Built in the 1920s, Moontide was one of the first residences to be built in the romantic enclave of Wilderness. The thatched homestead (above) was host to a string of illustrious guests until unexpected tragedy struck, and the house was abandoned and left to ruin. It was finally put on the market in the 1980s and purchased by Maureen Mansfield, who decided to restore the homestead to its former glory rather than tear it down. The roofs of the outbuildings were replaced with thatch to create a coherent and charming identity, and an additional home, ‘Moonshadow’, was built on the adjacent erven to accommodate her many house guests. In 1994 Maureen threw open her doors to her first paying guests with just four rooms. Inspired by the response, she has subsequently created another four suites, and updates annually.

Wilderness is the ideal base from which to explore the gems of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo. Not only is this little village by far the most tranquil of the Garden Route options, but you are within easy striking distance of all the sights: bustling Knysna lies within a 25-minute drive; Plettenberg Bay, playground of the rich and famous, a further 20 minutes, while Oudtshoorn and the jaw-dropping Swartberg Pass lies 60 minutes away. Every drive takes you past gorgeous lake and ocean vistas, with numerous winding passes through forested mountainsides. Your Wilderness home lies at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, its gardens lapped by the Touw river. The beach is a 2 minute stroll away; the Wilderness Village craft shops and a variety of restaurants lie within a 3-minute driving radius.

If travelling from Cape Town/George Having descended from the Kaaimans River Pass, you will pass the turn-off to the Village and cross over the lagoon. Immediately after you have crossed the lagoon, look for the Moontide sign and take the first turning left (over the disused railway line) into Southside Road. Moontide is located at the end of the lane. If traveling from PE/Knysna Look out for the sign on the right-hand side, soon after you have passed the turn off to Pirate’s Creek.

Lat/Long: 33° 59.632’S / 22° 35.216’E

Abseiling

Take a 45m (148-ft.) abseil next to a waterfall in the Kaaimans River Gorge, then canoe your way out. This and other great experiences can be found by exploring the area with Eden Adventures.

Art

There are a number of very talented artists living in close proximity to Moontide. Some are considered of the best art investments in South Africa, others are not famous but offer exceptional value and will make a wonderful souvenir or gift. If you are an art lover, let Maureen know, and she will make private appointments to visit various studios.

Canopy tours

Taking place in the magnificent Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforest, the canopy tour will have you whizzing between ten platforms along looping steel cables suspended up to 30 meters above the forest floor…some of them 100 meters long! It is a thrilling (yet perfectly safe) way to spend three hours, soaking up the Garden Route scenery with professional guides providing interesting facts about the forest ecology during your canopy tour. And we’ll arrange a great rate.

Day trips two fabulous drives

Wilderness and its scenic surrounds make for wonderful day trips. Here are two great suggestions – we will supply maps and/or advice on where to stop.

Daytrip 1: Knysna Roundtrip If you’ve headed off to Knysna along the scenic N2, which features panoramic lake and sea views, consider returning via the Seven Passes Road. This, the original road linking George and Knysna takes you through dense indigenous forests, crosses streams via Edwardian bridges, and finally traverses the Homtini Pass, another engineering feat by the famous Thomas Baines. Approximately 2 hours driving.

Daytrip 2: The Four Passes This is a highly recommended (but long) inland day trip. Take the Outeniqua Pass (or R29) to Oudtshoorn (an hour away). Either stop for lunch here at the award-wining Jemima’s, or immediately set off to traverse the hair-pin gravel road that is the Swartberg Pass – arguably the most spectacular in the country – to the charming village of Prince Albert (2 hours from Wilderness), where you should stroll around to admire the unique Karoo architecture. Stock up on traditional Karoo fare before returning via Meiringspoort Pass, a road that follows a natural ravine, and flanked with soaring cliffs, to Oudtshoorn, Time allowing, return to George via the Montagu Pass, a gravel road dating back to 1843, before the finally returning home via the Kaaimans River Pass to Wilderness. Approximately 4 hours driving.

Elephant experience

The 80-ha Knysna Elephant Park in Knysna affords you the opportunity to really get up close with a pachyderm. The park has 14 elephants, and you can touch them, feed them, ride them or take a sunrise or sunset walk with them through the forests. Tip: If you intend to ride them, wear thick trousers.

Game viewing

Botlierskop is a 3000-ha reserve near Mosselbay (about 60 minutes drive from Wilderness Beach Cottage) that offers 4-hour game drives to view a large variety of game, including rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and various kinds of antelope. Also lion and elephant though do note that these are not free-roaming. Day visitors can also take horseback safaris, helicopter flights and elephant rides.

Canoeing

We have a canoe for our guests to explore the river, either heading towards the ocean or deeper inland to the forested banks. There is no charge for using this, or the resident paddle boat. There are also some 15km (9 miles) of inland waterways you can explore in a canoe – depending on where you start, guests can hire canoes from Eden Adventure in the Park. For sea-kayaking tours, the marine-rich Plettenberg Bay is the ideal day trip.

Golfing

Golfers are spoiled for choice on the Garden Route, often referred to as South Africa’s ‘Golf Coast’. Our recommendations, all within easy striking distance, are: the George Golf Club course, still one of the most scenic, and offering excellent value. Pezula), designed by Ronald Fream and David Dale, enjoys a glorious location perched atop the Knysna East Head cliffs. Deeper inland, on undulating hills that overlook the Knysna river and lagoon, is the perfectly groomed Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Simola); this course has an interesting configuration: 5 par-threes and 5 par-fives.

Horseriding

There are a few stables in the vicinity. The best outrides lead you through the forests, with horses to suit riders of various abilities.

Market shopping

Every Saturday morning there is a large food and craft market in George (10 minutes drive west) as well as one just outside Sedgefield (15 minute drive east). Both offer plenty of interesting things to buy and wonderful food, from ready-made dishes to deli items and groceries, including superb cheeses, interesting olives and dips, and rustic breads – ideal to stock up for a picnic, or head home to your patio at the lodge – we will provide cutlery and crockery. Every Friday night there is a village market in Wilderness. Selection is more limited but the atmosphere is entertaining.

Paragliding

Wilderness is considered South Africa’s best site for coastal flying, particularly from August to May. A basic license paragliding course lasts 7-10 days, weather depending-or you can do a 1-day introductory course, or take a one-off tandem flight with a qualified instructor.

Restaurants

Like elsewhere, restaurants come and go but the following local stalwarts have earned our approval over many years and countless meals. We discuss these and more options with guests and make bookings on their behalf should they require (recommended during the busy seasons).

Joplins Pub & Steak Grill
Best steak house on the Garden Route, this laid-back timber shack-pub is a real local gem, where Rose presides over the grill. It is hugely popular with locals – not only for the cozy unpretentious atmosphere but you can still wine and dine here for around R130 per head.

Salinas
A few meters from the beach, is an informal place that offers casual fare, served up with a 180-degree view of the ocean and beaches. It’s a very stroll from the lodge.

Serendipity
For fine dining we recommend Serendipity, voted amongst top 100 restaurants in the country by Wine Magazine for many consecutive years as well as amongst the top 10 in the Garden Route.

The Girls Bistro
Like Serendipity, The Girls is voted one of the Top 10 Restaurants in the Garden Route. Informal and unpretentious, their food is delicious and good value. This is also walking distance away though a section is along the busy N2.

Pomodoro
For pastas and pizza we recommend Pomodoro in the heart of the village, good value and good fare; laid back vibe. Service can be slow when very busy.

Shark cage diving

Shark Africa is the only shark-cage operator in Mossel Bay, so your close-up encounter with a great white is likely to be less crowded experience than in the better known Gansbaai waters, near Hermanus. The four-hour trip including the shark-cage dive, breakfast and a light lunch.

Bird watching, monkeys and more

Wilderness falls within the 2600ha Wilderness National Park, which is host to over 230 different bird species. An absolute must-visit, particularly if you are traveling with children, is the World of Birds – with over 3000 birds and 400 species, this is one of the largest in the world. It is located just beyond Plett, about 90 minutes drive east of the lodge. Opposite is Monkey Land, the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary, and well worth including as part of your World of Birds experience. Stop for lunch en route (we will make recommendations depending on what you are in the mood for) and make this a full day experience.

Swimming

Swimming in the river in front of the lodge is highly recommended – the water is clean (the colour of tea due to the tannins in the fynbos vegetation the springs trickly through), warm and safe. We also have a plunge pool. Swimming in the Wilderness sea can be treacherous as riptides are strong, so please be careful and stay in the shallows unless a lifeguard is on duty. If you feel like a deep ocean plunge we’d recommend you go to Victoria bay (signposted off the N2 between Wilderness and George). One of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa lies just beyond Knysna: Noetzie is not only pretty but it has a number of castles overlooking the beach.

Whale watching

Between August and November you will often spot whales from Dolphin’s Point, clearly signposted at the top of the Kaaiman’s Pass.

Beach and forest walks

The beach stretches for miles on your doorstep, but beach lovers may wish to explore Gericke’s Point, another endless beach and the part of the wonderful guided Moonlight Meander & Starlight Stroll, offered by local expert Judy Dixon. At low tide the exposed rock pools here are fascinating. Or opt for any number of forest or lakeside trials in the Wilderness National Park. Mark Dixon is a brilliant guide who will introduce you to the secret life of the forest and fynbos, lakes and estuaries. If you prefer a self-guided walk one of our favourites is the one that includes a visit to our “Big Tree” — an easy circular 40 minute walk that starts and ends at a 1000+ year old Yellowwood Tree (starting point 14km from Moontide).

Relaxation

The area offers enough to do something different every day. But be sure to make some time for pure relaxation, and head straight for one of the loungers on our decks overlooking the river, and be lulled by the lapping waters and birdsong.

Moontide has a reputation for romance – five proposals have been made (and accepted!) here, and numerous nuptials celebrated in style. The entire venue (space to seat 100) can be hired, and accommodation for 16 guests (maximum 24) included. We can also arrange additional accommodation and assist with wedding planning, hiring an experienced event manager to deal with the most exacting requirements.

Breakfasts on the terrace overlooking the shimmering lagoon, where dabchicks and ducks slip between the reeds, and kingfishers keep a beady eye on the fish flitting below, is a highlight of a Moontide stay, and the most relaxing start to any day. Feast your eyes on the cold buffet spread, and/or peruse the menu for our generous cooked breakfasts. This is usually the best time to discuss what you would like to do today, and where you would like to dine. Tell us what you’re in the mood for and we’ll advise you on the best options throughout the area; we are here to help should you require assistance with anything from bookings to directions.

I could not fault our stay at Moontide. The rooms are beautifully and individually decorated and much thought has gone into their comfort. The location is wonderful and breakfasts on the terrace are a great way to start the day. Great hosts! – Sarah M

This is the second visit to Moontide & it won’t be the last. Love the location right on the lagoon. Stayed in the stone cottage which is very private with it’s own walled garden. Breakfast sitting by the lagoon was the icing on the cake. Staff are very attentive & can’t do enough for you. – Liz H

We stayed two nights in the moontide guesthouse. We had a very nice room, the staff was very friendly, the breakfast was great and there was an amazing view over the river. The most beautifull birds came to the breakfasttable. – mirjammeijer