South Africa riding holiday -horizon or ants lodge?

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Has anyone been to either of these? Just wondered what your opinions of each are? Looking for a riding holiday that I can enjoy with my inexperienced but brave and competent other half with good (safe) game viewing and the opportunity to see the big 5 by jeep somewhere.
Thanks!
 
I went to Horizon a few years back, I had a work trip in SA so needed somewhere that could be flexible about when I arrived and left, the safaris tend to start and end on a particular day but at that time at least you could arrive and leave at the lodge any day.

Definitely a good one if you have a less experienced rider or unfit with you as the as you are riding out each day in their private reserve. They have so many horses all really well looked after so. You ride out every day and there are also activities like xc, polocrosse, games etc if you want. Rides can be fast or not as needed. There was as option to go to a game reserve by jeep, wasn't expensive and it stretched into the evening so you saw the lions at night. Other people who were staying longer than me - I just did 5 days - added on a bush ride where you get get the option to see more wildlife and more challenging riding.

Accommodation was really luxurious and food very very high quality. There's a pool as well to chill out by between or after rides and everyone met up after for pre dinner drinks looking over the lake. Definitely recommend it.
 
Thanks for that. What was the game viewing from horseback like? It doesn't seem to sell itself on the game as much as ants lodge does but more on general riding.
 
I've been to Ant's twice and will be going back many more times. It's brilliant. The game viewing is incredible, their big thing is the rhino, you'll be taken to Ant's house one evening to watch them be fed and I did a rhino walk with Fred this year which got us about 8 foot on foot away from a mum and baby rhino, as well as often coming across them when out riding and outside the lodge at the nest. The rest of the game is also great, I saw giraffe every day this year, various types of antelope, buffalo, baboon, zebra, warthog, and most of them let you get very close.

The guides will adapt the rides to what you want, some of them naturally ride faster than others but if you tell them you want to they'll slow down. They cater for all abilities and are happy to ride mixed groups and split for a canter then meet up again after.

They're pretty laid back, you decide your plan for the morning at dinner then night before and plan for the afternoon at lunch time. The staff are all good fun, the food is incredible. They can also arrange for you to go to Kololo a nearby reserve for big 5 game viewing, I went last year and saw a big herd of elephant which was amazing. Ant's is mainly focussed on the riding but you can also do walks, drives, bike rides, they do a snake talk, incredible massages.

Can you tell it's my favourite place? Happy to answer anymore questions you have about it but basically I couldn't recommend it more. Also, I've stayed at the Nest both times so can't comment too much on how things go at the Hill but I've been up to the Hill and it seems just as good up there too.
 
I'm going to Horizon in a fortnight so I shall report back! They have been great so far- very accomodating and flexible on the itinerary (I'm taking a group) and it looks fab. It's not as pricey as some, it's not quite as remote and dramatic as some I've seen, but it's safe and fun which were most important for me!
 
KatPT said:
Thanks for that. What was the game viewing from horseback like? It doesn't seem to sell itself on the game as much as ants lodge does but more on general riding.
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Giraffe,warthogs, zebra Kudu and lots of antelopey type things. Some of the rides were quite fast with the guide pointing and shouting Blessbok as you passed at speed. Others were slower with the guide explaining tracks and droppings and plants. No big cats or elephants but I think you need to go on the bush safaris for that which is why some people combined a lodge stay with a few nights safari.

Family of hippos that live in the lake. Slightly scary coming out of my hut in the morning and seeing a big hippo footprint in the mud.

If I'd had the time, it would have been good to do one of the safaris just because I would have liked riding from place to place but with the evening jeep safari at the nearby reserve, I didn't feel like I'd missed out on seeing anything.
 
Worth a chat to Gerti at Wait-a-little, depends on when you want to go but they sometimes have groups of less hard core riders and when I was there we had a good number of just about competent other halves.
The game viewing is out of this world!
 
Polos Mum said:
Worth a chat to Gerti at Wait-a-little, depends on when you want to go but they sometimes have groups of less hard core riders and when I was there we had a good number of just about competent other halves.
The game viewing is out of this world!
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Wait a Little is awesome - but quite hard-core riding when I went. 5km flat gallop along the old air strip and jumps in and out of the bush. In fact there was a LOT of gallop! Beautifully schooled horses.
 
Thanks everyone, all great info! Sadly I've just heard that ants lodge and another in kwazulu natal that I fancied are booked up, still waiting to hear from horizon. Due to my other halfs job and leave arrangements we have a really short time window that we can book. Because I've left it quite last minute I think I am set up to be disappointed! My partner and I did a 6 hour ride in California that was mostly trot canter and some gallop and he did brilliantly, but I know for a fact he wouldn't have wanted to do it again the next day!
 
Just a thought. Did you enquire about the whole stay at Ant's? I'm pretty sure their arrival / departure dates are flexible, so they might have some of the dates available. Horizon & Ant's are only about 30min drive away from each other, so it'd be easy enough to do both without missing any rides (and they'd arrange driver for you). You could also include Entabeni, or different Big 5 safari near by.

I've been to both (at Ant's it was the Hill, not Lodge) and would go back to either. Ant's is more expensive and luxurious & they have more game viewing within the riding area. When we went the riding at Horizon was more varied (stayed on tracks at Ants, more off roading and some logs to pop at Horizon), and the whole place is more casual like staying with friends (in the best possible way).

I'm sure you've already thought of it, but if not, give horsey travel agents a call as they might be able to suggest something completely outside the box. Far & Ride are my favourite but there are others.
 
That's a good idea about moving between 2. Or as my other half thinks he may get bored of riding, doing 4 or 5 days at one and then doing 2 days at a big 5 place. I'll try some other ride advisers/agents.
 
Ant's is definitely flexible on arrival and departure dates so worth asking. Both times I've been people have spent a few days at ant's then moved on to a big 5 reserve. Someone I met this year went to Mhondoro and said it was incredible. Madikwe is a bit further but I've heard good things about there too. I think that's my plan for my next visit.

ETA - I've always used unicorn trails for riding holidays and found them really helpful.
 
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I'm super torn now. I have checked into splitting the stays and both horizon and ants have short stays I could do and then split off to a big 5 reserve. I have also seen a lovely looking place called pakamisa at kwazulu natal that looks stunning, has purebred Arabs and is flexible with a big 5 reserve. I don't know which to go for. Ants is a lot more expensive than the other two which is it's only negative. First world problems!
 
I've been to Ant's for a week 2 years ago and it was incredible. We stayed in Eagles Nest. They were so flexible with whatever you wanted to do and there was nearly always food on offer! I think it would be perfect for someone with a non-horsy other half as the horses are good and you pretty much only walk and canter. The game viewing was safe too and we managed to see nearly everything.
 
KatPT said:
I'm super torn now. I have checked into splitting the stays and both horizon and ants have short stays I could do and then split off to a big 5 reserve. I have also seen a lovely looking place called pakamisa at kwazulu natal that looks stunning, has purebred Arabs and is flexible with a big 5 reserve. I don't know which to go for. Ants is a lot more expensive than the other two which is it's only negative. First world problems!
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If you haven't already booked, hope this helps a bit with your decision.

Pakamisa does sound amazing, so it probably depends on how horsey you want your safari to be. They sound more like private lodge with some horse riding, at Horizon riding is priority and Ant's is somewhere in between as they have other activities as well.

Horizon would probably improve OH's riding skills quickest without too much pressure (Polocross on steady steed is surprisingly good way for novices to gain in confidence...), and would give you the most sociable experience with all meals had en famile with staff & other guests.

I'd imagine at Pakamisa you'd be very much served for, and catered as a couple. Again, Ant's falls somewhere in between.

Ant's is well worth the money, and you get really close to the rhino with is their USP alongside excellent riding and everything else.

Rider weight limits are worth bearing in mind for your OH as well. Pakamisa looks to be 90kg (which is not a lot for men), Horizon is 96kg'ish and Ant's is highest at 116 kgs.

And lastly, check what the latest is for malaria information for the areas is. Last I went area around Horizon / Ant's was malaria free, not sure about Kwazulu Natal.
 
Thanks very much. We have done a bit of a compromise as OH doesn't think he wants to ride too many days in a row which is fair enough as he will probably get sore (not many opportunities to get him on a horse before we go). So we have booked a few nights at a game lodge in a big 5 reserve and then 3 nights at Horizon including one at their bush camp (i think...just waiting for confirmation!). The riding looks fun and varied (and I was lucky enough to ride with rhino in Namibia so have at least got to experience that) and I think he will enjoy it, and it looks like I can jump and swim with horses which I have always wanted to do. I loved the idea of Ants Lodge but the extra money was the deciding factor sadly. Thanks for all of the advice!
 
That sounds like an ideal compromise. I'm sure you'll have amazing time at Horizon, the horses and people are brilliant! They like to say that you arrive as a guest and leave as a friend, and it does hold true.

Make sure you guys try Polo cross and get your OH to pop few of the smaller logs as well!
 
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