Eastern Cape Village Immersion

Set deep in the heart of the Eastern Cape on the Indian ocean coastline,this community run backpacker/lodge offers the experience of life in a Xhosa village.

This is not a tourist made experience.

Here villagers live and they have welcomed outside guests so they the guests can experience village life and the village in turn benefits from the employment opportunities and enhanced skill training that the lodge offers.

This tour is privately guided so you will have the benefit of your guide to help translate where necessarily and help you orient to your new surroundings.

The blue building is the main area of the backpackers and the pink huts are where guests stay..the buildings on the hills behind are part of the village which is spread out over many rolling hills.

The image above shows the approach to the village from the beach as its forms part of the Wild Coast hike,however most village guests are driven from the main freeway a good 2 hours or so drive which gives you an idea of the remoteness of the village.

All meals are eaten at the lodge.

Village immersion activities:

Women empowerment morning
Village tour
Met with the headman and or the local traditional healer
A forest journey with the local healer
Massage
Fishing or horseback rides or guided coastal walks
Canoe the local river
Ocean Sunrise and pancakes.

Visit the pre school a NGO formed to help with giving a solid foundation to the village:

From 3 years of age all children of our 4 villages now have access to a quality, daily ECD program and a nutrition program.

The first preschool was opened in mid-2009 in Nqileni Village and over the past 2 years we have opened 3 more: the third and final one opened in July this year in Tshezi Village.

A high school is being built as well so that the village high school kids can stay near there families and receive quality educational opportunities.