Founders Lodge by Mantis

Absolutely perfect, in every possible way! The food was heaven, the rooms spotless and charming, the game drivers were incredible! It truly felt like every single person in this lodge wanted us to have a good time, from the staff, to the managers to our amazing guides (James and Yuval were the best)! Everything was perfect. The views during our lunches, how they always cared to attend all our wishes. Amazing! Can highly recommend!!!

What an exceptional establishment-we were treated like royalty and thoroughly enjoyed our 4 night stay. The rooms were comfortably furnished with spectacular panoramic views of the reserve and beyond. The animals were so close to our room and the water hole was an added bonus. The dining experience was as good as any Michelin restaurant in England and the varied locally sourced ingredients were executed with skill and culinary innovation. The lodge has many different areas therefore dining was a nice surprise lunch and evening as different areas were used e.g. outside, courtyard, rooms with roaring fires etc. The game drives were exceptional our driver was superb -Sikhumbuzo was so knowledgeable and we were so close to the animals. We saw so many animals at least 10 types of antelope, lions, elephants, baboons, giraffes, zebras, cheetah’s, rhinoceros, wart hogs and so many more! There was also an abundance of birds! What really makes this establishment the best is the management and staff as they are so efficient hospitable and really there to ensure you have the best experience! My husband and I are avid travellers however we have never experienced anything like we did at our stay at ‘ Founders Lodge’ it is a very special place. Thank you Craig and Glynis and to all your staff for ensuring that we returned home to Guernsey with unforgettable memories. We cannot wait to return in 2027. Kali and Larry

Just arrived back home after spending 3 nights at Founders Lodge. We want to thank Craig and Glynnis for a tremendous time and helping us make memories from our first (but not last!!) safari. Here are some of the highlights: genuine warm welcome and lovely greetings after every game drive- Craig and Glynnis were really interested in our drive experiences and couldn’t do enough to ensure we had the best stay. Founders ensure you get the same Ranger for all of your game drives- we were so lucky to have Scrumbo (sp?) for 6 game drives- this meant that we got to know each other and he was able to tailor each drive so that we got to see all the animals- one time we asked to see Hippos and within 30 minutes we had tracked them. He was also knowledgeable about the fauna and flora- loved that he used a bird calling app to attract the bird life. The lodge is great iwth some unqiue features- you can eat out and be within metres of rhino, zebra and warthogs. The ”Hide” esnured we saw animals close up drinking out of the water hole- unreal! The food was delicious and very varied- we loved that we could have an intimate dinner in different aspects fo the house (terrace, library, bar, lawn) but also have a group dinner (a Brae- delicious bbq) in which we were lucky to have some real laughs with other guests that night. Beetroot and Rocket from the lodge garden- great food! We stayed in the honeymoon pod that has unreal views and amazing sunset rises. we really liked the colonial decor and interesting photos and books dottred around the lodge- the sunken bar is huge. We highly recommend this place- we are very fussy travellers so we really appreciated the attention to detail that ALL the staff provided. Thank you all.

Founders Lodge was our final destination on the garden route. All I can say is what a way to end our trip. It felt like we were visiting family, nothing was too much for the staff. Everything was personalised and we were made to feel like everything was exclusive to ourselves, even private candelit dining. We felt privileged to be in our own reserve, with the added bonus of the drives into the Shamwari game reserve. Our guide Sikhumbuzo was so knowledgeable and he ensured we were left captivated by the magic of seeing nature as it is meant to be. A fitting testiment to its founder Adrian Gardiner's dream. The amenities provided catered for all our needs and the sunken hide enable you to get an intimate experience with the animals. Founders Lodge created a wonderful atmosphere, rooms, cleanliness, the total experience was second to none. Even the early morning noise of the Cape Weavers readily building their nests was special.

Second to none - Founder’s Lodge has been absolutely wonderful. Craig and Glynnis are just the best hosts. Service is personalised and personable. Food was delicious. Your experience really matters to them. The guiding was terrific and we saw Lions, Giraffes, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Warthogs, Impala, Springbok, Kudu, Buck, Zebra, Mongoose, Gennet and much more. Watch the animals from your bedroom as they visit the waterhole. Beautiful pool overlooking the waterhole. Enjoy a Braai/Barbeque with other guests. With over 28,000 hectares there’s a huge expanse of land and animals for you to discover. We cannot recommend Founders highly enough.

This was a really wonderful experience for our first safari. The accommodation was lovely with a stunning view and super clean. In addition, the food was amazing and I can’t speak highly enough of all the staff. Every single person made it their business to make us feel special and we really appreciated it. Our guide, JV ,was fab. He had such passion for the animals and was so knowledgeable. Plus his tracking was amazing. Thank you all for a brilliant stay.