from the lodge and one morning, on the way to the stables, we saw some beautiful rare sable resting by the side of the track. We also had lovely sightings of giraffe, wildebeest, kudu and buffalo on our rides.
Sable alongside the track between Bushwillow
Giraffe at Bushwillow
We had a really wonderful guide called Amber, who is also the stable manager at Bushwillow. She hopped off her horse a multitude of times to point out the prints of all the animals which had walked along the track overnight. Both of my daughters said that they preferred riding at Bushwillow, tracking the game, and then having the excitement of finding it.
There’s always been something special about turning up to sundowners at Ants and letting the horses loose to graze amongst the game and the same is possible at Bushwillow.
A gin tasting sundowner at Bushwillow
We had a very special gin tasting sundowner – a first for me. Did you know there is an Amarula gin or a Rooibos Red gin? Both are delicious and we were very content to sit and watch the sun go down.
If you don’t want to ride all the time then game drives and game walks are both possible on the Bushwillow reserve and through to Ant’s Nest and Ant’s Hill.
Rhino and baby at Ant’s Nest
We were so excited to see one of the rhino babies. The rhino aren’t yet on the Bushwillow reserve but that is the intention. Ant plans to relocate many more animals from Ant’s Nest and Hill and there is even a plan to have cheetah which is going to be a very exciting development.
Bushwillow is a very peaceful place. There are four separate chalets – each looking out over the grassland towards a water-hole which is lit up at night.
Bushwillow rooms
Bushwillow room
Three of the chalets are for one or two people and the room can be made up as a twin or double.
Spacious interior of Bushwillow chalet – this is Buffalo.
The rooms can be made up as twin or doubles.
There is a comfortable sitting area, fridge, dressing table and en suite shower room as well as the shady veranda to relax during the afternoon.
A fourth chalet is set a little away from the others. This chalet is called Cheetah.
The two bedrooms of Cheetah share this veranda
One of the two bedrooms at Cheetah. Each bedroom has its own en suite shower room.
The spacious common sitting area of Cheetah.
The lovely pool at Bushwillow.
The lodge at Bushwillow sits alongside the rooms and by the pool. Here you come together for breakfast, lunch and dinners (although there is also a boma for evening meals). Our chef (Viola) provided us with the most beautiful and delicious meals.
Since there is no single supplement on any of the rooms Bushwillow is a perfect place for five or more friends to have a very special private safari.
Being smaller than Ant’s Nest or Ant’s Hill it’s always going to be quieter at Bushwillow. The Bushwillow rooms are more simply decorated than at Ant’s Nest or Hill and they don’t have the wow factor of the splendid cottages at Ant’s Hill – but in all other aspects a holiday at Bushwillow will give you a really wonderful taste of the Ant’s magic. I can definitely recommend it.
As a recent guest told us – this is “a holiday that ticked all my boxes -outdoor activity, nature, good food and wine with the bonus of having a few hours a day to relax in sun – what’s not to like!!”
If you would like us to check availability at any of the three Ant’s Lodges, please do call 01299 272 997 or email rides@inthesaddle.com
