Founders Lodge by Mantis

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.

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

A little bit late writing this review, but better late than never as they say! Our stay was fantastic (we stayed for 3 nights), from the moment we arrived until the morning we left, we were very well taken care of. The staff at Founders Lodge are very good, nothing is too much trouble and you never had the feeling of being rushed. It was all very relaxing. The food was excellent, especially the braii (the chef and team excelled themselves) and the locations to eat change daily, with the most beautiful views across the reserve. Every game drive was amazing. We saw so many birds and animals everyday (nobody can deny the beauty of a water buffalo!). Our Ranger, Cillie, was incredibly knowledgeable, from learning about tracking when we spent time tracking a leapard’s paw prints to understanding how an elephant is feeling just by how its ears move. It was an incredible unforgettable experience everyday. Thank you for giving us a beautiful suite (no 3, opposite the watering hole), the sunrises from our room were gorgeous and a beautiful start to each day. The view of the watering hole and all the animals that visited it was lovely to watch. We were addicted to going to the hide and to get up close to the animals drinking from the watering hole…now home, I love watching the live feed of it on You Tube. If you are thinking of staying here, please do! You will have a wonderful time! Myself and my husband would like to thank Glynnis and her team for a very lovely stay and to Cillie (our Ranger), thank you, the drives were amazing (and the views for the Sunrisers and Sundowners beautiful). Thank you :)

The Lodge is Amazing . They have the friendliest staff. The managers made sure to make us feel welcome and the Contemporary Suite is so beautiful with all the luxury amenities. They cater to your evey need and would highly recommend. ❤️ The animals are just outside your door and the new Hyde is my favourite feature. Dont even get me started on the food its amazing, hats off to the chef.

Wow, Founders Lodge is an amazing place. Craig and Glynis are the most welcoming hosts and the lodge is just beautiful. Our meals were served each day in a different part of the lodge with outstanding food. We were unlucky with the weather but this did not take anything away from our time here. Cillian our driver was so knowledgeable and was happy to answer all our questions. We will definitely be returning 2 nights was not enough!