Canoeing and pancakes at Bulungula

Our second full day, we decided to go canoeing. The activities at the lodge are run by locals, with part of the proceeds going to the community, and the rest going to the person running the activity. The excursion cost R80 ($8.40) each. This particular day, it was a young guy named Lindo who was running the trip. He was 24 years old, and this is his only job.

He arrived right on time at  10:00am. Not everything happens right on time at Bulungula Lodge, so we were quite surprised. There were two other couples going with us. He introduced himself and handed us each a kayak paddle. And off we went. It turned out that we had about a 40 minute hike to the river where the canoes were.

When we got there, Lindo took one of the other guys downriver a bit to pick up another canoe, and he showed us where to meet him at the river. While we were waiting for them, we watched the river crabs!

Interesting colored crabs! And they only have one claw. Strange!

When they arrived, we thought our guide Lindo was going to be coming with us. Nope. He pointed up river and told us where to paddle to, saying he expected us to be back in an hour or so. Okay. 

We paddled as far as we could. Here, it was too shallow because the tide was still out and it affects the level of the river.

As far as we went. Ruth and one of the other guys actually walked a bit further up to see what was around the bend, and they saw a sea turtle.

Paddling back. Nope, no life jackets. If you drown, there is nobody to sue. Everything you do is at your own risk, just as it should be!

On the walk returning to Bulungula, looking back at the river.

Part of the canoeing excursion includes a stop at the ILanga restaurant on the walk back to the lodge. It's located in a mud/brick rondoval, just like many of the other traditional buildings here. They make pancakes with different types of fillings. Could be nuts and dates, or could be chicken and spinach. They have several choices. Because of our gluten avoidance, we asked if we could just have the filling. And they said sure! So Ruth and I had a nice helping of chicken and spinach filling. There wasn't much chicken, and we couldn't find any spinach...but the peppers and onions and curry tasted great! Our canoeing companions also said their pancakes were great!

The restaurant! Best pancakes on the Wild Coast, apparently.

Happy people. Our guide Lindo is second from the left.

This guy was sitting outside the restaurant. When he saw me with my camera out, he was waving, and I finally figured out that he wanted to have his picture taken. I obliged, and then went outside and showed it to him. He and his buddy were all smiles!

Returning to the lodge, you get a beautiful view.