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P171 Moor Park/Giants Castle Rd, Central Drakensberg Fernhurst Farm, Estcourt 3310 South Africa
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Traveller (298)
Room & Suite (117)
Dining (19)

About

#1 of 1 guest house in Estcourt
Location
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Value
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
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Room features
Fireplace
Refrigerator
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
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 Airport80 kmSee all flights
King Shaka Intl Airport136 kmSee all flights
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359Reviews8Q+A52Room tips
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Sabu2023 wrote a review May 2023
Hannover, Germany1 contribution
It was my second time staying at Antbear Lodge. This time with five friends from Germany. All of us loved the unique and individual lodges. Each one was different with beautiful wood work (so has the main house) and a fire place. The food was delicious and high quality. Everything was clean. The staff very friendly. The view from the houses and the surrounding landscape was beautiful. The only tricky part were the directions which did not seem to match all the time. Good that we had an online map. I would definitely recommend it. Stay a few nights to relax.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: April 2023
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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.
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Response from andrew attwood, Owner at Antbear Lodge
Responded 14 May 2023
Thanks for your review.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
phumelelambande wrote a review Jan 2023
1 contribution
We had an incredibly tranquil stay at Antbear lodge! Andrew and his team upgraded our accommodation to the Cave, and gave us a discount. The lodge was quiet when we stayed there so we got really exclusive treatment! We’ll be back!!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2023
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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.
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Response from andrew attwood, Owner at Antbear Lodge
Responded 14 May 2023
thank you for your review
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bel wrote a review Jan 2023
1 contribution
Antbear Lodge has a lot to offer but not exactly as expected. It's very dog friendly but not toddler friendly enough. The service is exceptional. You can only tip with cash so take enough money. The meals were exceptional. Our room was large and bespoke. Handmade furniture with interesting. The craft persons of the lodge can be commended. The linen was tired. There were smalls stains on the duvet and the towels were thin. Bath sheets would have been nice. The roof is thatch and it's a farm so there were LOTS of bugs. If you're scared of bugs it could pose a problem. The dangerous bugs are ticks you pick up while walking anywhere on the property. Be sure to treat your dogs beforehand and put ample bug repellent on yourself and wear appropriate clothing. Our garden was fenced which was great because of the dogs (not all the units are fenced so ask if you require this) but the patio had a weird railing which essentially cut us off from the garden. We had to duck under it all the time. Which makes playing with a toddler less convenient. The hike around the farm was disappointing - literally a route around the perimeter of the guest / living area of the farm. About an hour in total. It's pretty enough but it's more of a walk. There also isn't a trail. It might have grown closed with all the rain but trying to walk with a toddler without a clear path was a challenge. The donkeys are a nice treat to look at but they were very curious and we had to take a wide berth as we were nervous about how close 8 large donkeys could get. The staff said they were friendly but I didn't want to end up on the wrong end of them with a toddler. The main building / lodge is well appointed and has a lovely view over the mountains. It's not the dramatic Berg (as in Giant's Castle or Cathedral Peak) but still pretty striking. The lodge was built with a lot of love and thought. Very interesting. Unfortunately for us they have a large floating stairway up to a loft. Great for everyone else. Not great for us with a toddler as the railings are far apart. The biggest issue is the road to the lodge. We didn't know the best route to take so ended up on a road where many guests got stuck in the mud. We got stuck. An email with directions prior to arrival would have gone a long way. There were several stressed arrivals. There is a lot to like about Antbear Lodge. It's a great place to relax with dogs or family with older children but it's not quite what we hoped for.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2022
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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.
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Shanna24 wrote a review Dec 2022
Borex, Switzerland104 contributions58 helpful votes
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
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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.
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DianevanVuuren wrote a review Nov 2022
Durban, South Africa199 contributions54 helpful votes
A lovely weekend stay. Spacious mountain view suite. Loved the quirky artwork and glasswork - very different with a lot attention to detail. Lovely meals. Staff friendly. Great to be on a working farm.
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Date of stay: November 2022
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shincomfort wrote a review Aug 2022
Durban, South Africa2 contributions
I was super impressed with Antbear! The staff are super friendly, the woodworking are pieces of art and the food is delicious. Make sure to take a walk around the beautiful ground and enjoy watching the animals.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2022
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ShrekMcG wrote a review Jul 2022
Johannesburg, South Africa17 contributions
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
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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.
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advpot wrote a review Jul 2022
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa18 contributions1 helpful vote
The general look and feel of the lodge and accommodation is dated and needs a facelift. A rat running in the dining room area does not create an appetite.. The food was way beyond par. It must be the most unwelcome arrival we have ever experienced at any destination. To make matters worst the owner himself was contacted that we are 10 minutes away and he was not there upon arrival. The craftsmanship of all the wood interior including tables chairs sofas coffee holders bar fridge cabinets etc etc is magnificent but is not appealing aesthetically to us at all. In fact it’s a bit weird .However another couple found it amazing so it’s a personal taste. All in all we booked for two nights but left after the first night. We were really dissapointed.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2022
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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.
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Joeboy69 wrote a review Jun 2022
Pretoria, South Africa116 contributions18 helpful votes
We booked 5 nights at a garden facing unit that had a small fenced yard for our dog. The positives are the staff that go out of their way to assist. The scenery is decent with the snow-capped Lesotho mountains in the horizon (we were there just as a cold snap hit the area). The food is home cooked 3 course meals every evening with breakfast being fruit/yoghurt, eggs, bacon, toast with cheese, maybe a muffin, mushroom/tomato/beans. The honesty bar has a useful selection but it is expensive. The dog enjoyed walking a few different routes and swimming in a small dam. They are generous in providing firewood on a daily basis. Although some units have mountain facing views it is best to move chairs to somewhere on the lawn with an unobstructed view as there are many trees/shrubs that I would’ve trimmed away. The garden view was forgettable at best. The negatives is the lack of attention to detail. The gate for our yard is flimsy and I had to make other arrangements to secure it. The bathroom window couldn’t close properly and the mechanism is on the verge of falling off. The first morning, with sub-zero temperature, didn’t have warm water in the shower/bath. It was only rectified in the afternoon. You can’t leave your snacks in the room as there are critters coming inside in the evening, as evident by the bottles of eaten hand cream and the hole in the dog food bag. We brought this to the attention of staff who offered that we could use their rat-trap. I declined cause surely housekeeping should do that? There is mention of canapes in the bar before dinner on the website, but this failed to materialise -- an updated website is always better. Overall a decent break-away if you plan on staying in and spending your time walking and reading (limited television available in the main area only). At this price point I have experienced much better value from other establishments in the country which are a third less dear. No COVID protocols were observed despite the dedicated page on the website. As an aside, the roads in the area need attention so plan extra time for reaching the venue as well as for day trips in the area. A vehicle with plenty ground clearance is preferred. This is off course not under the control of the lodge and therefor not a criticism.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
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CD. wrote a review Jun 2022
Johannesburg, South Africa27 contributions11 helpful votes
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.
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PRICE RANGE
US$174 - US$202 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalEstcourt
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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ANTBEAR LODGE - Now R 3 186 (Was R̶ ̶3̶ ̶8̶1̶9̶) - UPDATED 2023 Guesthouse Reviews & Price Comparison (Estcourt, South Africa) - Tripadvisor

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.