A BACKGROUND TO THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY & STYLE

The Mantis Collection is a group of five star boutique accommodation and game reserves in South Africa and Europe. Each is unique and distinct from the next; all are in the most elegant, stylish and luxurious settings imaginable.

The Mantis Collection’s origins lie in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. The land in this area had become eroded, over-used and was close to utter devastation when a piece of it was purchased and brought back to life through the tender loving care of Mantis’ chairman and founder, Adrian Gardiner. Many years’ hard work and constant attention rejuvenated the land, and, as further parts of the surrounding areas were bought, the Shamwari Game Reserve was created. The land was repopulated with the game that originally inhabited the area and Shamwari, a private malaria-free game reserve situated on the Garden Route of South Africa, has now become the Mantis Collection’s flagship property.

The Mantis Group’s underlying philosophy is one of responsible and ecologically sensitive development, supporting the local environment through community development projects and conservation of resources. It is hoped that in this way, South Africa’s tourism will develop and be sustained in a manner that allows the industry and the country’s resources to be mutually supportive. This way of working is reflected in the company namesake’s lifestyle - the Praying Mantis, a tiny insect with an uncanny ability to survive in even the harshest conditions by seemingly having the utmost respect for its surroundings. The company philosophy has always been to take care of the small things knowing that if they get this right, then the ‘big things’ will be taken care of automatically.

The core objective of the Group is to align the newly acquired European properties with this Mantis philosophy.