Founders Lodge by Mantis

We only had one night at Founders, and really wished we could have stayed longer. The room was exceptional, as was dinner in the library. The hotel team added so many little touches that made it special. Our guide Juvan deserves a shoutout too, he made every drive fun, educational, and full of passion. One of our most memorable stays.

Our Ranger, Sikhumbuzo, made our first safari one we’ll never forget. He knew so much about the animals, had a great feel for where they were headed, and positioned us to watch them move. He was joyful and good-humored throughout. We’ll ask for him again when we return. We saw an incredible range of species, including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, hippos, zebra, many kinds of antelope, cheeta, and more. Each drive explores a different part of the 50,000 acre Samwari Nature Reserve. We stayed two nights and wished we’d booked three or four. From arrival to departure, everything was taken care of. The staff, beautiful hotel and room design, the setting, and the Chef made this our best stay in South Africa. Highly, highly recommend it. Worth every penny.

We’re so grateful for every moment here, and we’ll never forget it. We could easily have stayed 3-5 nights, or longer. The place is indescribably beautiful, and that’s down to the wonderful people who give everything for their guests. Everything left us speechless in the best way. There’s so much attention to detail, like breakfast served outdoors, and every staff member goes above and beyond. The food was incredibly delicious at every time of day, and the safaris were exciting. Our guide Juvan was fantastic, upside-down tree 🌲 haha. We saw them all 🦏🐆🐘🦬🦛 and so much more. After a safari, they even offer you a complimentary drink. There are plenty of other surprises when you arrive, so we don’t want to spoil them. Heaven on Earth, or paradise? This lodge deserves 10 stars ⭐️ or more!!!! 🥹🥰😜 Thank you!!!! 🙏🏻 Tom & Chris

Scumbisa, Kaitlin, and our waitress, whose name escapes me, were all so welcoming and fun to be around. The friendly staff, careful attention to detail, and quirky decor and memorabilia made our stay intriguing and really memorable from the moment we arrived.