Just 72 km from Gqeberha, deep within a vast expanse of untouched wilderness in the heart of South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park, a sanctuary is quietly emerging. Welcome to Mantis Hiddn in Addo, an ultra-luxury eco lodge cradled on a mountain peak where stillness is sacred, horizons seem endless and each detail whispers of discovery.
Opening in March 2026, Hiddn invites guests into a realm led by nature’s rhythm. Each journey is individually crafted, guided by a dedicated Experience Guide whose care begins weeks before arrival, continues throughout the stay and extends well after departure with curated follow-ups and thoughtful gifts.The result is less like an itinerary and more akin to a narrative unfolding – shaped by personal dreams and desires.
Wellness lies at the heart of the Mantis Hiddn in Addo philosophy. In collaboration with organic African skincare brands, guests are invited into deeply considered rituals that unite ancestral botanical wisdom with contemporary scientific understanding. Treatments are crafted from wild-harvested plants and rooted in time-honoured traditions to reflect a commitment to authenticity, sustainability and place.
A carefully curated menu of experiences supports the body’s natural rhythms, including lymphatic drainage,deep tissue massage, crystal healing, the Bliss Ritual to encourage oxytocin release and the Dream Sight Ritual designed to promote restorative sleep. These treatments are seamlessly complemented by guided yoga, breathwork, art therapy and immersive, nature-led practices.
Private bath rituals in traditional KolKol tubs and bespoke sleep journeys further enhance wellbeing,nurturing balance across the five dimensions of the Mantis Wellness Wheel: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental. When these elements align, guests enter the Mantis state of BE-ing. A quiet,profound awakening that restores harmony to both body and soul.
Meticulously designed residences include ten standalone one-bedroom suites and two two-bedroom suites,each with a private deck, plus two four-bedroom villas with infinity pools for larger groups. Every suite offers panoramic views across untouched valleys, blending contemporary comfort with natural textures and South African artisanal craftsmanship. Spaces are designed as sanctuaries of peace where guests can watch the dawn rise over misty ridges, soak in wood-fired baths under a canopy of stars or simply sit quietly as the wilderness breathes around them.
Dining at Hiddn is a sensory journey rooted in locality and storytelling. With no fixed menus, dishes arecreated in dialogue with guest preferences and daily wellness paths, shaped by the elements of earth, fire,wind or water. From chef-led foraging experiences and riverside picnics to private villa dining, every meal reflects a philosophy of connection, where food is both nourishment and narrative. Each bite tells a story of the land – flame-cooked meats echoing ancient traditions, hand-foraged herbs grounding guests in thepresent and botanical infusions carrying the essence of the mountain into every sip.
Guests can also experience reimagined boma gatherings, botanical mixology, bush cooking over openflames and curated tastings that celebrate the cultures of the Eastern Cape.
Sustainability underpins the design and operations. Built from locally sourced eco-friendly materials, Hiddn’s low-carbon modular architecture breathes with the environment. Solar energy, water harvesting and recycling systems minimise impact, while rewilding projects restore once-disturbed landscapes. Around 75 members of nearby communities are engaged through training, employment and profit-sharing, embedding social impact at the heart of the project.
Conservation is woven directly into the guest journey. This is not safari as spectacle but immersion as transformation, where guests actively participate in rewilding walks, nocturnal ecology experiences and science-led conservation encounters.
Beyond wellness, daily activities include game drives in Addo Elephant National Park, expert-guided walking safaris, birding by ear or through photography hides, starlight photography and cultural storytelling that connects local heritage with the land. Nights may end around a glowing fire listening to ancestralconstellations, mornings may begin barefoot in a riverbed tracing the rhythms of water and each moment is designed to invite awe, wonder and belonging.
At its essence, Hiddn is not a lodge but a return. A return to silence, to tranquillity, to self. Guests leave with more than memories – they carry with them a transformation, a sense of having been restored by wilderness and held by place.
