Bulungula Lodge: Eastern Cape

There are very few lodges in the world that can say they run on the same amount of power used by a toaster – a full 24-hour day on what a toaster uses in an hour, to be exact. Bulungula Lodge, situated just south of Coffee Bay on South Africa’s Wild Coast, is one such place.

The Wild Coast earns its name by being a watery graveyard to several shipwrecks. Whale bones dot the coastline and it is largely an unfenced area populated by pastoral communities. Bulungula was founded where hills meet the sea, and is home to a variety of flora and fauna. From the lodge one looks down onto a glorious beach and estuary. The backdrop is lovely velvety hills with springy grass that spills down the dunes and kisses the rocks and sand below. Goats, cows, chickens, ducks, dogs, donkeys, pigs, sheep and horses, all roam freely, and down by the river’s edge, the mangroves grow.

Bulungula Lodge, with its use of solar power, has “rocket showers” and compost toilets – a living example of how tourism can be eco-friendly, clean and sustainable. Grey water from the sinks feeds the vegetable garden, and the lodge has calculated its annual carbon footprint, and plants trees to offset this. Cultural fusion is at its heart. The realization that there are many different ways to live your life, is something that will have you hankering for more.

Accommodation at Bulungula Lodge

Bulungula offers lodgings in either rondavels or safari tents. Four-bed dormitories are available for those on a budget­. The huts are more spacious and central, but the tents are more private­. I opted for the latter, and although I often had to fight my way through the dune bush in pitch darkness, the double bed that awaited was cosy and the wooden deck perfect for star gazing. (It says on the Bulungula website that if you don’t see a shooting star within half an hour during a clear night, you get that night’s accommodation free. I put this to the test and saw three in one night). One is able to go to bed with the tent door left open with the roar of the ocean in your ears. In the mornings you can view the sunrise over the horizon, without lifting you head from your pillow.

Crime & Safety at Bulungula Lodge

It’s hard for a South African to think of any place in the country as ‘crime-free’, but because the Bulungula community owns 40% of the lodge, there is a vested interest, and since its establishment in 2004, there has been no recorded incident of even the most minor theft. Once you accept that crime is non-existent, it’s quite liberating not having to constantly worry about your belongings going walkabouts.

Cellphones lie in a neat row on the kitchen windowsill, while cameras and laptops lay about on tables and couches. Anything can be left quite safely in your unlocked hut or open tent. So long as an inquisitive goat doesn’t mistake your goods for lunch, everything can be left with peace of mind.

The Bulungula Lodge is the realisation of a dream dreamt by a couple during years of travel through the most remote parts of Africa, China and South America, to create an eco-friendly backpackers’ lodge in the most beautiful place in South Africa, in partnership with a vibrant, traditional community.

The People Met at Bulungula Backpackers

A place like Bulungula attracts people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from all corners of the globe. During my four-day stay, I crossed paths with Sam, a video editor from north London, Matt, a surfer and ex-banker from New Zealand who sold all his possessions to spend a year travelling through South America, sweet, tattoo-clad Stephanie from Switzerland, Melissa, the 23-year-old Canadian who is bravely journeying from Cape to Cairo, Keegan from Cape Town, and a few American girls doing missionary work. It was a real treat to interact with such well-travelled, open and friendly people.

Things to do at Bulungula Lodge

If laying on the grass with a beer and good book, or wallowing in a rock pool isn’t enough action for you, there are several things to do at Bulungula. The lodge and all its activities have completely uplifted the surrounding villages, and several community members have started their own small businesses. There is much to learn if you immerse yourself within Xhosa culture.

I indulged in a two-hour horse ride, which started along the beach before headed inland and uphill. With the horses being as tame and well-disciplined as they are, no riding experience is required. Other options are to take a tour with the local herbalist, enjoy a full body massage, hike, fish, crayfish dive, glide down the Xora River in a canoe, or learn how to play the hypnotic bongos. Popular board games are available for rainy days.

I honestly can’t recommend Bulungula enough. However, if luxury, comfort and privacy is your thing, it may not be your cup of tea, but I think it’s a must-do for any city dweller with a sense of adventure. The laid-back nature of the place, the hospitality, safety and friendliness, may well change one’s outlook in pretty profound ways.

Just be warned that the ride is rough when driving there. It is unknown how solid your bones need to be in order to traverse a severely pot-holed road for 36 kilometres, but then again, isn’t being hard to get to a destination one of the definitions of a paradise?

For more info on Bulungula, including bookings and prices, visit www.bulungula.com