It was back in 2016 that Founders Lodge first opened to the public, on a private reserve next to the Eastern Cape’s famous Shamwari Game Reserve. An intimate seven-suite retreat of contemporary touches and historic furnishings, it was particularly special since the property had been the private retreat of Shamwari founder Adrian Gardiner and his family. Gardiner, also founder of the Mantis Collection of hotels and eco-lodges, is hailed as a pioneer of conservation in the Eastern Cape.
Now Gardiner has added another piece of personal history to Founders, a beautifully restored railway carriage permanently stationed on a hill.
Some years ago, the Gardiner family acquired the carriage, which they were able to hook on to commissioned trains and use for their own travels across the interior. Eventually the carriage was retired and lay dormant until last year, when it was brought to the reserve and retrofitted for the next chapter in its adventure story.
On a recent visit to Founders to experience its hospitality first-hand, I found it surreal to leave the city behind and head into the sprawling hills. As urban clusters faded away into umbrellas of acacias and larger-than-life skies, I was drawn into an organic, dreamlike state of being fully immersed in nature and its gifts.
The carriage, available for exclusive use, is about 1km from the main lodge and accessed by game vehicle. On the way is an enclosure that’s home to a very special resident: a rare black rhino named Munu. Blinded in a fight in Addo in 2018, Munu lives in safety on the property. He is part of a subspecies of rhino of which there are only an estimated 250 left.
The restored carriage is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery, but the amenities are that of an Enid Blyton fairy tale. Its three compartments are accessible through a luxurious lounge of soft fabrics, comforting carpets and a fully stocked bar. With a braai area, pool, breathtaking views and unheard-of privacy, this exclusive-use accommodation is as suitable for a romantic getaway as it is for a family gathering.
Carriage guests also get a private chef, butler and guide to curate the pace of their experience — whether it involves picnics, late nights, campfires or pool parties.
For children, the close relationship between Mantis and Bear Grylls has manifested into the Bear Grylls Survival Academy Experience, which teaches some survival techniques, and includes safari drives, rhino feeding and interactive talks about the bush.
I stayed in one of the cabins designated for children on a pitch-black night, accentuated by a new moon hidden by an umbrella of mist. However, my six-foot frame (and broad shoulders) snuggled up peacefully in a cocoon of comfort — the best sleep I’ve had in years.
After a dawn game drive in the Shamwari Reserve with sightings galore, I left Founders Carriage with a camera roll filled with selfies with rhinos, antique train memorabilia, and an outwardly positive view on venturing back into the urban wilderness.
• Gibbon was a guest of Founders Lodge.
GETAWAY AT A GLANCE
Where it is: Founders Lodge is in Sidbury, 85km from the airport in Gqeberha.
Accommodation: The main lodge has seven suites. The new Founders Railway Carriage has three compartments — a double sleeper, a two berth and a single — accommodating a maximum of five guests.
Things to do: Guided game drives and walking safaris, three outdoor swimming pools, a bar with billiards table, gym and steam room. Dining is in a formal dining room, on a casual terrace or picnics.
Special offer: Book an exclusive family getaway for up to two adults and three children in the new Founders Railway Carriage, priced from R9,975 per night (includes 4x4 drives, Wi-Fi, all meals, and selected local beverages and onsite activities). Founders Lodge has SA residents’ rates from R3,990 per person per night.
• See mantiscollection.com
