FIND YOURSELF - ECO-ACTIVE™

The Mantis Group

Here you will find information on the various properties within the Mantis Collection where Bike & Saddle offers its signature & exclusive Eco-Active Excursions AND links to our extensive Journeys portfolio (multi-day active holidays) on the Mantis trail (including East Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands, into Europe, South America and the Antarctica).

Newsflash!!!

Bookings are now open for our August 2010 Exclusive Eco-Active Safari: Depart Cape Town August 06 | Return August 17. Don't miss this truly unique experience. Contact us for more information.

Bike & Saddle Exclusive Cycle Safari: Going Eco-Active with Mantis

Mantis Collection | African Properties

Grande Roche Hotel | Paarl Valley, Cape Town

This boutique Hotel & Restaurant consistently takes home some of the world's most sought after travel & hospitality awards. As one of the country’s few five-star estate hotels in South Africa, the Grande Roche of Paarl has become a legend on the local hospitality scene for having won such a formidable array of awards and culinary accolades since its opening in January 1992. This gem of South Africa is set on a gentle slope overlooking vineyards and rugged mountains, the manor house and its sprawl of individually decorated suites are a gentle alternative to the hurly-burly of big city life. Read more ...

Going Eco-Active

click here for more images of our signature winelands bike rides

1. Short Active Excursions:
Bike & Saddle offers guests to Grande Roche a first class, fully supported and guided cycle excursion, through some of the most spectacular wine country in Africa, on a return trail lasting 3 to 4 hours. Cycle with the family, at your own pace and return for a wonderful swim in the pool, and lunch at the famous Bosman's restaurant. Our Eco-Active excursion can be booked at reception. Read more: Winelands Cycle Excursion - Paarl Valley

2. Three day, Two night Trip:
Bike & Saddle's signature 3 day (two night) trip to the winelands gives you the opportunity to stay two nights at Grande Roche (lowest price guarantee) while exploring this beautiful part of South Africa's French heritage in active style; we take you on an unforgettable walking & cycling, food & wine experience staying at the Grande Roche! Read more: Winelands Cycle & Walking Journey

3. Eleven day, Ten Night Cycle Safari:
On this tour, you explore the rolling Cape Winelands by bike and sample some of South Africa's best vintages. Then get up close and personal with the Big Five on Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, spot white lions and see ancient Bushmen paintings! Spot migrating whales and dolphins in the deep blue sea and hike through lush forests and semi-desert landscapes. Enjoy another world-class Safari on the malaria free Shamwari Game Reserve and finish off with beach bliss at the breathtaking Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve. This tour allows you to combine active travel with an excellent wildlife safari while staying in the lap of luxury! Read more: Exclusive Cycle Safari - 11 Days, 10 Nights

Lake Pleasant Living | Garden Route, Western Cape

An exclusive guesthouse in the heart of the Garden Route, Lake Pleasant Living is a collection of suites nestled in the pristine Goukamma Nature and Marine Reserve, overlooking a natural freshwater lake. The views are sensational, the bird watching is world-class, beautiful beaches and fresh flowing rivers abound in the vicinity, while mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and other such adventures await your arrival! Read more ...

Going Eco-Active
We offer a range of eco-active excursions in the region:

Kayaking on the Touws River:
We enjoy a guided kayaking excursion on the tranquil Touws River just outside Wilderness. The bird life is prolific and we head upstream with lush ferns and trees lining the banks, stopping for the odd swim and a short walk to a cascading waterfall. We circle our way back through the various lagoons and into the Serpentine, a winding waterway that flows into the sea. We enjoy a guided cycle past the lagoons of Langvlei, Rondevlei and Swartvlei along back roads, savouring the sweet air, sights and sounds before us and stopping off at a bird hide. Contact us for more information and to make your booking.

Biking around Knysna and the Heads:
We drive up to the Heads, the iconic tip of the Knysna Lagoon where the Indian Ocean coasts between two jutted cliff peaks. Here we admire the superlative vistas and then meander down the mountainside, alongside the turquoise lagoon and circle our way across to Thesen Island. It is a spectacular cycle, and can be complimented with lunch (and oysters of course!) at the vibrant Waterfront. We also offer a heritage walk through the town, taking in the sights, sounds and fables of the renowned holiday town! Contact us for more information and to make your booking.

Sanbona Wildlife and Nature Reserve | Klein Karoo, Western Cape

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve spans a mammoth 54,000 hectares, making it the largest privately owned reserve in the Western Cape and a beacon of conservation within the region. The arid, semi-desert environment has fostered incredible biodiversity – from plant species, through mammals, birds, reptiles and insects – as they have amazingly adapted to the demanding climate and carved an ecological niche in this haunting landscape.

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Sanbona was formed in the late 1990s from a collection of farms with the land being rehabilitated and restored to its natural condition. Animal species that once roamed the region were reintroduced, such as Kudu, Zebra, Red Hartebeest and the majestic Eland to larger species such as Elephant, Lion, Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros. Sanbona is a Big Five Reserve, but with its Bushmen rock art, breathtaking vistas and unique, haunting landscapes, it offers so much more. Sanbona is home to three lodges, the colonial-style Tilney Manor, the earthy Gondwana and the stunning tented camp of Dwyka, each offering supreme luxury in the heart of the bush. Read more ...

Going Eco-Active

1. Short Active Excursions: (for those venturing to Sanbona - rides can be booked upon arrival - or right here)
This unique excursion takes place in the magical Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, one of the Mantis Group's largest properties, just outside Cape Town. We take you on a cycle journey, back in time and place, through the semi-desert Klein Karoo, one of Africa's most beautiful and dramatic natural landscapes. Here geology and climate have conspired to offer breathtaking views and a biodiversity only matched by its Bushman heritage and the magnificent presence of Africa's Big Five, including white lion. Read more: Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - 3 hour Excursion

2. Two day, One night Trip: (ideal for a break from the city)
A fantastic experience in the little Karoo, close to nature with specialist guides to take you along exclusive trails, hiking, cycling and kayaking. The evenings are spent around the boma fires listening to stories of the San, the early history of the Cape and later at night we turn our eyes skyward, looking through a telescope to rediscover the majesty of the infinite up close. A journey not to be missed. Read more: The Wild Ride - Sanbona Karoo Reserve - 2 Day Trip

Shamwari Game Reserve | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is located in the Eastern Cape, an hour’s drive from the seaside town of Port Elizabeth, South Africa’s 5th largest city located on the Wild Coast. Shamwari encompasses approximately 25,000 hectares of privately owned land that was rehabilitated and restored to its natural condition over 20 years ago. Shamwari is now one of the premier game reserves in the country, home to the Big Five, including white and black rhino, and acts as a beacon of conservation within the region. Shamwari consists of 7 luxury lodges that offer the utmost in style and comfort in the heart of the bush, each one providing a unique and exclusive experience! Read more ...

Going Eco-Active

click here for more images

1. Short Active Excursions: (for those venturing to Sanbona - rides can be booked upon arrival - or right here)
What better way to experience a Safari than from the back of a bike! An expert ranger will lead you on a cycle journey through the pristine Shamwari Reserve, allowing you to savour the sights and sounds of the African bush. Enjoy breathtaking views of the open plains and cycle past giraffe, zebra and much more, with a ranger ensuring your safety every step of the way. This exclusive excursion is the ideal way to savour the many wonders of Shamwari and provides a unique wildlife experience. So what are you are waiting for? Come and join us for the eco-active adventure of a lifetime! Read more: Shamwari Wildlife Reserve - 3 hour Excursion

2. Eleven day, Ten Night Cycle Safari:
On this tour, you explore the rolling Cape Winelands by bike and sample some of South Africa's best vintages. Then get up close and personal with the Big Five on Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, spot white lions and see ancient Bushmen paintings! Spot migrating whales and dolphins in the deep blue sea and hike through lush forests and semi-desert landscapes. Enjoy another world-class Safari on the malaria free Shamwari Game Reserve and finish off with beach bliss at the breathtaking Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve. This tour allows you to combine active travel with an excellent wildlife safari while staying in the lap of luxury! Read more: Exclusive Cycle Safari - 11 Days, 10 Nights

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