Founders Lodge

About This Lodge

Set on a 405-hectare private concession adjoining the 25,000-hectare Shamwari Game Reserve, Founders Lodge by Mantis is the birthplace of private conservation in the Eastern Cape. Once the family home of Mantis founder Adrian Gardiner, this restored 1940s manor house has been reimagined as an intimate seven-suite eco-lodge dedicated to Big Five safaris, soul-reviving stillness, and authentic South African hospitality. Guests choose between Heritage and Master Suites in the original colonial manor, contemporary Modern Suites arranged around the central courtyard, and the exclusive-use Founders Railway Carriage — a meticulously restored vintage train permanently stationed on a ridge with sweeping valley views. Days unfold around 4x4 guided game drives across 25,000 hectares of malaria-free wilderness, guided bush walks with expert trackers, sundowners at the waterhole, and immersive Rhino Conservation Experiences run in partnership with the Community Conservation Fund Africa (CCFA). For families, the Kids Conservation Warriors programme — including a Bear Grylls Survival Academy experience — turns young guests into junior rangers. Two swimming pools, a sunken bar with billiards, a library, a gym and steam room, and in-suite spa treatments round out the lodge experience. Just one hour from Gqeberha's Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, Founders Lodge offers a rare combination of conservation legacy, intimate scale, and five-star comfort.