MZANZI TRAVEL - ISSUE 2

can join the local fishermen who will show you how to catch fish
with throw nets, catch crayfish and octopus by hand and make
your own fishing rod from wood and wire. Zameka will lead you
on your journey through the village and local culture and there
are lots of wise, old people in the village who have seen it all and
have amazing stories to tell. Go meet uTata Ntsundu, the elder
who can tell you anything you want to know about the history of
the area… despite having children who are now pensioners, he still
remembers everything. Or maybe you want to wander through
the beautiful indigenous forest with Mel’dinga, the traditional
herbalist, and learn about the weird and wonderful natural
remedies found here. Nolamete, the sangoma/igqirha, is always
the first to laugh, and will beat the drum into oblivion after a few
jugs of Umqombothi beer. Weekends are merry – it seems every
second hut has brewed beer and you won’t escape without trying
some. And if you’re here mid-month you will have crazy fun in
the village at the traditional, two-day uHube party - where you’ll
definitely learn some new dance moves.
The community offer canoe trips up the beautiful Xhora River
where kamikaze fish may jump into your boat and Malachite
kingfishers hunt in the forested cliffs upstream. You will also see
the ancient cycad trees, relics from the dinosaur era. All this with
a cooler box of beers... If canoeing is not your thing, you can also
explore the village and gallop along the beach on horseback.
How to get there
DIRECTIONS TO BULUNGULA – FROM N2 (use these directions
together with map) Please call to ask which route is in the best
condition at the moment. Route 1: Take the Coffee Bay turn off
the N2. Drive straight for 37km until you reach Nokholedji Store
(yellow MTN container outside on right hand side of road). Take a
right onto the dirt road and drive straight for about 10km. Follow
the road as it curves sharply to your right (do not take left turn).
After another 10km you will drive through a small stream and soon
after you will reach the Arts Centre – turn right here (Embekweni
Store will be on your right). Within 500m take a right at the first
fork. After 7½km, keep left at the blue school. After 2km keep right
at the next fork and after another 1km keep left at the next fork (if
in doubt follow the main/widest road). Follow this road until just
before it ends (another 6½km). On your right there will be a newish
dirt road with some peach-coloured houses and a bright yellow
corner fence pole as landmarks. Turn right on to this newish dirt
road and drive straight for 5 km until you see the lodge parking
area. It is a 500m walk from here to the lodge. Route 2: Take the
Coffee Bay turn off the N2. After 50 km you will see a tar road to
your right signposted “Zithulele Mission Hospital”. Take this road
and drive straight for 16.5 km where you will reach a right turn
signposted “Bulungula”. Take this right turn. This dirt road curves
immediately left and then right down the hill. Follow this road for
9km (after 5km there will be a left turn, ignore it). At the 9km mark
you will see a facebrick school on your left and then soon after you
will reach a T-junction – keep left here. Drive straight for another
4km (ignore right turn after 1km) until you reach the shop with the
huge wall - keep left at this junction. After another 1km you will
see the signs to Bulungula/Arts Centre, turn left. Follow directions
for Route 1 above. DIRECTIONS TO BULUNGULA – FROM COFFEE
BAY Due to the bad roads around Hole-in-the-Wall, we recommend
that you drive back up the Coffee Bay tar road towards the N2 and
then follow either Route 1 or Route 2 above.
Get in touch to plan your Bulungula adventure
Phone: within South Africa: 047 577 8900
outside South Africa: +27 47 577 8900
alternatively try: 083 391 5525
Website: www.bulungula.com
Email: paradise@bulungula.com
MZANZI TRAVEL| www.mzanzitravel.co.za|ISSUE 2 | 63