A BOUTIQUE, MALARIA-FREE LODGEBIG FIVE GAME DRIVES
WITH ACCESS TO SHAMWARI
Conservationist Adrian Gardiner’s private manor in the Eastern Cape
Seven luxury suites, a deeply personal safari, and a private reserve rewilded from farmland.
WHY FOUNDERS LODGE
Why Choose Founders Lodge for a Safari?
Founders Lodge offers a rare combination of privacy, heritage, and exceptional safari access within South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape. Its boutique scale and rewilded private reserve set it apart in the Eastern Cape.
- Game drives with traversing rights on Shamwari Private Game Reserve
- Malaria-free Big Five safaris, ideal for families, honeymooners, and international travellers
- Boutique scale, only seven suites for an intimate safari experience
- Historic conservation legacy, original home of Shamwari founder Adrian Gardiner
- Rewilded from farmland, with solar power on site and resident white rhino monitored daily by the reserve team
WILDLIFE & SAFARI EXPERIENCE
Big Five Safari Experience in the Eastern Cape
Safari experiences at Founders Lodge are guided by wildlife movement, seasonal rhythms, and conservation priorities, offering guests access to one of South Africa’s most biodiverse safari ecosystems.
Through its location on a private reserve adjacent to Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Founders Lodge provides daily game drives that deliver exceptional Big Five sightings and a deeper understanding of the Eastern Cape’s conservation success.
Guests can expect:
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Daily morning and afternoon game drives across Founders Game Reserve, with traversing rights on Shamwari Private Game Reserve
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Frequent sightings of elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, and leopard
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Guided bush walks when conditions allow
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Waterhole viewing and photographic opportunities
LOCATION
Malaria Free Eastern Cape
Set in the malaria-free Eastern Cape of South Africa, Founders Game Reserve lies adjacent to Shamwari Private Game Reserve, just an hour’s drive east from Nelson Mandela Bay on the N2.
To reach the lodge, take the Sidbury turnoff (left if coming from Gqeberha) and follow the signboards. Gravel roads lead the way after leaving the N2, consider renting a car suitable for gravel terrain or arrange a transfer service with our reservations agent, for a hassle-free journey to your destination. Focus on enjoying the adventure ahead while we take care of the rest.