Antbear Lodge

Antbear Lodge

P171 Moor Park/Giants Castle Rd, Central Drakensberg Fernhurst Farm, Estcourt 3310 South Africa
Traveller (323)
Deck in the front of the Drakensberg luxury cave
Room & Suite (117)
Dining (19)

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Avg. R 3,967 /night, 2/8 - 2/9
R 3,967
per night
R 3,865
per night
R 3,763
per night

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About

#1 of 1 guest house in Estcourt
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
4.2 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
The Antbear Lodge is situated in the Drakensberg Mountains and is a perfect base to explore the very best of what this region offers. The Drakensberg Mountains are renowned for their dramatic natural beauty spectacular mountain scapes, waterfalls and sunsets. And don't forget about the bushman rock art paintings made by the San people over a period of 4000 years. Come and be inspired by their history and spirituality. Essentially we are an accommodation provider offering 15 individually styled units as either en-suite doubles, family units or luxury suites. Our most unique accommodation is our luxury cave which blends into its environment to create an atmosphere of privacy and seclusion. Glass doors open on to a wooden deck with hammock chairs with an uninterrupted panoramic view of the Drakensberg Mountains. You could even consider a romantic private dining experience on the deck of your cave under the stars. The natural setting is stunning and we have managed to make the accommodation fit in with ease. Each of the units are different and are separate from each other creating a feeling of generosity. The rooms are smartly appointed and individually designed for comfort. And have the features like fireplaces and jacuzzi spa baths. We have put a huge amount of effort into making our own wooden furniture which includes tables, chairs, headboards, windows, doors and light fittings. In fact you will discover unique and eccentric wooden furniture everywhere in the lodge. Artistic design is captured through wooden hinges, engraved glass and mosaics. And if you feel like seeing how we make our furniture feel free to put your nose into our workshop. We are one of those places where everyone dines together. It makes for great conversation and is a perfect opportunity to plan your next day. We use our own organic vegetable garden. We have our own chickens for eggs, cows for milk, make own cheese. Butter and yogurt and bake our own bread. Sustainability is a huge part of the ethos of our lodge. We have used alternative materials like straw bales to build the place and use solar for heating water and a reed bed filter cleaning waste water. There is plenty to do here besides relaxing. I have a pilots license and a microlight at the lodge. If the weather is good I love to take guests with me. To glide together with the vultures or fly along the Drakensberg escarpment is often considered as the highlight of a tour. We practice the softer horse whispering techniques to train our horses and offer out rides that are particularly suited to beginners and first timers. There are hiking trails to fit every level of fitness, even guided. The vulture hides at Giants Castle are perhaps the best options available anywhere to see and photograph these birds. Or add a bit of adrenalin with a canopy tour. Visit the Nelson Mandela Capture site while you explore our local arts and craft route with cheese tastings, chocolate dipping and meeting some of the artists themselves. So if you're looking for a place where art, beauty and time away are important then Antbear Lodge is worth a second look. We invite you to came and share some of our dream, some of our alternative, sustainable and relaxed way of life. We look forward to welcoming you.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free breakfast
Hiking
Horseback riding
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Private check-in / check-out
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Special diet menus
Fishing
Board games / puzzles
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Fireplace
Refrigerator
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
4.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, German, Zulu

Location

P171 Moor Park/Giants Castle Rd, Central Drakensberg Fernhurst Farm, Estcourt 3310 South Africa
Getting there
Pietermaritzburg Airport
79.5 km
See all flights
King Shaka Intl Airport
136.4 km
See all flights
Traveller rating
  • 241
  • 95
  • 21
  • 8
  • 7
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Detailed Reviews
Shanna24 wrote a review Dec 2022
Borex, Switzerland
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Our experience in this lodge was very good, even beforehand Andrew the owner was very helpful with tips and general information via whatsapp. We booked the cave for 4 nights, unfortunately we had to leave after 3 nights because of the bad weather. I appreciate that they didn’t invoice us the last night even though it was a last minute decision.
First the area/location and room. This is a very remote location so excellent to get away from any noise and stress. Mind you that the road leading to the the lodge is 12k long over a rock/gravelroad so good tires required. When it rains it gets quite muddy. Our room (the cave) had a wonderful view over the valley and you can stargaze from your terrace in a hammock. It must be said that you are a bit isolated from the area of Dragon Peak and Giant’s Castle, both require 1hr to get to.
“The Cave” is a special room that really feels like a cave (and is therefore also a bit dark) and it has a separate bathroom which was clean but there were quite some bugs/spiders because it is a warm space so of all things the bathroom
Was the thing I liked the least. There were no bugs or spiders in our room though.

Second, service and food were both very good, the team was always willing to accommodate our requests and the food was honest/basic but decent and certainly more than enough.

We admired the woodwork, almost everything from windows to chairs to chandeliers and door handles were made by the owner which is amazing. I can understand it’s not to everyone’s taste so I would recommend this place for outdoorsy people looking for a quietness in a remote location with beautiful views but not looking for a fancy hotel/lodge with a modern room and excellent wifi.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Consider the remote location
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Candice wrote a review Apr 2024
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Spent the weekend away with a friend in KZN at one of the most unique accomodations available - an actual cave! We stayed in the cave and had such a relaxing weekend. Everything was so amazing! From the views of the mountain to the private jetted tub. The room is equipped with a little coffee station, a mini fridge, a fireplace, chairs and a table, a separate shower and bathroom, spacious bed, hammocks and tub. (Some people may not like that the separate bathroom has no curtains but when the shower gets going it mists up and provides you with some privacy) Included in our stay was a 3 course dinner - which we got to have on the deck of the cave as well as breakfast, which were all well cooked and delicious. The room is serviced daily. There are very easy walks that you can go on and a hand carved chess set which is so fun to play with, the property itself is nice to walk and look at. This really is a unique place to relax and leave behind the city life! The road to the accommodation was perfectly fine for my little Suzuki Espresso but it does lead to a dirt road in the mountains. The dining area was very cute and rustic with each room having their own hand made table and chairs to dine at. You will also be able to connect to the wifi here. There are other unusual units available and the property is per friendly so you can bring your fur baby along! We found everything to be adequate during our stay and definitely recommend a visit.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from andrew attwood, Owner at Antbear Lodge
Responded 09 May 2024
we would love to see you again
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ShrekMcG wrote a review Jul 2022
Johannesburg, South Africa
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Friendly staff greeted us and took us to our "Cave". The room was well appointed and fitted in well with the "quirky" nature of the Lodge whose owner has over the years done all of the woodwork that could, because of the nature of the work be described, as wood art. The windows, doors, lighting etc are all amazing and give the lodge its "Out of Narnia" character - just a feeling that we got! We were on a DB&B basis and all of our meals were superb. The location of the Lodge is also ideal providing access to the Midlands Meander and the Central Drakensberg. We spent 1 very satisfying day at the Lammergeier hide at Giants Castle. The only negative I suppose is the condition of the roads in the area; but this is general problem in South Africa. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Antbear and would recommend this tranquil destination very highly. We actually commented that it could be a Retreat.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freedom36759757772 wrote a review Aug 2024
1.0 of 5 bubbles
This place is a scam, they advertise as Lodge yet they are a Guest house. their Luxury cave is a man made rock room with fake drawings on the walls. the toilet for the Luxury room is outside, we went out during a windy night for the toilet. the place is just a farm with rooms to let. nothing Eco about this place and far from everything, very isolated far from the Drakensberg mountains.
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Date of stay: August 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
1.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
1.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: there are better beautiful places to visit Drakensburg not Antbear Lodge. I booked out and went...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trip59641193440 wrote a review May 2024
2.0 of 5 bubbles
We booked this months ago, and on the days before it was raining quite a lot.
So we called to say will we make it there in a normal car, they said yes. It was not at all great to get there... We also went the longer way on the most horrendous wet and muddy road I have ver seen(we followed the website directions).
The room was not the best, it smelt very bad from the fire, and as we discovered was caused by the fireplace not removing all the smoke and the room filling up with smoke.
The spa bath was very nice, but was ruined when the room filled with smoke....:-(

The supper was very good, but the breakfast was a big of shambles, with there being no milk, then the toast was just basically bread, and ....
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: April 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from andrew attwood, Owner at Antbear Lodge
Responded 09 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback. Curretly there is construction work on the Mooi River/Giants Castle road. We are aware of this as as such contact all our guest before arrival and explain the route via estcourt. In a few month time we will be very grateful for the upgraded road that is currently difficult. As for theweather we have no control of that. On inspecting the fireplace we found no malfunction and of it smoking in the room. The chimney was also not blocked. However if we moved the wood to the front to of the fireplace or if we close the fireplace flue we were able to get it to smoke into the room. This is clearly a situation of incorrect use of the fireplace. We have now added how to use a fireplace into our room booklet and it is also now part of the check in procedure. I asked about the issues with breakfast. Considering that we have our own cow and that we bake fresh bread every day this sounds far fetched. We also provide a cooked breakfast that is cooked to order besides the fruit, yoghurt and cereal available on the buffet. If you somehow missed that I would like to apologize.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
vickiebowey72 wrote a review Jan 2025
Kempton Park, South Africa
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Antlbear Lodge is a lovely concept with an interesting history.. We stayed in the luxury cave. Good views and good food. However, we did not see the owner, even on Christmas Day, despite it being stated that he greeted his guests on arrival. The staff were left to run the place. There was a sad lacking of attention to detail. The honesty bar was not well stocked offering only black label and castle beers with not enough beer glasses available. The toilet roll was almost finished and we ran out on the first day and had to ask for more. There was no milk for the complimentary tea & coffee in the room and we had to ask for it. The bar fridge in the room was not switched on. The towels provided need replacing. Whilst the food was lovely, we waited a long time between courses with the table uncleared. Christmas crackers or such like would have been good for the Christmas Day meal. We asked about the horse riding and were told they would see if they could organise it but we never heard anymore. The attention to detail needs to be greatly improved otherwise guests will not return. It is sad as it could be so much better.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
409melanie wrote a review Feb 2021
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed in the cave which was a lovely experience in itself. People must, however, be made aware that it is a MAN MADE concrete cave - we thought it would be a real cave. We had a voucher that made our stay affordable and with that discount I felt that what we paid was the right pricing. I would not pay the normal price, we feel that the normal price is way overpriced. There are no area attractions or views. There is just grass and hills. Some people will be fine with that though. It is a 40 minute drive on a district road once you leave the main road, so once you arrive there you are not going to drive out again until you go home. Even if you did drive out again there is nothing around to explore. Even though it is on the Midlands Meander it is in reality really really far from anything. Also, you will need a small snack or light meal between breakfast and dinner, but you won't want to drive 40mins each way to go into the little town to get anything. The cottages are amazing, wonderful, quirky, different and fantastical. Each one is a huge delight with different touches. People must just be aware that when you go there, there is nothing to do and nothing to look at. At night the bugs come out in their millions, attracted to any light you have on. We feel that you are going there only for the experience of staying in a lovely cottage or the man-made cave. The dinner and breakfast was also really, really lovely. Not fancy food but very well made and very tasty. If the pricing is right it is worth going for the experience of the wonderful fanciful objects and furnishings. If I ever get another voucher making the cost relative and more affordable, or if a very good special was run, then I would definitely go back.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2021
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
1.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from andrew attwood, General Manager at Antbear Lodge
Responded 20 Feb 2021
Hi Melanie just call us and we will make a deal. Pretty much that goes for anyone who deals directly with us. Not having to pay the agent commission is already worth a discount. Also if things are slow like during this covid period we offer really big discounts. As far as stuff to do goes you missed out that you can go on a horse trail, hike right here on the property, visit the game reserve next door, go abseiling we have an abseiling site on the property and of course mountain biking and fishing. The activity we find everybody loves is our star gazing hammock camp where a local villager tells his grandmothers folktales of the night skies. regards andrew
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Michelle wrote a review Jun 2024
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We spent an amazing night at Antbear Lodge. The staff were so friendly and accommodating.
The food was delicious, and the cave was beautifully decorated and a real novelty to sit on the deck and watch the sunset. Definitely recommend a stay.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2024
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FabMags wrote a review Feb 2020
Ballito, South Africa
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Unbelievable views, starry nights and fresh country air compliment the personal service, quant and unique style and good food served at this 15 room venue.

The cave room, which we were fortunate enough to stay in, is something really different and worth booking. The cave room has all the normal luxuries of a normal room including a jetted bath. The cave shower has to be experienced!

With hikes available (booking needed) or just leasurely walks around the venue you'll find enough to do to keep you busy inbetween loads of down time.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CD. wrote a review Jun 2022
Johannesburg, South Africa
4.0 of 5 bubbles
A dog friendly, walkers dream. All you need. We had 2 large dogs with us who did not want us to leave them in the garden to go for dinner, so dinner was brought to us without a blink.

They also provided a cot for our daughter and steralised all her bottles for us. We had a berry incident on the way and our laundry was done and returned berry free.

The staff are superbly friendly.

The food was really good. They catered vegetarian for me without an issue. Tiramisu and boozy pears are highly recommended.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Answer from AndrewAttwood
1 contribution
That will work fine and lots of our guests do that. The drive from the Drakensberg Boys Choir School takes just about an hour. Please make sure you have directions
Answer from andrew a
Drakensberg Region, South Africa12 contributions1 helpful vote
Antbear is a 2 hour drive from Durban. 180 km. It takes an hour to Drakensberg Canopy tours and can be incorporated with route with a lot of other activities too
Peppa0913 asked a question Apr 2017
32 contributions8 helpful votes
Hi is place accessible by a standard vehicle from JNB?
Answer from andrew a
Drakensberg Region, South Africa12 contributions1 helpful vote
hi Peppa Yes most definitely you can get here with a standard car. Most of our guests just have small rental cars. There is a 7 km stretch of dirt road the rest of the way can be reached on paved roads. The dirt road is in good condition although you will be driving a little slower than on the paved road. The drive from Johannesburg takes 4 and a half hours. regards Andrew
lee e asked a question Feb 2017
Zephyr Cove, Nevada57 contributions18 helpful votes
Are any meals included? If not, are meals available, and how much notice is required?
Answer from andrew a
Drakensberg Region, South Africa12 contributions1 helpful vote
Hi Nick We generally include breakfast and dinner with what we offer. We find that our guests are often busy during the day so make lunch an option on request. The reason we include dinner and breakfast is that there are not that many easy options nearby. However if you would prefer a just b&b rate or something specifically tailored to your need please just send me an email detailing what you are looking for and I will send you back a quote with pleasure. We also do cater for special requests including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free etc. Just easier if we know beforehand. regards andrew
andrew a asked a question Jan 2017
Drakensberg Region, South Africa12 contributions1 helpful vote
What pet friendly options are available
Answer from andrew a
Drakensberg Region, South Africa12 contributions1 helpful vote
If country life is for you and you would love to take your pet with you then Antbear Lodge is a great accommodation choice. Your hosts will advise you on all the activities available. Antbear Lodge prides itself on being family-friendly which means of course that children with paws are equally welcome. And there is no extra charges to accommodate your pet.
Freedom36759757772 wrote a tip Aug 2024
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"there are better beautiful places to visit Drakensburg not Antbear Lodge. I booked out and went to Giant Castle its worth every cent"
Read full review
Monique T wrote a tip Feb 2024
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"The dirt road to Antbear lodge is not too bad, just view places where rain washed the road. Drive slowly and all we be ok"
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Shanna24 wrote a tip Dec 2022
Borex, Switzerland104 contributions60 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Consider the remote location"
Read full review
San wrote a tip Jun 2022
Beverwijk, The Netherlands15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Stay home and relax. Enjoy the environment"
Read full review
Conrad v wrote a tip Apr 2022
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Ask for the luxury cave"
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Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Estcourt area.
PRICE RANGE
R 3,633 - R 3,967 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalEstcourt
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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ANTBEAR LODGE - UPDATED 2025 Guesthouse Reviews & Price Comparison (Estcourt, South Africa)

Frequently Asked Questions about Antbear Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Antbear Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Antbear Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Antbear Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are pets allowed at Antbear Lodge?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Antbear Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, German, Afrikaans, and Zulu.
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