Wilderness is a beautiful small town on the famous Garden Route of South Africa with a reputation as a peaceful, seaside holiday destination.
Wilderness is a place that you can go to at any time of the year and find the sun shining and the beaches welcoming. Its mild climate, seldom below 10 degrees Celsius and above 28 degrees Celsius, and no particular rainy season, make it the ideal place for a holiday in the waves or on the lagoons and rivers.
For many years Wilderness has offered friendly hospitality to holiday-makers. It all began in the later 1800’s with a little stone farmhouse offering boarding facilities. From there, Wilderness grew into the peaceful town it is today, catering mainly for those looking for some time away from the busier cities of South Africa; however, it has even become internationally recognised as a wonderful seaside, Garden Route town.
Wilderness is found approximately 15km east of George, and alongside the warm, Indian Ocean. The sea is tranquil and ideal for swimming and many other water activities, but Wilderness is also surrounded by several rivers, natural lakes and lagoons. With an 18km coastline and approximately 10 lakes and rivers, it is an amazing place for fun in the water.
Accommodation Options
Wilderness Attractions
The Malachite Bird Hide
Pack your binoculars and some snacks and spend a couple of hours watching the magnificent birds of the area from the Malachite Bird Hide. In the gorgeous, watery surrounds, grey herons, cormorants, yellow-billed duck, kingfishers, waterfowl and numerous other bird species are plentiful. The hide is located in the Wilderness National Park, and alongside the Langvlei Lake.
Wilderness Beach
The Wilderness Beach is a fantastic place to spend a couple of lazy days in the sun. Its endless stretches of sandy shores offer lots of open space, and the gentle waves are wonderful for swimming. The beach is pet-friendly and a great spot for watching out for whales and dolphins.
Adrenaline-rush Activities
Enjoy the view of gorgeous lakes and forests from up in the trees while you zip line, cross bridges and tackle other obstacles with Acrobranch Tree Top Adventures. Adults and children are welcome, and all the different adventures are safe and well-organised. They start from the Timberlake Organic Village and you will spend about two and a half hours amongst the trees.
In Wilderness, you can also go paragliding and abseiling. There are lots of nearby locations for paragliding and abseiling is done at the beautiful Kaaimans Gorge, right next to two fantastic waterfalls. There are two abseils, one easier than the other. At the bottom you will land right into a canoe for a paddle up the river.
Wilderness Island Lake
For snorkelers and fishermen, this is the ideal location. The water of the Touw River is wonderfully clear and only about 3 metres deep, which makes it perfect for some snorkelling action. There are both fresh water fish and salt water fish here, such as Mullet, Cape Moonies and Grunter. Canoeing around the lake is great fun, and while you’re enjoying this you can look out for some extraordinary birdlife.
Map of Africa
On a clear day a trip up to the Map of Africa lookout point is well worth the view. The way the river flows around the hills makes a picture that looks like a map of Africa, hence the name of the lookout. From up here you have lovely views of the Wilderness beach and the sea, and maybe you will spot some whales or dolphins.
Hiking and Horse Trails
With such beautiful surroundings Wilderness offers some lovely hiking/walking trails. On the Woodville Trail you can go see the ‘Big Tree’, a yellowwood approximately 850 years old, and have a picnic in a designated area. The trail is about 2km long (circular route) and is even wheelchair friendly. The Pied Kingfisher Trail is a bit longer (about 10km), and follows the Serpentine River floodplain. It features several information boards about the kingfishers that live in the region. Other trails include the Cape Dune Molerat Trail, the Half Collared Kingfisher Trail and the Giant Kingfisher Trial.
If you would rather give your legs a rest, why not try one of the horse-riding trails? No riding experience is necessary and you might encounter plenty of wildlife on your ride, such as bushbuck, monkeys, baboons and maybe even caracal.
Shopping
Although you won’t find any multi-storey shopping centres in Wilderness, there are some lovely places to go that sell all sorts of treats. The Timberlake Organic Village is very popular with its unique cabin-style shops and plenty of kid’s facilities, such as a trampoline, a racetrack and the Fantasy Garden walk. At Timberlake you can buy cheese, wine, plants, health products and lots of sweet and spicy treats. There is also a coffee shop, a takeaways and a restaurant.
Nearby the Wilderness Train Station you will find Milkwood Village with a selection of shops. Here you can enjoy cafes and restaurants, side-walk shops and true South African friendliness.
Enquire Now
- Accommodation
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Accommodation Options
- Attractions
Wilderness Attractions
The Malachite Bird Hide
Pack your binoculars and some snacks and spend a couple of hours watching the magnificent birds of the area from the Malachite Bird Hide. In the gorgeous, watery surrounds, grey herons, cormorants, yellow-billed duck, kingfishers, waterfowl and numerous other bird species are plentiful. The hide is located in the Wilderness National Park, and alongside the Langvlei Lake.
Wilderness Beach
The Wilderness Beach is a fantastic place to spend a couple of lazy days in the sun. Its endless stretches of sandy shores offer lots of open space, and the gentle waves are wonderful for swimming. The beach is pet-friendly and a great spot for watching out for whales and dolphins.
Adrenaline-rush Activities
Enjoy the view of gorgeous lakes and forests from up in the trees while you zip line, cross bridges and tackle other obstacles with Acrobranch Tree Top Adventures. Adults and children are welcome, and all the different adventures are safe and well-organised. They start from the Timberlake Organic Village and you will spend about two and a half hours amongst the trees.
In Wilderness, you can also go paragliding and abseiling. There are lots of nearby locations for paragliding and abseiling is done at the beautiful Kaaimans Gorge, right next to two fantastic waterfalls. There are two abseils, one easier than the other. At the bottom you will land right into a canoe for a paddle up the river.
Wilderness Island Lake
For snorkelers and fishermen, this is the ideal location. The water of the Touw River is wonderfully clear and only about 3 metres deep, which makes it perfect for some snorkelling action. There are both fresh water fish and salt water fish here, such as Mullet, Cape Moonies and Grunter. Canoeing around the lake is great fun, and while you’re enjoying this you can look out for some extraordinary birdlife.
Map of Africa
On a clear day a trip up to the Map of Africa lookout point is well worth the view. The way the river flows around the hills makes a picture that looks like a map of Africa, hence the name of the lookout. From up here you have lovely views of the Wilderness beach and the sea, and maybe you will spot some whales or dolphins.
Hiking and Horse Trails
With such beautiful surroundings Wilderness offers some lovely hiking/walking trails. On the Woodville Trail you can go see the ‘Big Tree’, a yellowwood approximately 850 years old, and have a picnic in a designated area. The trail is about 2km long (circular route) and is even wheelchair friendly. The Pied Kingfisher Trail is a bit longer (about 10km), and follows the Serpentine River floodplain. It features several information boards about the kingfishers that live in the region. Other trails include the Cape Dune Molerat Trail, the Half Collared Kingfisher Trail and the Giant Kingfisher Trial.
If you would rather give your legs a rest, why not try one of the horse-riding trails? No riding experience is necessary and you might encounter plenty of wildlife on your ride, such as bushbuck, monkeys, baboons and maybe even caracal.
Shopping
Although you won’t find any multi-storey shopping centres in Wilderness, there are some lovely places to go that sell all sorts of treats. The Timberlake Organic Village is very popular with its unique cabin-style shops and plenty of kid’s facilities, such as a trampoline, a racetrack and the Fantasy Garden walk. At Timberlake you can buy cheese, wine, plants, health products and lots of sweet and spicy treats. There is also a coffee shop, a takeaways and a restaurant.
Nearby the Wilderness Train Station you will find Milkwood Village with a selection of shops. Here you can enjoy cafes and restaurants, side-walk shops and true South African friendliness.
- Enquire
Enquire Now
With wonderful places of accommodation and a boatload of attractions that allow the finest aspects of nature to be enjoyed, we have not yet met anyone who hasn’t loved their time spent in Wilderness.
The Garden Route is one of our specialties and we have personally explored it many times. We are therefore certainly the best when it comes to arranging accommodation and Garden Route itineraries. Let us know when you are ready to discover the joys of the Garden Route and let us make sure that Wilderness is on your list of places to go.