Mantis Founders Lodge
Hand-Picked Hotel
Stately 1940s manor house offering classic safari lodge experience, just an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth.
The timeless marriage of colonial grandeur blended with wildlife watching, makes Mantis Founder Lodge an absolute classic safari experience. Set on a private reserve of 400 hectares, directly adjacent to the Shamwari Game Reserve, the reserve itself has giraffe, antelope, zebra, plains animals and warthog, making it safe to explore nature on foot and enjoy bush picnics. Here you can enjoy intimate nature-inspired experiences focused on the smaller lesser known wildlife and ecology, but can also go on a Big Five 4×4 guided game drive on the neighbouring 25,000 hectare game reserve. This is where you can become immersed in twice daily game drives before returning to luxury lodgings and Chef’s homemade biscuits.
In between game drives and guided bush walks you can enjoy a peaceful moment in the drawing room beside the open fire. Alternatively, you can opt for a game of billiards by the bar or a dip in one of the two outdoor swimming pools. If you’re feeling in need of a bit of pampering, spa treatments can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own luxury suite. Dining is a different experience every meal with revolving dining locations including bush picnics, the formal dining room or fireside under the stars.
Mantis Founder Lodge is a perfect choice for those who want to experience an intimate classic style safari lodge, with the ability to explore nature by foot or 4x4 vehicle and return back to luxurious surroundings.
Discover Tailor-Made Travel
- Award-winning holidays
- ATOL protected
- Incredible value
Highlights
Guided walking safaris
Big Five game drives (neighbouring reserve)
Formal dining room
Casual dining terrace
Drawing room with fireplace
Steam, gym, and spa treatments
Overview
1 night
Africa . South Africa . Sidbury
International flights not included
All Inclusive
From £408 per person per night
Mon - Fri: 9am - 8pm
Saturday: 9am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
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Holiday details
Accommodation
Suites feature private verandas, en-suite or open plan bathrooms, and lounge areas. Each suite is elegantly decorated in classic colonial manor house style. There’s also a lovingly restored luxury converted train carriage featuring three cabins as well as a private swimming pool and outdoor deck and boma. All rooms have a tea station, electronic safe, and air-conditioning.
Amenities
- 2 dining areas
- Drawing room
- 2 swimming pools
- Bar and billiards room
- Spa treatment centre
- Steam room and gym
- Museum and shop
- Traditional boma fire
- Free Wi-Fi
Holiday location
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Local Area
Eastern Cape is South Africa’s second largest province and refreshingly malaria free. This makes safaris a really tempting option with several game reserves located just an hour’s drive north of Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth).
Fringed by the warm swells of the Indian Ocean, and the eastern section of the Garden Route, it’s no wonder this plentiful province is renowned for its beautiful biodiversity.
This is where you’ll find the semi-arid desert escarpments of the Karoo as well as the southern ridges of the Drakensberg. You can also experience abundant agricultural valleys and vast fruit orchards set against the Orange River, the longest in South Africa.
Of course, for many, the allure of big game drives and luxury safari lodges will be too much to bear. Here you’ll discover some of the country’s most exclusive heritage properties surrounded by wildlife filled private game reserves.
Mantis Founders Lodge, for example, is considered to be the birthplace of conservation in the Eastern Cape. It’s situated adjacent to the expansive Addo Elephant National Park, close to the historic village of Sidbury. If you’re looking for a South African escape, a couple of nights in a converted luxury railway carriage is always a good place to start.
Rooms
Suites feature private verandas, en-suite or open plan bathrooms, and lounge areas. Each suite is elegantly decorated in classic colonial manor house style. There’s also a lovingly restored luxury converted train carriage featuring three cabins as well as a private swimming pool and outdoor deck and boma. All rooms have a tea station, electronic safe, and air-conditioning.
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The Heritage Suite
Original Manor House location
Private veranda
En-suite bathroom and lounge
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Master Suite
Original Manor House location
Private veranda
En-suite bathroom and lounge
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Contemporary Suite
New contemporary wing
Private patio
Open plan or en-suite bathroom
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