South Africa - Ant’s Bushwillow Safari
Bushwillow is part of the Ant’s Lodge portfolio with the same quality horses and guides. It offers a distinctive safari experience due to its location on the open plains. Set below the rocky heights of the sister lodges, Bushwillow riding country is ideal for long canters with great opportunities for wildlife encounters.
These 7 night set date Bushwillow Safaris are great for solo travellers looking to join a group, friends travelling together or couples and family groups of a similar riding ability.
Transfers are shared from Johannesburg so you can benefit from the shared cost but also start your adventure together right away.
There are normally game drives or bush walks available as well as the riding which makes it a lovely safari holiday tailored each week for the group in camp.
The lodge has a number of excellent, well-schooled horses from Thoroughbreds and Arabs to Boerperd crosses.
For the set night Bushwillow Safaris you must be confident at all paces and happy to ride at a canter in a group.
(Riders of all abilities, including beginners are very welcome at Ant's Nest and Ant's Hill).
One of the best ways to get close to game is on horseback and these horses are extremely used to the game as they live out, side by side with the animals on the reserve.
The horses are ridden in South African Trail saddles and most have snaffle bridles.
Hard hats are mandatory on this ride.
Bushwillow is part of the Ant's Lodges portfolio.
There are four separate chalets at Bushwillow – each looking out over the grassland towards a water-hole which is lit up at night.
Three of the chalets (Lion, Buffalo and Leopard) are for one or two people. Each has 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. It has two identical en suite bedrooms and a spacious shared sitting area and veranda.
The lodge at Bushwillow sits alongside the rooms and by the pool. Here you come together for breakfast, lunch and dinners. There is also a boma for evening meals. Alongside the lodge is a lovely swimming pool to relax on hot afternoons.
All five rooms at Bushwillow can be made up as twin or double. There is no single supplement (except over Easter and Christmas/New Year).
The itinerary is 7 nights with arrival days throughout the year. The usual maximum riding group is 6 riders but it could be up to 10. Please contact us to check availability for any of the dates below.
| Holiday | Experience LevelExp Lvl | Arrive - DepartArr - Dep | Price | Itinerary | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 20 Jun 2026 - 27 Jun 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 28 Jun 2026 - 5 Jul 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 5 Jul 2026 - 12 Jul 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 12 Jul 2026 - 19 Jul 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 20 Jul 2026 - 27 Jul 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 1 Aug 2026 - 8 Aug 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 8 Aug 2026 - 15 Aug 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 15 Aug 2026 - 22 Aug 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 22 Aug 2026 - 29 Aug 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 9 Sep 2026 - 16 Sep 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 16 Sep 2026 - 23 Sep 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 23 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 1 Oct 2026 - 8 Oct 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 8 Oct 2026 - 15 Oct 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 15 Oct 2026 - 22 Oct 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 22 Oct 2026 - 29 Oct 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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Full | |
| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 4 Nov 2026 - 11 Nov 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 11 Nov 2026 - 18 Nov 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 18 Nov 2026 - 25 Nov 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 5 Dec 2026 - 12 Dec 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 12 Dec 2026 - 19 Dec 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,345.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 20 Dec 2026 - 27 Dec 2026 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,465.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 13 Feb 2027 - 20 Feb 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 20 Feb 2027 - 27 Feb 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 27 Feb 2027 - 6 Mar 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 6 Mar 2027 - 13 Mar 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 20 Mar 2027 - 27 Mar 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,525.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 27 Mar 2027 - 3 Apr 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,645.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 3 Apr 2027 - 10 Apr 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 17 Apr 2027 - 24 Apr 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 24 Apr 2027 - 1 May 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 1 May 2027 - 8 May 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 15 May 2027 - 22 May 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 26 Jun 2027 - 3 Jul 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 10 Jul 2027 - 17 Jul 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 17 Jul 2027 - 24 Jul 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 24 Jul 2027 - 31 Jul 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 1 Aug 2027 - 8 Aug 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 15 Aug 2027 - 22 Aug 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 22 Aug 2027 - 29 Aug 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 11 Sep 2027 - 18 Sep 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 18 Sep 2027 - 25 Sep 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 25 Sep 2027 - 2 Oct 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 9 Oct 2027 - 16 Oct 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 16 Oct 2027 - 23 Oct 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 23 Oct 2027 - 30 Oct 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 30 Oct 2027 - 6 Nov 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 13 Nov 2027 - 20 Nov 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 20 Nov 2027 - 27 Nov 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 28 Nov 2027 - 5 Dec 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 12 Dec 2027 - 19 Dec 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,485.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 19 Dec 2027 - 26 Dec 2027 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,565.00 |
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| Ant's Bushwillow Safari | 26 Dec 2027 - 2 Jan 2028 | 7 nights 7 ngts | £2,765.00 |
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INCLUDES Accommodation; full board; drinks; riding; game drives; bush walks and Rhino Conservation Fee.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT There is no single supplement (except over Easter and Christmas/New Year).
PAYABLE LOCALLY Off ranch activities; massage treatments; cellar wines & champagne; tips.
NEAREST AIRPORT Johannesburg
TRANSFERS Shared road transfers from Johannesburg airport at a set time cost £65.00 per person each way. Transfer rates for 2027 are not yet confirmed
For the Bushwillow Safari shared transfers are arranged from and to Johannesburg International airport.
On arrival day your flight should arrive into Johannesburg by 10:00 for a transfer departing the airport at 11:00.
On departure day the transfer will leave Bushwillow at 12:00 and so your return flight should be after 18:30.
The journey from Johannesburg to Bushwillow is about 3.5 hours.
Private game reserve in the Waterberg.
Dry and mild in winter. Warm to hot in summer with occasional summer storms.
Lovely forward going horses- they give you the opportunity to change or try a couple of different ones during the week.
Lots of lovely sandy tracks to ride as well as through the bush. A mix of walking and some nice canters with plenty to see.
Melissa ,Surrey
Overall rating: 5/5
In The Saddle - Personally Inspected Riding Holidays Worldwide says