Wildlife and guests find a place to experience tranquillity in and around luxury lodge.
Walking slap-bang in the middle of the road is a handsome male lion. Oblivious to the safari vehicle’s presence, he continues his stroll at a leisurely pace, pausing every so often to sniff the early morning air.
Field guide Marthus, from Founders Lodge by Mantis, follows him for a good while, and as the sun starts casting a golden glow around the cat, he stops in a clearing and lifts his head, allowing us to admire his magnificence.
Known as the ‘Nomadic’ male, the lion is in his prime and is the best option to take over the Southern pride. At seven years of age, his mane is thick and lush, and his coat glistens in the sunlight. His dark quiff of hair extends to the front of his torso and ends halfway down his ribcage. We sit in quiet wonderment as he makes his way towards us, appreciating his grace and beauty.
Marthus has switched off the engine, turns towards us, and says: “This guy is currently without a pride. We have two prides on the reserve – the Southern pride with one male and the Northern pride with two males.”
Nomadic was brought in with the purpose of taking over the Southern pride. To change the genetics, he would have to fight the Southern male for territory and mating rights, but he’s currently not doing that.
The Nomadic male comes from a family where his sister broke away and formed her own pride, leaving him out in the cold. We encounter the Southern male on a few different occasions, and although he might be considered ‘old’ in terms of lion longevity, he doesn’t look bad for his 13 years.
Finding him on our last morning, he has secured a spot overlooking the valley, and it’s clear that he has recently eaten. Telltale signs are a round belly, blood on his chin and the inability to stay awake for more than five minutes. As luck would have it, he sits up momentarily, seemingly ‘posing’ for us before he flops down on his side to resume his slumber.
Lion dynamics are fascinating. Both males seem strong and in charge, although the Nomadic male avoids confrontation by avoiding vocalising and not marking his territory, all signs of not wanting to be found. His face bears no scars, but his back legs tell a different story. The marks left were the result of a brawl between himself and the Southern male, where Nomadic showed submissive behaviour by not engaging in a fight and instead running away. A loner, Nomadic has little choice but to be an accomplished hunter, bringing down warthog, eland and, surprisingly, a big buffalo in order to sustain himself.
Mandy the miracle
Part of the lodge’s ethos is their rhino conservation and monitoring. A highlight is casting eyes on a number of these threatened species, one of them being a white rhino named Mandy. She has become a mother for the second time, and under the watchful gaze of her mom, the calf is thriving. Field guide Cillié takes us on a special drive to meet Mandy, and we admire her from a safe and respectful distance. The youngster is boisterous and playful, and we leave them to graze in peace on the surrounding greenery.
A poaching survivor, Mandy was shot in the head but fortunately survived before being relocated to Founders Lodge by Mantis for safety. It’s an outright miracle, as there are still bullet fragments somewhere in her body – when the vets came to ascertain where the shrapnel is located, she lay on her right side. They were unable to locate with a metal detector where the rest of it might be, but Mandy seems unbothered that she is a walking marvel.
Sitting at eye level with a large male rhino is not something that happens every day. Guests have a unique opportunity to observe these prehistoric-looking animals up close and personal through a 35m underground tunnel that emerges at a waterhole, a project that was designed by renowned wildlife photographer Nelis Wolmarans. Viewing them one afternoon coming in for a drink and a roll-around in the muddy water is a dream sighting, especially seeing the one almost completely immersed, his body covered in dark grey mud. The other one carefully ventures closer, dipping his horn in the soothing sludge, making for the most amazing photographs.
Returning promises
Five imposing blue gum trees are clearly visible when approaching the lodge. Spectacularly positioned at the top of a hill and the end of a winding gravel road, the venue houses seven suites as well as a renovated railway carriage.
In the private honeymoon pod, the interior is modern with accents of yellow, white, grey and black. Steeped in history, the property was once the home of founder and owner of the Mantis Collection, Adrian Gardiner.
More so than ever before, the success of a lodge is directly attributed to the guest experience, be it the accommodation, the cuisine or the staff. And when that is achieved successfully, it makes for the most unforgettable stay. To form a kinship with someone through travelling is not common, but the effervescence that the lodge managers display here is wonderful. The manageress’s bubbly personality is all the medicine guests need when returning from a game drive or for those who might be grumpy from a long day of travelling, and her sparkling smile is enough to disarm any bad mood. All of this makes it hard to leave, but the warmth and sincerity of her ‘see you again’ hug softens the blow.
Text and photography | Heléne Ramackers
For more information or to book a stay, go to mantiscollection.com.
