Wilderness

Wilderness

Wilderness is is only a short distance from George and your heart is guaranteed to miss a beat when, as you round the corner after the short winding climb up from the Kaaimans River, suddenly, stretched out in front of you, is the magnificent vista of Wilderness. To me, this epitomises the splendour of the Garden Route and I have never forgotten the moment I first gazed upon it way back in 1992. It is not just the dramatic wild beach that seems to go on forever, but the lagoons that lie behind the road, that makes Wilderness a nature lover’s haven and an internationally recognised holiday destination. The climate is wonderful all year round, temperatures hardly ever dropping below 8°C.

And there is much more. For water sport enthusiasts, there is a 2500 ha National Park with five rivers, five lakes, two estuaries and 18 km of coastline. Bird watchers are also catered for with the diverse range of water birds that breed here. Other options for holiday makers include hiking, dolphin and whale-watching, hang-gliding, paragliding, horse riding, mountain-biking, scenic drives and ferry cruises. To add to its allure, Wilderness also offers craft markets selling beautiful, locally crafted items.

The town itself is relatively quiet but for an action-packed outdoor holiday with the kids, this is hard to beat.