Wilderness

Wilderness is a village of about 6,000 people strung along the N2 where it drops down the Kaaimans River Pass from George to the coast. The Touw River comes out of the forest here, winds through a lagoon behind the dunes and reaches a beach that runs east for kilometres. Inland are four reed-fringed lakes. Most of this is inside the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park, which is why the place has stayed low-key while Knysna and Plett have grown.

Getting there

The N2 runs through the village, with George and its airport a short drive to the west and Knysna to the east. All the main Cape Town to Gqeberha coaches stop here. The old Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train once crossed the Kaaimans River bridge on its way to Knysna but has been out of service for years. Car hire is in George. Take the Kaaimans pass slowly: the 60 km/h limit is there for a reason and the road is dangerous when wet.

When to go

The weather follows the rest of the Garden Route: mild, green and liable to rain in any month, with summer highs in the mid twenties. Summer is the time to hear the Knysna warbler calling in the forest. December and January fill the village and the rest camp, so book early. Winter days are often clear and good for walking, though storms do close trails; the main forest trail was shut for a spell in 2026 after heavy rain and reopened in July.

What to do

The Half-collared Kingfisher Trail is the classic walk. Buy a permit at the Ebb and Flow rest camp, follow the Touw River upstream through forest on boardwalks and steps, cross the river on a hand-pulled pontoon and finish at a waterfall with pools you can swim in. It is a little over 7 km there and back; allow three to four hours. The Bosduif loop climbs to a viewpoint over the river. SANParks asks walkers to stay on the marked paths and wear proper shoes, since the boards get slippery after rain. You can also hire a canoe at Ebb and Flow South and paddle up the Touw as far as it stays deep enough, which is how the birders find the kingfishers, Knysna turacos and fish eagles. There are two bird hides on the lakes.

Above the village the Map of Africa viewpoint looks over the river valley and doubles as the paraglider launch; tandem flights are easy to arrange. Surfers go to Steps or around the corner to Victoria Bay.

Good to know

The sea here has strong currents. Swim on the main beach or at Sands Road, which regulars say are the safest spots, not off the empty stretches. You can walk from the village to the beach through an underpass beneath the railway line. The tourism office is at 198 George Road.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, Wikivoyage (Garden Route), George and Wilderness Tourism, Garden Route Adventure Guide, George Herald, BirdLife South Africa.