January 2011 Newsletter

MBOTYI RIVER LODGE NEWSLETTER

Mbotyi had a very interesting month of October/November

William, Harry and the Bikers

We had two large groups, each with of 84 off road bikers, staying with us. This is the Enduro Africa event, which attracts adventure seekers annually.  Most of these bikers are from the United Kingdom.
A percentage of money goes to charity so often celebrities are persuaded to join in.  We enjoy having them here, they are full of life, enjoy the hardships of the route and have endless empathy with the local people.  It was two years ago that the two princes, William and Harry stayed with us during the same event.  What a pleasure it was to have them here.  Old ladies of mid sixties are not easily impressed by youth, we have seen it all!!  Tuffy and I were however very impressed by these two young men. They had the best of manners, charm and warmth.  British Royalty is in good hands.

I digress; the bikers this year were full of mischief. We woke up one morning to find a motorcycle perched on top of the roof of the organiser’s bedroom.  No mean feat to get it there after a busy night in the pub.

Mbotyi meditation

Also in October we had a large group of people, mostly from Europe and the U K, who came to us for 10 days to meditate, to heal, to grow personally and just get to know them.

This proved to be a huge success.  They came, we fed them tons of fresh food daily, we saw to all their earthy needs, their Guru and the peace and tranquility of Mbotyi saw to their spiritual needs.  They smiled and enjoyed the sunshine, the rain and the wind.  (Spring is known for 4 seasons in one day)  Below is a quote from mail received from Robert in Geneva.

” It is great to see William is so happy. My family has accepted the sticks each member wanted to feel the energy of each stick. From my heart, I encourage you to market your place for energy, healing, Zen, yoga and other retreats. This should safeguard a blissful future.”

Bob Skinstad’s Bob’s for Good Foundation shoe drop at Mbotyi

There was great excitement at Mbotyi as cottage owner, James Wardlaw had arranged with Bob’s For Good Foundation to drop 500 pairs of shoes for the children at the local school.

Needless to say, there was not a single absentee on the 13^th September when the drop took place! After introductions and a song and dance from the pupils the children were all fitted with shoes. Thanks were given by the Vice Principal of the school who, despite living in this remote village, was able to recount to the children all of Bob Skinstad’s achievements on the rugby field.

Water fall bonanza

Our rainy season is now in full swing, the rivers are running clear, all this life giving water is pouring down the many waterfalls. The early morning sounds are those of teams of oxen being coaxed to pull the ploughs, in preparation for planting. Our earth has come alive, and all nature’s creatures are having a good time.

Hiking

November has been a hive of activity with many foreign visitors form Europe, Scandinavia and the U K., they are enjoying hiking trails, mountain bike routes, canoeing and the sea has been mostly around 20 degrees. It is good to see people at the end of a busy day, tuck into a hearty meal with stars in their eyes.

We have very special guides, they are friendly and caring, good communicators, making a trail through the village a very enjoyable experience. See for yourself where the ‘green gold’ grows amongst the mealies; introduce young city dwellers to the very different rural way of life filled with African traditions.

Community

Our Mbotyi community has had an unhappy experience this past eighteen months, they were cheated of a lot of money that they had in a community account. This was money that had been earned through the community campsite. The plan was to erect a community center, which would benefit the entire community. Sadly they were left with only R84 in the account. We are starting from fresh to attract people to the campsite. Improvements are in progress; the lodge staff assists with the running of the campsite, please tell your friends to visit this special place. The site is comfortable with braai areas, shady trees and electricity.

Mbotyi River Lodge Volunteerism Program

Although operating in an exquisite location, Mbotyi River Lodge is one of the only established and functional employers in the extremely poor and rural Pondoland area. There is a dire need for primary infrastructure. In order to boost tourism to the area and break the cycle of poverty, Mbotyi River Lodge has begun implementing a literacy programme through the local school to help encourage the children in their learning of the English language. The programme was put in to place by the first volunteer, U.S. student Ben Tillotson to Mbotyi. He had previously visited Mbotyi and recognized the need for a literacy programme. He initiated a charity drive in the U.S. to raise money for books and dictionaries for the children and arrived back at Mbotyi River Lodge with supplies and reading material. The programme has since become a popular ‘activity’ for guests to the Lodge but the Lodge would like to take this programme forward through volunteerism. Volunteers wanting the participate in the programme are requested to e-mail the Lodge at info@mbotyi.co.za for more information.