Bulungula Lodge

The stay at the lodge was a real adventure for us and the kids. African Xhosa village atmosphere, open and welcoming. The traditional rondawel was newly painted and clean. Easy but at the best location you can imagine, overlooking the river flowing into the sea. A comfortable bench in front of the rondawel invited us to just sit and watch. The restrooms and showers were an adventure, as already other visitors have posted here. Don't expect a hotel bathroom ;- The main building/dining room/bar was a beautiful and interesting meeting point to get in touch with people from the village. We did a canoing and a village tour. That brought us close to the local population - where else can you get such impressions. In the evening we sat at the common fire place where the locals played drums. Wonderful! A real big challenge was to go there and to get back. I didn't know that they offer a shuttle from Mthatha - if we ever go there again we would definately use it instead of tiring ourself by driving and spoiling our own car. 4×4 freaks may like it, but even having a smaller 4×4 it was quite a challange. Food was outstanding good! I was shocked by all the waste we saw everywhere in the villages. Also around the lodge and nearby beaches we saw a lot of "unwanted items". Maybe they could try to keep the area a little bit cleaner. But I believe it's a challange as the river brings new plastic everyday.

Bulungula Lodge perfectly encapsulates everything there is to love about the Wild Coast! The Lodge is nestled on a hill with one of the most splendid ocean/river views I have come across. The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. The communal are is fun and comfortable and the kitchen is everything you need. The Rocket Showers are an experience in their own light and just further cements Bulungula Eco Lodge as one of the most fun traveling experiences I've had! The village tour was truly insightful and we were welcomed with open arms! The food was great and more than we could have possibly eaten ourselves! DO REALISE that you will be entering a rural community with very little in terms of luxuries and the road leading to the community can be quite rough. But all things considered I would recommend Bulungula Lodge to any traveler looking for a bit of perspective and a truly unmatched Eastern Cape experience!

This place is stunning. There is no crime, the views are some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen, the food is good, the people are nice. Really loved the sunrise pancakes and the hike to secret beach! also enjoyed the drumming and the experience of using a paraffin rocket shower carbon neutral. Bulungula is far to travel to, but its so worth it!

You have to like this kind of travelling. Back to basics. We arrived after an 8 hour drive with a todler. The last two hours 29 km or so the roads are in terrible condition. Which you can hate or see as an adventure and a glimps into the reality of those who live here. We saw it as an adventure. I just got frustrared arriving at sundown and not finding the lodges. But the frustration was caused by the 8 hours drive. You have to know what you're in for when traveling to this part of SA. The Rondavel's are basic but very nice. The common area's are the same. The beach just in front of you, connecting with the river... That's just an amazing view. We enjoyed our stay till the fullest. We felt greatfull to be part of this community for a little while. And met some wonderfull people working there as volunteers. If we hadn't already booked our next stay, we would have extended our stay.

Absolutely loved it here. I mostly enjoyed how integrated the lodge is with the larger community. Friendly staff and helpful staff. I like the variety of accommodation options they have. Traditional Xhosa huts, safari tents, camping site and a cabin. They cater for all meals and have a self catering option with a kitchen for guests. Hope you never miss out on the tasty traditional lunches they serve daily. All meals have a vegetarian option aswell. Beach located a few meters away from the property. Plenty of activities available ranging from horse riding, herbalist tours, village tour, kayaking, hiking, women empowerment tour, drumming and yoga might have left out some. Pet friendly...there’s something there for everyone. One of the best locations to get immersed.

Great place with a location second to none. Andrew has added an excellent fresh touch to the place. It now has a fantastic new sparkle of cleanliness.Rooms: 4/5

Beautiful place would love to go again far but worth everyone is friendly and the food was good

Staying at Bulungula lodge enables guests to get away from the noise and hectic of bigger cities and enjoy a few days in paradise whilst being able to experience how local live. A friend of mine told me I absolutely must stay at Bulungula Lodge when travelling through South Africa, so I reserved a bed early on. It certainly was the best decision! My stay at Bulungula Lodge was a very special, unique, and wonderful experience. It's a beautiful and peaceful location, and I love the fact that my whole stay as well as the activities I participated in benefited the local community, rather than a big travel company. In terms of activities, there's horse riding, canoeing, various village tours, fishing, and more to do. Also, the beach is right next to the lodge. It's not busy at all, so swimming as well as relaxing on the beach are must dos. In addition, the food at the lodge was very tasty, freshly prepared and local. It's great value for money and enables guests to get a taste of the South African cuisine, so I'd definitely recommend signing up for dinner rather than cooking yourself. Vegetarian options are also available.

It's already my third time in Bulungula and it won't be my last. I love this place so much, it's beautiful, it's peaceful, it's a piece of paradise. And it let's you get a unique glimpse into the lives of the local Xhosa people. South Africa at its best!

To be in Bulungula is to be in the middle of one of the most beautiful natural places in Africa, and also to be in contact with a native community that shares its traditions and culture with you. The place is incredible and super friendly, and you can do many activities that are carried out by the people of the community. Super recommended for anyone who wants to experience the real South Africa.