Wilderness Accommodation

“One of the most romantic seaside resorts along the Garden Route, a place of timeless beauty, prolific in birdlife and beaches.”

Welcome to Wilderness, a seaside town on the Garden Route home of the former State President of South Africa, P.W. Botha.

It’s situated directly on the Touw River Lagoon, a short distance east from George on the N2 down the Kaaiman’s River Pass.

Set between the Kaaimans River and the Goukama Nature Reserve, whilst being bordered by the Outeniqua Mountains, Wilderness is world renown for it tranquil sea and beaches which stretch on forever, abundance of rivers, natural lakes and lagoons, indigenous forests, also  the Village with its quaint “Olde Worlde” charm.

Wilderness protects three major zones of indigenous forest, four types of Fynbos (wild shrubs), lakes and winding waterways. The flora type is Afromontane gallery forest.There are also a number of historic sites of archaeological significance.

Eilandvlei, Langvlei and Rondevlei are a series of lakes connected by the Touw River. These watery havens host a variety of aquatic species and have been proclaimed as a Ramsar Site (Wetlands of International Importance). This area is also known for the Knysna Seahorse and Pansy Shell.

Wilderness experiences a lovely mild climate, typical of the Garden Route, and has little temperature variation – seldom dropping below 10 °C and above 28 °C, with year-round rainfall.

The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train originally ran through the town en route between George and Knysna during its years of operation. The Wilderness Station is now home to a quint restaurant, Beejuice.

Established in the early 1800’s, it was renowned for warm hospitality and the natural beauty of the surrounding area. It was through this that the legend of Wilderness hospitality and goodwill was established and subsequently, Wilderness has flourished.

Wilderness Village offers a variety of shops, restaurants, businesses, stores and petrol stations. There are also modern shopping malls, sporting facilities and golfing venues within the nearby vicinity.

Attractions:

• The 2500 hectare Wilderness National Park with five rivers, five lakes, two estuaries and 18km of coastline.  Many types of water birds breed here and this makes it ideal for bird-watchers. Visitors to Wilderness can spot five types of Kingfisher, the Grey Heron and Little Egret and the brightly coloured Knysna Loerie in the forest.
• Milkwood Village Friday Night Market. Wilderness has a great number of craftsmen and women in the area. There work is often for sale and the tourist can pick up many bargains at the craft market, also a hearty meal accompanied by live music and a bon-fire in Winter months.
• The Map of Africa viewpoint which offers fantastic view of the Kaaimans River Valley and an ocean vista rivaled by few.
• Dolphin Point, another magnificent viewpoint.
• The Woodville Tree, thought to be about 800 years old and a favorite picnic spot.
• Timberlake Organic Farm Village. Situated half-way between Wilderness and Sedgefield, along the N2. Various specialist cabin-style shops where you can shop for sweet and spicy treats, cheese, wine, health products, ‘Faerie’ gems, plants or enjoy freshly produced hearty country-style meals in a restaurant or take a pick from delis. Their Oyster Shack is popular for fresh wild coastal oysters from nearby Knysna.  Timberlake supports local producers and follows the Slow Food principles of good, clean and fair. Salad ingredients are picked fresh from their onsite organic gardens! Extensive kids facilities include a racetrack, jungle gym, trampoline, tame goats, the Fantasy Garden walk and more.

This delightful area offers a wealth of recreational opportunities.

Recommended Activities

• Canoe the Touw River
• Enjoy whale and dolphin watching in season
• Go bird watching (you may spot the colourful Knysna Lourie or one of the Kingfisher species!)
• Stroll along the golden beach, listening to the ocean. Wilderness is proudly a Blue Flag Beach!
• Experience the thrill of hangliding and paragliding, with panoramic views
• Horseback riding in nature’s paradise
• Water skiing
• Angling/Fishing
• Hire a bike and explore the area
• Mountain Biking in the forests
• Meander through the beautiful Lakes District
• Amble along the nature trails winding through beautiful forests.
• Enjoy active outdoor fun at WildWoods Tree Adventure Park, Timberlake. It consists of 2 Kids courses and 3 Adult courses with 74 aerial platforms connected by zip lines, bridges, tarzan swings and obstacles.It is a first for the Garden Route with over 3,8km of cabling used to create this unique outdoor adventure park. The different courses and a perfect balance between activity and fun make it suitable for families as well as the adrenaline enthusiast.

The Garden Route Mall, with an array of shops, restaurants and cinema is approx.  10 minutes drive.

Getting There (approximate figures)

Situated on the N2, an easy 20minute drive from the airport and the historical town of George.

Accommodation

Click here for all listed accommodation in Wilderness and the nearby vicinity.