To put our experience in context, the lodge was started as a sustainable form of economic development for the community. It’s currently 40% owned by the villagers with the end goal being 100% ownership. The idea is that it is also a place where local community members can become entrepreneurs, and so, on our second day there we went on a “Women’s Power Tour” run by a local woman. She took us through her daily tasks, including carrying water and wood, cooking, and keeping an eye on her family. Natty broke through the strict gender roles in the community, and watching kids stare at him, painted up like a woman for a special event, was hilarious.
The next morning we got up to watch the sunrise, before packing up and driving back up to the main road. The way up was better, mostly because three woman from the village had asked us for a ride, so we dodged rocks and ditches with three women chattering away in Xhosa. Then it was back to the road, with nearly 1400 kilometers between us and Kruger.
Fun discovery about South African driving: when someone wants to pass you on a two-lane road, you pull as far over into the breakdown lane as possible. As they pass, they flash their emergency blinkers at you a couple times as a thank you. Then you flash your lights back at them as a “You’re welcome.” How polite!
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