Leaving southern coast of SA & Garden Route starts a new adventure for us. The Eastern Cape has significant manufacturing & much less tourism. It is grittier. We drove – fairly straight through from Tsitsikammatto Port Alfred. Port Alfred is a charming Oceanside community & we totally lucked out by staying at Mandy’s Airbnb. She is a knowledgeable & fun host. We learned about the community & toured the amazing coast. Then sharing dinner gave us a bit of insight to SA life.
Bulungula Lodge is next stop. Directions & road to lodge are horrible. Huge Adventure. The lodge is off-grid & managed by the local tribe. The drive there takes you past the local tribes & farms. Very simple life. Schools are present. At lodge location, a river empties to ocean. Beautiful swimming, fun wave jumping. Surfing available. Sharks not a problem for us. Whew! We stayed in a rondaval amongst goats & cows. Donkeys & pups love us!
And we experienced our first rocket shower. Propelled by paraffin.
One morning at 5:15a we met for an Oceanside hike & crepes at beach. Made over a campfire – fabulous! Next day we toured a few local homes & learned lots about the locals. Many generations of families live together. Most are self sufficient. Some work in mines – coming home 1/mo. Volunteers teach at the local school. We shared their home made beer- unique taste!
When if was time to leave – Tania led us out. Tania & her family run a hardware/general store/ building supply company. We are so fortunate to have her lead. The night before our departure, a family broke a car axle trying to leave. And two days after we left – rains caused flooding wiping out a bridge! We are so fortunate.
This area is so beautiful and now we are off to Drakensburg mountain area.
Camino Venture 