Xhora Mouth

BOOTS COTTAGE HAS TWO SEPARATE                                     HOUSES

The beach is just a 2 minute stroll away, with beautiful and safe places to swim. Collect shells on the beach, go fishing off the rocks, enjoy a lovely walk, or just 'chill' in the sun.

The Xora river is just below the river/sunset facing deck and a wooden staircase takes you right down to the jetty.

The BOTTOM HOUSE HAS 4 bedrooms:

• Sea view 1: One double bed
• Sea view 2:  One double bed, and 2 single beds (small lock up safe)
• River view 1: One double bed
• River view 2: One single bed
• lounge sea view ; One sleeper couch

All bedding and essentials are provided, including bar fridge, kitchen fridge, chest freezer, gas stove, ice machine, kettle and microwave oven, ice maker, potjie pot kitchen utensils such as cups, glassware, pots & pans, etc. etc.the house are 

powered by solar mostly and back up genny is available .

Two  bathrooms with flush toilet and separate shower with hot water gas geyser. (Gas is included in the rate and is connected up by the house staff when required.)

There are two lounges, a dining room, and large kitchen.

The river facing deck is the main entertainment area with amazing sunset views, built-in braai area, and has a stairway access down to the jetty on the river.Front verandah with 8 seater table 

Facilities include a dart board (please bring your own darts ), and two 2-man kayaks for guests use to experience the wonderful Xora River.

Staff:
 Nancy does the house cleaning and will happily make fat cakes (vetkoek) and home made Xhosa bread for you. Please bring your own flour and yeast, etc.. They can also arrange crayfish, fish and mussels as appropriate during season (sea and weather conditions permitting). Thelma and Nancy have both worked at the cottage for over 40 years and are super helpful and completely trustworthy. Tyson\simon is Nancy's son and is available to help with any manual chores that are needed.

As this is their only form of employment we do ask that our guests please treat them well, as they are part of our happy family cottage.

Tyson is able to assist with the key for the boom gate to access the launching-site for boats at the river.

Xora mouth is unique. To say the least.

Come and sea.

RXRW+47 KuMatokazi

This much-loved family cottage is situated between the river and the sea at the beautiful Xora (or Xhora) Mouth, mid-Wild Coast. To adventure here is to step way off the beaten track. It’s where kindred spirits pause the busyness and give themselves space to regenerate.

The cottage has been in the Bennett family for close to 50 years. Over the years, it has been transformed from a basic fisherman’s shack to a comfortable home from home for a family or a few couples. But it has never lost its humble beginnings – it is still a real Transkei beach cottage (although, these days, it has electricity and an indoor bathroom).

The cottage has three bedrooms, including a hut, that can accommodate six adults and four children. Each bedroom has a double or queen bed and a few singles and bunk-beds suitable only for children. Linen is supplied, but you will need to bring your own towels.

The kitchen is equipped with a stove, fridge, chest freezer, toaster and kettle. Crockery and cutlery is supplied.

The place:

Xhora Mouth lies between Ntlonyana and Bulungula, just south of Coffee Bay and Hole in the Wall. The cottages (just 12 in total) are wedged between the Xhora River where it loops around an island of mangroves, a beach still lined with milkwood trees, and the mouth of the Xhora River itself.

Here, life ticks along with the river. At low tide, you may see people and even cattle crossing the great sandbars that sweep across the breadth of the river. At high tide, watch the breeze create ripples on the water that swells to cover not just the sand, but also the mangrove swamps. Sometimes, the river is as smooth and calm as glass, reflecting magnificent sunsets. Perhaps you will take a boat up the river and wind between the fields and homesteads that have changed little over the decades. Always, listen for the cry of the fish eagle.

On the beach, wander south towards the cliffs of Nkanya, dipping into the (usually) warm Indian Ocean or a myriad of sparkling rock pools. Or cross the river and wander north along the bay to Bulungula. You’ll have indigenous Nguni cattle – big, gentle creatures – and seabirds for company. Local women and their children may be foraging for food on the rocks, as they have always done. And you’ll be enchanted by the rich shell beds. As a special treat, from June to November, the whales will put on a show for you.

The Xhosa months of the year are poetically named after stars and seasonal plants of Southern Africa. The Xhosa year traditionally began in June and ended in May, when Canopus, the brightest star visible in the Southern Hemisphere, signalled the time for harvesting. In urban areas today, anglicised versions of the months are used, especially by the younger generation. But in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape – the old names still stand.

• January - EyoMqungu (month of the Tambuki Grass)
• February - EyoMdumba (month of the swelling grain)
• March - EyoKwindla (month of the first fruits)
• April - uTshaz'iimpuzi (month of the withering pumpkins)
• May - EyeCanzibe (month of Canopus)
• June - EyeSilimela (month of the Pleiades)
• July - EyeKhala (month of the aloes)
• August - EyeThupha (month of the buds)
• September - EyoMsintsi (month of the coast coral tree)
• October - EyeDwarha (month of the tall yellow daisies)
• November - EyeNkanga (month of the small yellow daisies)
• December - EyoMnga - (month of the acacia^§ thorn tree)

^§ Update: December was listed incorrectly as the month of the mimosa thorn tree. But as mimosa is not indigenous to South Africa, and only would have arrived here a few hundred years ago from South America; December should actually be the "month of the acacia thorn tree". Oxford English-Xhosa Dictionary backs this up. 

~Jeff - Oct '16