Voter prize: Win a weekend away at the magical world of Antbear Lodge

By way of public vote the top six finalists for the The North Coast Courier Bride of the Year 2017 will be chosen!

With the glamorous title comes a host of fabulous prizes.

But not only for the brides. This year we have an incredible getaway up for grabs for one lucky voter:  a luxury two-night stay including dinner and breakfast for you and your partner valued at R6600 (offer valid for six months, subject to availability, excluding public holidays).

Standing warm and friendly on top of a hill infused with colourful stained glass artwork and intricate wooden details welcoming you to a wondrous stay is Antbear Lodge.

Situated near Estcourt on the way to Giants Castle, this extraordinary escape was created by Connie and Andrew Attwood who left their stressful lives in Germany and were inspired to fashion their own artistic African paradise when they woke up an unexpected stranger in an abandoned ruin.

“When we first saw the property in 1999, it had been disintegrating over the past 36 years, but we could see past the blackjacks and wild wattle trees and imagined the view and the old farm house restored to its previous glory. Stepping into the building, we fell through the rotted floor boards, disturbing a surprised, lone Antbear who had chosen this spot as its home – we immediately knew what the lodge was going to be called,” said Andrew, who ran a software development business of his own.

The couple knew they wanted Antbear to be more than just a retreat from the busy city life.

“Sustainability and responsible tourism are a huge part of the ethos. We try to do just about everything ourselves from building  alternative structures using straw bales and growing our own organic vegetables to making the cheese on our breakfast table. We cook all our meals from scratch. I can’t say I had any of the skills, but I did have the passion to learn.”

Learn he did, especially when it comes to the astonishing woodwork bursting with imagination, which flows throughout the lodge and the unique cottages.

WIN a luxury two-night stay including dinner and breakfast for you and your partner valued at R6600 by voting for your Bride of the Year winner! Vote here.

“My dad (Bruce) had done some of the woodwork and I learned from him. Of course there has been things that were not worth keeping but with persistence I started to learn and what is at the lodge now is the result of many hours of patience. Every piece of furniture is made at the lodge by ourselves.

“The furniture is artistic and inspiring.  We have created huge mosaics, whimsical stained glass windows and even our own wooden hinges.

“We think that the woodwork alone makes this lodge a destination in its own right.”

Another unusual aspect for a South African destination is that there are no keys at the lodge, as every door has an Alice in Wonderland type of “lock” that is like a little puzzle to boggle your brain for a moment.

Besides enjoying the actual building, you can join in a host of activities ranging from a hot air balloon trip or a microlight flight for the brave to a hike, horse ride or stress-relieving walk through the labyrinth.

Whether you go to Antbear Lodge for a retreat, wedding or just a weekend away, you are guaranteed to leave feeling refreshed, amazed and inspired.

Vote here to enter the competition.

Voting closes July 1. Only one vote per person.

Anyone who cheats or displays behavior that is not in the spirit of the competition will be disqualified.