We are deeply committed to providing a professional service to any client or guest.
Covid-19 or Corona virus disease
is a global pandemic disease that has affected us all in one way or another. Our industry has been particularly hard hit with many tourism businesses taking hard knocks and the staff associated with them losing jobs, income and seeing a massive loss in earning through a travel ban worldwide.
Antares Bush camp & Safaris is in a unique position in that we are still in the process of completing our refurbishment and as such we have not had to deal with any cancelled bookings and the headache that that has brought with it. We do however need to plan ahead for the days when the travel bans are eased and the local lockdown is lifted so we can complete the camp and open our doors to many people who may wish to travel and throw off the cabin fever that will have affected us all.
In accordance with local regulations we are now required to provide a link to the national Covid-19 website on all .za websites. Please visit this link should you need to be advised of the latest situation in South Africa, http://sacoronavirus.co.za/
As much as we rely on travel and tourism in our industry Antares Bush Camp urges everyone to do the responsible thing and Stay at Home until this pandemic is conquered. We need you all to stay safe so we can all enjoy the beauty of our planet together once again.
Some background information to where we are and where we came from
Over the last few months the camp has been going through a facelift and refurbishment and as a result has not been available for bookings. We will advise of the exact dates once we have decided on them. Unfortunately the current Corona virus enforced lockdown has postponed this more than we had hoped for.
Antares started off as a well-respected and reputable training camp for Field Guides and had produced some of the best guides now found operating in other lodges across southern Africa. In 2018, a decision was taken to change the focus of the business and we decided to open up as a self-catering camp. Catering for a maximum of eight guests ensures that we continue to strive for that personalised attention we promised our trainees.
The camp has undergone a major transformation and as with butterflies that emerge from a chrysalis the same can be said for our camp. See some of the before and after images below. As we progress through the rebuild we will add more photos until such time as we are ready and able to upload the new camp in all its glory.
Antares Bush Camp is a small exclusive bush camp set within the open system of the Greater Kruger National Park. In the northern section of the Balule Nature Reserve is an area of land that had its origins in small scale agriculture. Over the past 20 years Grietjie has developed into one of the most sought after pieces of real estate that can now boast the “Big 5” and a host of other species of mammals and birds.
Our traversing covers almost 7000 Ha and includes over 10kms of Olifants River frontage. The vegetation is a mixture of Marula/Knobthorn savannah veld and Mopane veld. There are a number of small granite/syenite kopjies (small hill made up of rocky boulders)) on the reserve and the largest hill is named “Grietjie Berg” after which the reserve gets its name.
Our winter months produce a comfortable environment to explore the bush in, with dry and relatively warm days. We don’t experience extremely cold conditions although the clear skies at night can make the temperature drop a little especially nearer the river. During the summer we expect to receive our annual rainfall between October and April and the day time temperatures can get very high, but this just gives you the perfect excuse to laze away in the plunge pool while you watch the animals come down to the waterhole to quench their thirst.
