An unwavering success story of conservation and eco-tourism, Founders Lodge by Mantis is a beacon of sustainability fueled with a passion for protecting species that are set to thrive. When the founder and CEO of the Mantis Collection started the rewilding process in the Eastern Cape, his home was the 1940s farmhouse for two decades that today is the spectacular Founders Lodge by Mantis.

Driving towards a hilltop, five striking bluegum trees are clearly noticeable. They set the scene for what is about to unfold at the end of a gravel road, and stopping at the gated entrance, the writing is on the wall, quite literally – Founders Lodge – Where It All Began – by Mantis. This is the legend of what Adrian Gardiner put blood, sweat, and tears into. Adrian and his wife, Shirleyanne, have three children – Paul, Murray, and Angela, who were all raised with a vested appreciation for wildlife and the conservation thereof.

Disembarking the vehicle, the welcome by management and staff is warm and sincere. My daughter and I are each offered a cool towel and a refreshing drink after which we are shown to our suites. I am staying in the recently built Honeymoon Pod, with marvelous vistas over the property, while my daughter is residing in a Contemporary Suite, with similar views of wildlife coming in for a drink or a graze at the nearby watering hole.

The Honeymoon Pod is tucked away in an upstairs corner of the property, and furnishings are warm and modern with a King-sized bed and a private verandah. Four Contemporary Suites were added to the original Manor House and are decorated in hues of yellow and cool greys. There is also the Heritage Suite, the Master Suite, and the renovated Railway Carriage, an ode to train travel from yesteryear but with all of today’s conveniences.

A table has been set in the courtyard for lunch. I choose the delicious beef burger with fries while my daughter opts for the tasty hake and fries. For dessert, we both enjoy the homemade vanilla ice cream, serenaded by Cape Weavers busy constructing their nests in the surrounding trees. Great care and consideration are put into an elevated guest experience, and when it comes to dining, guests will never dine in the same spot during their stay at Founders Lodge by Mantis.

Dinner is served in the formal dining room, where a silver service has been laid out for our starters of butternut & thyme ravioli, our main course of pan-seared fillet and crème brûlée for dessert. It’s a wonderful surprise to see where we will be sitting for our next meal, and none of the locations disappoint. The food is sensational, and Head Chef Sbu and his team go to great lengths to ensure that the cuisine being served is top-notch.

Founders Lodge by Mantis has many facets when it comes to wildlife immersion, and guests will be thrilled to know that they have definitely come to the right place for that. There are different programs, from Interactive Wildlife Tracks & Signs Experience, Rhino Observation and Monitoring, and the only Bear Grylls Survivor Academy Experience on the African continent. A highlight for photographers and guests alike is the sunken photographic hide, which you can access by walking through a 115 ft. tunnel and voilà – at the end of the passage you might just be amazed at what greets you at eye level. During our stay, we see a warthog quenching his thirst, rhinos having a muddy roll-around, and a shy giraffe deciding whether or not he should take a sip of the water.

The plight for rhino conservation is something that is taken very seriously in the Eastern Cape, and Founders Lodge by Mantis is at the forefront of ensuring the longevity of these near-threatened species. With the latest AI innovation, adult rhinos are fitted with Rouxcel Technology ankle bracelets, a monitoring system that sends alerts through an algorithm should there be abnormal behavior from any of the rhinos. We go in search of Mandy and her calf one afternoon, and seeing mom with her youngster is incredibly special, knowing full well how the numbers have dwindled through poaching.

Staying at Founders Lodge by Mantis would be incomplete without going on a game drive. Guides Marthus and Cillié show us the magnificence that is found in the private concession, from the fauna and flora to the incredible wildlife sightings. Favorites include different lion pride with the most gorgeous males, two cheetah brothers, a large herd of elephants with tiny calves, a yellow mongoose, a melanistic springbok, a herd of melanistic impalas, and the sighting that will hopefully be visible for many decades thanks to the conservation efforts – a white rhino happily grazing in the wild, where they belong.
For more information, go to https://www.mantiscollection.com/hotel/ecolodge-safari-mantis-founders-lodge/
Mantis is Accor’s conservation and sustainability brand. It offers the Mantis Travel Desk – a personal concierge service designed to cater to both traveler and agent inquiries, assisting with international & domestic flights, as well as curating bespoke itineraries. For more information, visit https://www.mantiscollection.com/