DOING STUFF AT BULUNGULA

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1 DOING STUFF AT BULUNGULA Here at Bulungula you won't find pre-arranged, daily group activities to occupy you all day - you're not on a school camp, you're travelling. However there is lots to do: have a look at some of the ideas on this board. A major goal of the Bulungula project is to develop tourism entrepreneurs in the community. As a result all paid-for activities are 100% owned and run by local community members. Please bear in mind that for most of the community, "tourism" is a whole new world (in fact there is no Xhosa word for it) and so please relax, smile and enjoy the ride even if things are not perfect. You are one of the first clients for a community-tourism business that will hopefully be a professional enterprise in a few years time that will end the village s cycle of poverty. The lack of English in the village obviously makes things a bit more difficult, but try out your sign/body language skills and you'll be amazed how well you can communicate. Lastly, if you have any ideas on new community businesses that could be started with relatively little capital, please tell us. We will happily let you stay free if you're helping someone in our community to start a new enterprise. Please note: this village prides itself on the absence of the begging culture that exists elsewhere in the country. This village will lift itself out of poverty through hard work, not from handouts. However, the fact is that you have more money and opportunities than anyone in this village can dream of, thus there is always the danger that the odd villager might ask for something. Please, NEVER give things (money, clothes, sweets, toys) away, this just highlights the inequality and will result in more people begging in future. Rather make a donation to the Bulungula Incubator (we have a collection box) or spend more money on community activities. If you have excess clothes, give them to us and we ll arrange that they are sold very cheaply in the village to raise funds for community projects. Obviously, there will be those grey areas: sharing drinks in the bar or shebeen is standard practice here but this should not be requested (though thirsty, drunk people do forget their manners:). If anyone does beg, please let us know and we ll discuss it at the next community meeting. Payment: Please pay your guide directly. For non-guided activities, please give the money to the cook (an elected community trustee) in the kitchen. HAVE FUN!

2 Nqileni Woman Power Are you wondering what the women in the village get up to during an average day? Why not spend a day with Nomentiza and be a local woman for a day? You'll start at the river where you'll be taught how to carry water on your head. Next it's off to the forest where you collect wood for the fire. Then it's off to find, pick and cook a delicious traditional lunch. While the pots are simmering, you'll get involved in whatever activities are happening on the day: making mud bricks, hewing the maize field, redunging the floor, mud-plastering the walls or just hanging out and chatting over a drink at the shebeen. Although this day focuses on women in the village, guys are more than welcome to join in - seeing men carry water and firewood will do wonders for the cause of gender equality in our community! This day is all about spending time getting to know our community, so ask lots of questions and get involved! Nomentiza is still learning English so speak slowly and practice your body language! Price: R100 per person including lunch Time: 9:30am until 1:30pm. This tour runs every day Please write your name on the booking sheet.

3 CANOEING THE XHORA RIVER For a picturesque half day guided trip, why not paddle down the stunningly beautiful Xhora river? Take an easy 35 minute through the village with fantastic views of the bay and the valley until you reach this large, mangrove-lined river. Paddle upstream in the community s two-man canoes past lush forested cliffs, ancient cycad trees, kamikaze jumping fish and vibrant bird life and choose a spot to chill and enjoy the view. Paddle downstream to the ocean and take an easy stroll back to the lodge along the beach. The round trip takes about 4 hours. Alternatively, if the pancake restaurant is open, you can stop there on your way back to the lodge. o R120 per person o 10am to 2pm every day o You will pass by the ilanga Restaurant on the days it's open (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun). On other days order a sandwich to take with you Please write your name on the booking sheet the night before.

4 GUIDED VILLAGE TOURS Although the beach and river are the most visually striking features of Bulungula, the focus and culture of the lodge is the local village community. So far, the highlight for most of our guests has been a guided walk through the village with a translator. Each walk is different: some days you ll visit the sangoma and stop off at a shebeen and have a few drinks with the merry old folk who ll have a hundred questions about your marital status, how many cows you pay for a wife in your country and why you don't have kids yet, etc. On other days there might be a village party/funeral/wedding/feast in which case everyone will demand that you join in the festivities there s no telling what might happen, but one thing s for sure, you will come away with a new sense of what a real community is and perhaps see that Western society s greatest failing is its obsession with the individual at the expense of the community. Or maybe you ll just have a laugh, and come stumbling back merry on umqombothi beer. o R80 per person o Take some cash with you in order to buy drinks, snacks, etc. Time: o The tour starts at around 3pm at the lodge every day. Please write your name on the booking sheet the night before.

5 A FOREST JOURNEY WITH THE TRADITIONAL HERBALIST If you re interested in traditional medicine and want to wander through an ancient forest, then you must visit Meldinga. He s the best known herbalist in the area and has an amazing knowledge about the healing properties of local roots, leaves, berries and bark. People come from far and wide seeking his remedies. Zameka, the translator, will lead you along the beach to his house on the far side of the village where you will meet him and learn about his various potions. Then you will head upstream along the banks of the Xhora River until you enter the lush, dense forest with giant trees. Here, with his help, you will gather, prepare and test some of his remedies. If it s the right season, you will also get to try edible roots and berries. On the way back, you will pass the ilanga Fire pancake restaurant where you can buy delicious sweet and savoury pancakes for lunch. The round trip should take about 3½ hours. Please note that the Village Tour is an entirely different but equally rewarding experience. Also note that Meldinga is not available every day as he has many responsibilities in the local community. o R100 per person. o You will pass by the ilanga Fire Restaurant on the days it's open for lunch. Time: o The walk starts at the lodge at 10am. On Tues, Thus, Sat and Sunday only. Please write your name on the booking sheet the night before

6 Bulungula Massage Why not treat yourself to an Indian Head Massage or a Full Body Massage? Sit back, relax and let yourself be pampered let all the tension be released from your back, neck, shoulders and head and feel rejuvenated, ready to carry on with the rest of your stay. Experience the magical touch of our trained massage therapists and see the transformation for yourself. Especially good after a hard day s paddling or horse riding Price: Indian Head Massage: R100 Full Body Massage: R150 Time: daily from 1pm until 6pm Please write your name on the booking sheet.

7 GO FISHING There are many fish in the sea, particularly here in Bulungula. Let Mkhuseli teach you to catch one. Mkhuseli, who learnt from his dad, a master fisherman, will take you for two hours of angling on the rocks. He'll show you how to get bait perhaps even a crayfish. Here crayfish are regarded as cockroaches, and no self-respecting fisherman would eat one! He'll arrange all the equipment for you and teach you how to bait you hook, cast your lines and catch the big one. If you do catch a whoppa, it's yours to cook and eat. He regularly lands some real giants like in the photo - but of course there are no guarantees in this game. Learn to enjoy the wait, watch the dolphins and whales, dream about that fat one which is busy checking out your bait and enjoy the peace. Like surfing, fishing is as much a meditative sport as a physical one. o R100 per person including equipment two hours. o Note that 2 guests share one fishing rod. Time: o low tide Please write your name on the booking form the day before.

8 HORSERIDING Get to know Bulungula on horseback. Take a journey along our wind-swept beach then meander through the Mangrove Forest and up into the rolling forested hills. Then trot or gallop back through the vibrant village to the lodge. You will be accompanied by a guide who will show you the way. Please tell the guide beforehand if you have any special requests (galloping/no galloping, nervous rider, etc.) The ride takes about 1 hour 45 min on tame, community-owned horses using saddles donated by the German Development Services. Please note that if you gallop there and back your ride will be over more quickly. R190 per person Occasionally some of the horses are unavailable and the guide might lead you on foot. In this case you pay R140 per person. You are welcome to cancel your ride if you feel this will detract from your experience.. Please write your name on the booking sheet the day before.

9 ilanga Fire Pancake Restaurant Experience exquisite African cuisine at our unique pancake restaurant, set in the very heart of the Dingata side of our village; overlooking the Xhora River to the right and magnificent Indian Ocean views to the left. Choose from a variety of traditional and afro-fusion foods, teas and coffee. In addition to great food, catch a glimpse of the life of the local village, watch whales and the dolphins down below, shoo away the nosy geese or just kick back and relax while you lie on the lush grass outside in the sun and enjoy the good life as we bring you pancake after scrumptious pancake. Going canoeing? Stop by at the end of your expedition which finishes just in time for lunch! All roads lead to Rome; or in this case ilanga Fire: The C anoeing Tour, the Horse Riding jaunt and Journey with the Herbalist all make their way past ilanga Fire at some point; so don t forget to bring some cash along. Menu Pancakes Savoury Chicken and Spinach Curry R30 Three Nut Curry (v) Butternut and cashew nut in a coconut curry sauce R26 Dessert How to get there? Walk from the lodge to the road. Turn left on to the road and follow it for about 15min. You will see a sign on your left pointing you down a grassy track which will lead you to the restaurant. Days open: Sat, Sun, Tue & Thur. Hours of operation: 11 am to 4:30pm. (please ask the lodge manager on duty whether the restaurant is open before you start walking) From the Guest Comments book: The best restaurant we've ever been to! Thanks for the fabulous pancakes, the nice atmosphere & the nice people! Mary & Chris, Germany Awesome food, beautiful view! Trisha, California Thank you so much. The food was delicious. We loved our visit with you. We will be back :) Sarah & Ryan Wow! What an awesome fantastic delicious belly filling pancake. Thanks for the experience. Rob, Oz. Amazing lunch in the most beautiful place in South Africa. Taryn & Roddy, Cape Town Bulungula Special Dates, walnuts and raisins in a delicious caramel sauce. R30 Caramel Banana R22 Chocolate R20 Honey R20 Drinks Tea (Ceylon, Rooibos, Herbal) R10 Quality Filter Coffee R13 Orange Squash R8 Xhosa Bread Xhosa Bread to order* R70 Choose from: raisin bread, cinnamon apple, banana, carrot, & coconut bread. * Please ask when the bread will be ready.

10 HIKE TO COFFEE BAY Take a spectacular guided hike along the coastline and through friendly villages to Lubanzi or Coffee Bay. It takes 4 hours to Lubanzi, where you can sleep over at Wild Lubanzi or Mbolompo Homestay, and another 4 hours from Lubanzi to Coffee Bay. It is possible to walk to Coffee Bay in one day but it is a tough 8 hour trek. On your hike you ll pass the beautiful Mpame indigenous forest, one of the largest forests in the region. This is a social walk and your guide will no doubt pop into the local shebeens for a smoke, a drink and a laugh. His inland shortcut route makes this otherwise arduous hike possible, even for inexperienced hikers. To make things easier, the lodge can arrange for your bags to be taken around to Coffee Bay by the shuttle so that all you need to carry is a day bag with water, lunch and camera. Please speak to us in advance to check that the shuttle is running on that day (Tue, Thur, Fri, Sun). Lubanzi: R200 per person Coffee Bay (1 day): R400 per person Coffee Bay (2 days): R400 per person Take some cash with you in order to buy drinks, snacks, etc on the way Time: o The hike starts at 8am. Please write your name on the booking sheet the day before and speak to the manager on duty to confirm that the guide is available.

11 SUNRISE PANCAKES Watch a beautiful Bulungula sunrise on the dune overlooking the sea while munching on delicious pancakes with tea and coffee. In season (winter and spring) you're almost certain to see whales and dolphins. This activity is done at sunrise Wednesday mornings and requires a minimum of three people, so encourage other guests to sign up. To book, please write your name on the Sunrise Pancakes booking sheet by 8pm the night before. Please also pay the manager on duty the night before (to avoid noshows). The date and meeting time should already be written on the booking sheet. The meeting point is in the lodge bar. If you are a group of three or more and want to do this activity on another day, then speak to the lodge manager and s/he'll see if Nosipho is available. Price: R60 per person (Includes two pancakes and tea or coffee) Days and Time: Wednesdays (although it can be done on other mornings on request) Please check booking sheet for meeting time Note: if you book and then don't show up, you still have to pay as Nosipho will have woken up specially and prepared everything for you in advance... so don't be tempted to lie in!