PRESS & AWARDS
Founders Lodge in the Press
FOUNDERS LODGE / PRESS
What travel writers make of a family manor in the malaria-free Eastern Cape.
5.0
Travelers' Choice 2026
Travelers' Choice 2026
TripAdvisor
Awarded to the top 10% of properties worldwide, from 211 guest reviews.
Google 4.9 from 126 reviews · Booking.com 9.9 "Exceptional"
IN THE PRESS
WHAT WRITERS FOUND HERE
THE SANDTON TIMES · JUNE 2026
“Eastern Cape Winter Escape: Hide Out At Founders Lodge By Mantis”
A winter escape feature on the seven suites, the Big Five and the underground photographic hide. Read the feature
GOOD THINGS GUY · FEBRUARY 2026
“Founders Lodge: Where Hope Grows in the Eastern Cape”
Brent Lindeque on rewilding, community, and what conservation looks like up close. Read the feature
A LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG · OCTOBER 2025
“Where conservation meets safari in South Africa’s Eastern Cape”
A return to the lodge, three years after the title’s first stay review. Read the feature · The 2022 review
EURONEWS TRAVEL · MAY 2022
“South Africa’s newest safari suite is a vintage train carriage”
Inside the Founders Railway Carriage and the conservation mission behind it. Read the feature
TRAVEL + LEISURE · FEBRUARY 2022
“You can now sleep in a restored vintage train car on your next safari”
The Founders Railway Carriage, introduced to an American audience. Read the feature
LUTE · FEBRUARY 2022
“The Safari Station Sleepover”
John O’Ceallaigh, formerly luxury travel editor at The Telegraph, on the launch of the Founders Railway Carriage. Read the feature
ALSO FEATURED IN
Travel + Leisure (January 2021), on taking exclusive use of the whole lodge.
Travel Weekly (February 2022), US trade coverage of the Railway Carriage.
Travel News (February 2022), South African trade coverage.
Upscale Living Magazine, a profile for the US luxury quarterly’s readers.
Luxury Lifestyle Magazine (November 2022), a UK stay review.
Travel And Tour World, trade press on the lodge and its setting.
Tourism Update (October 2024), on the eco-tourism documentary series that films at the lodge.
A Luxury Travel Blog (2018), among the five best luxury lodges of the Eastern Cape.
FOR MEDIA
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
Founders Lodge welcomes editorial enquiries and can provide a full fact sheet, high-resolution imagery and interview access with the lodge team. Contact reservations@mantiscollection.com or call +27 41 404 9300.