Founders Lodge by Mantis 5 stars

Name: Founders Lodge by Mantis - ALL
Address: Sidbury Eastern Cape South, Africa, PORT ELIZABETH, 6001, ZA
Telephone: +27415550009
Rating: 5.0

Customer review rating (ALL Rating) 5.0/5 58 reviews

58 58 photos

52 52 photos

Sidbury Eastern Cape South, Africa, 6001 PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa

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Founders Lodge by Mantis

Boutique hotels with personality for a remarkable travel experience

Founders Lodge by Mantis, an hour's drive from Gqeberha's Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport 's in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is a game reserve with 5-star hospitality focused on tailored and convivial service, authentic South African cuisine and magnificent game viewing. This 7-suite lodge and newly renovated Founders Railway Carriage offers a pampered safari with an intimate, romantic experience for couples or an engaging, interactive social environment for families and friends.

Located in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, Founders Lodge by Mantis is the birthplace of conservation in the region.

A celebration of essential beginnings in sustainable tourism, culture, conservation and community inclusion. It is a monument to conservation history and offers soul-reviving safaris in the place where Adrian Gardiner pioneered private game reserves.

Craig Turner, Hotel Management

Founders Lodge is more than just a safari destination, it is an embodiment of the lasting legacy of which founder, Adrian Gardiner, dreamt. It is about preserving and nurturing, as well as conservation of our wildlife and nature for future generations.
Hotel News:
In line with meeting our guests' standards, we will be carrying out some essential maintenance work 04 - 26 June 2025 that will greatly enhance our lodge and ultimately benefit to your clients.

Hotel extras

4x4 guided game drives on 25 000ha of wilderness area
Gymnasium and steam room
Outdoor Pool
Community and conservation focused guest experiences
Home to the first South African Bear Gryll's Survival Academy Kids Experience

Our accommodation(s)

Room

Honeymoon Pod

2 pers. max
32 m² / 344 sq ft

Bedding 1 x King size bed(s)
Views: Hills view or Panorama view
Most of the accommodation: Balcony

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Fees and taxes included

1 night | 1 adult

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Not available on the dates requested See availabilities

Suite

Heritage Suite

2 pers. max
30 m² / 322 sq ft

Bedding 1 x Single bed(s)
Views: Garden View or Hills view
Most of the accommodation: Terrace

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Fees and taxes included

1 night | 1 adult

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Not available on the dates requested See availabilities

Suite

Master Suite

3 pers. max
40 m² / 430 sq ft

Bedding 1 x King size bed(s)
Views: Garden View or Hills view
Most of the accommodation: Terrace

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Fees and taxes included

1 night | 1 adult

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Not available on the dates requested See availabilities

Suite

Contemporary Suites

3 pers. max
35 m² / 376 sq ft

Bedding 1 x Joinable bed(s)
Views: Garden View or Hills view
Most of the accommodation: Terrace

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Fees and taxes included

1 night | 1 adult

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Not available on the dates requested See availabilities

Suite

The Founders Railway Carriage

5 pers. max
18 m² / 193 sq ft

Bedding 2 x Single bed(s)
Views: Hills view
Most of the accommodation: Fireplace or Private Pool or Terrace

From NaN ZAR NaN ZAR Note

Fees and taxes included

1 night | 1 adult

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Not available on the dates requested See availabilities

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Hotel location

Founders Lodge by Mantis

Sidbury Eastern Cape South, Africa
6001 PORT ELIZABETH
South Africa

GPS:-33.457189, 26.123962

+27 41 555 0009

Hotel services

Check-in from 01:00 PM - Check out up to 11:00 AM

On site

Swimming pool
Car park
Restaurant
Fitness center
Wi-Fi
Air conditioning
Breakfast
Bar
100% Non Smoking Property

FOUNDERS

Enjoy the enticing flavours of the Eastern Cape, traditional BBQ dinners and sumptuous lunches.

FOUNDERS BAR

Just off the courtyard, you will find Founders' relaxation area which features a Billiard's table and a sunken bar. Indulge in a drink of your choice as you challenge a companion to a game, or cozy up in the lounge to unwind by the evening fire.

Fitness center

Founders Lodge offers a gymnasium with treadmill, free-weights and various equipment at your convenience so that you may stay fit even whilst on safari.

Spa

Non contractual photo

Needing some pampering whilst on safari? Founder's Lodge offers in-room spa treatments (by our experience in-house therapist) that promise to leave you rejuvenated, relaxed and restored.

Our guest reviews

100% genuine reviews from our guests

Find out more

ALL Rating 5.0/5 58 reviews

TripAdvisor Rating 5.0/5 202 reviews

Heinrich C. Families - 12/9/2025 Confirmed reviews ALL

An unforgettable stay! Warm hospitality, breathtaking wildlife encounters, and luxurious comfort made this the best experience ever. Every detail was perfect, from the game drives to dining —truly magical and memorable. They looked after our kids so well, making the experience even greater for the whole family.

Thank you Heinrich - we so appreciate your review :)

Our visit to Founders Lodge was over 3 days - all I can say, it was fabulous from the moment we arrived until the sad moment we

Verna M 12/6/2025 TripAdvisor review

The whole experience of staying at Founders Lodge was fantastic. The safaris were brilliant, the rooms, the food and staff were wonderful.

We love getting great reviews like this - thank you so much!

Graham B. Couples - 11/29/2025 Confirmed reviews ALL

Founder's Lodge offers all inclusive safari experiences. The setting is beautiful and many animals can be seen from the accommodation.

Thank you, Graham, it was our pleasure hosting you & Elizabeth :)

Magical experience

Lynn H 11/28/2025 TripAdvisor review

An amazing stay in a beautiful location. All the staff are absolutely wonderful and cannot do enough for you. Great food and lovely rooms Animals can be viewed coming to the waterhole at all times of day; rhino, zebra ,giraffes and warthogs especially. It’s great to look out of your bedroom window and see a rhino trundling by. Special mention must be made of our guide, Matthew, who went above and beyond to show us a wide variety of wildlife. His passion for conservation of the wild life and land is infectious. Game drives are individually planned in comfortable vehicles and you never see more than two vehicles at a viewing site,;most of the time it’s just your vehicle allowing a fantastic insight into the lives of the animals. The whole experience was much more than we could have ever expected. Recommend a visit to anyone.

Thank you for such a wonderful review, Lynn - we are so glad that you enjoyed your stay at Founders Lodge :)

Could it get any better?

Andy S 11/20/2025 TripAdvisor review

What an amazing place this is - where to start!! Ian and Glynnis were on leave the week we called but such is the quality of their amazing team we did not want for anything. The wildlife landscapes created by the hide by the waterhole were amazing and get you right up close to the wildlife. The rooms were vast and well furnished in a colonial style and the game drives were educational and varied to the newbie! Food was substantial and served creatively in different areas of the lodge. Sorry to be a Luddite but after 30 years of marriage we would like to see TV’s in rooms would be my only “add” as the last two places haven’t provided these. The history of the place as the first game reserve in the eastern cape is amazing as is the celebrity guest list over the years which includes John Travolta , Tiger Woods and Cliff Richard. I would be surprised if this place could be bettered in the Eastern Cape!

Thank you, Andy - it was great getting to know you & Debra! Enjoy the remainder of your time in SA :)

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Other web-users rate our hotel

33 reviews 9.8/10 Location
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Price from: 1 night for 1 person in the room category identified within the same price range, excluding additional services and breakfast. This refers to the lowest public price, including all taxes (Some taxes may be payable on arrival at the hotel (for example, tourist tax), depending on current local regulations.) for the accommodation concerned, found on https://all.accor.com/ site today, for a one-night stay in the next 20 days. Varies according to period and availability. The price is only guaranteed at the time of booking. All bookings (foreign) are payable in the local currency where the hotel is situated. Only the amount confirmed during the booking in the hotels local currency is guaranteed. An estimated conversion in your local currency may be given for reference but is not part of the contract. Your bank may charge you bank fees and/or exchange fees at the time of payment.