• Mossel Bay

    Mossel Bay is halfway between Cape Town and PE, this coastal town marks the official beginning (or end) of the Garden Route. There’s a wide choice of backpacker hostels, beaches and adventure activities.
  • George

    George is very close to Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay and Victoria Bay, it’s a convenient backpacker stop over point. George airport is a convenient way of arriving to explore the Garden Route.The Outeniqua Tjoe - Choo train comes puffing into the station once a week.
  • Oudtshoorn

    Oudtshoorn was home to rich feather barons until the turn of the century. The collapse of the feather industry meant the area had to find other attractions in order to survive. And boy, has it done a good job of that! You need daaaaays to “do” Oudtshoorn.
  • De Rust

    An interesting little one horse town.
  • Victoria Bay

    Victoria Bay is renowned as one of the world’s best surfing beaches and the waves here are often spectacular.
  • Sedgefield

    Straddling the N2 and in its turn surrounded by wetlands and sandwiched between the sea and the mountain, this is paraglider's paradise.
  • Buffels Bay

    This little coastal village lies just outside of Knysna and is a great place to relax and get closer to nature.
  • Knysna

    This backpackers haven is the centre of the Garden Route. The town of Knysna sprawls around the Knysna lagoon whose entrance is guarded by two rocky cliffs called The Heads. Knysna is the hub of the Garden Route and this once sleepy village is now a bustling town.
  • Uniondale

    Peaceful winding roads and lovely country side. The alternative inland route along the coast…
  • Nature's Valley

    Situated at the end of the Groot River pass, Nature’s Valley is surrounded by mountain, lagoon, sea and forest.
  • Plettenberg Bay

    Plettenberg Bay is a backpackers paradise. It was named “Baia Formosa” (Beautiful Bay) by early Portuguese explorers. Plettenberg Bay is now one of the Garden Route’s major destinations, primarily because the Portuguese weren’t far wrong.
  • Bloukrans

    The main attractions here are the Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest bungy jump and the beautiful surroundings
  • Stormsriver

    The major drawcard here is Mother Nature. And she’s a real Mother, but not the one you know. Wild, tempestuous, untamed, violent, calm, soothing, shouting, majestic and awe-inspiring if you can look past the hand of man.

You are here: | All regions | Garden Route | Wilderness

Wilderness

Wilderness nestles in the green coastal hills, framed by the Touws River lagoon on one side and miles of superb beach on the other. The beautiful Wilderness National Park protects the unique eco-system that makes up the surroundings.

This is Wilderness
Lying in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains, Wilderness is blessed with a natural bounty of rivers and lakes, miles of beautiful beaches and numerous vantage points from which to explore. Home to dolphins, humpback whales and Southern Right whales on holiday, the area has a treasure trove of outdoor pursuits, from awesome kloofing to canoeing, hiking, abseiling and paragliding.
Honeymoons and love-birds

Surrounded by the Wilderness National Park, this small seaside town is actually a pretty civilised place. ‘Pretty’ being the operative word. Explore the wetlands and the forests and see how many of the 250 bird species you can spot. Then bounce off to the beach which stretches from here to infinity and catch a few lungfuls of fresh sea air to take home with you.

Set in the heart of the Garden Route in an area of immense scenic beauty that was once the domain of Khoisan hunter-gatherers, the small seaside town of Wilderness is surrounded by natural splendour and charm.
With miles of golden beaches stretching into the misty distance, rolling hills covered in majestic forests and abundant rivers, lakes and waterfalls, it’s well worth spending time here. If only to recharge your batteries while you wander…

Places to Stay

  • Beach House Backpackers

    Situated in a milkwood forest on large grounds, the Beach House has an incredible view of the coastline and Dolphin’s Point.
  • Cocomo Restaurant

    An eclectic mix of tropical village lifestyle and flavour-full cuisine
  • Fairy Knowe Backpackers

    Fairy Knowe is a Wilderness backpackers which is set on an old rambling farm with masses of space, horses, dogs and birds, overlooking the wetlands.

What to do

 Feeling lucky?
(randomly selected service providers from all regions)

Dhow Beach Resort
An exciting beach resort on a tropical island paradise with lots to do and fun to be had in the beach bar and restaurant.
(Jambiani,Zanzibar Island)

Kosi Bay Inn
A great opportunity for backpackers to visit an unspoilt part of South Africa
(Kosi Bay,Zululand)

Jeffreys Bay Backpackers
Situated in town, Jeffreys Bay Backpackers has the best of both worlds.
(Jeffreys Bay,Sunshine Coast)

Vienna Gem Mini Backpackers
Hey Backpackers, here's a safe place to stay in the presigious suburb of Randburg for under R100 a head!
(Johannesburg,Johannesburg)

Monkey Bay Backpackers
Close to Durban International airport, the beach, shops and Ballito's funky nightlife.
(Ballito and Shaka's Rock,Durban)

The Backpackers - Zavora Lodge
An established lodge with backpacker facilties.
(Zavora,Mozambique)

AroundAboutCars
People from PE are smooth operators when it comes to finding a soul mate to share their ride.
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)

Nothando Backpackers
Nothando is situated in the centre of Plettenberg Bay and is a five star backpackers.
(Plettenberg Bay,Garden Route)

Makuleke Home Stay
A Community Centre and Homestay that offers fascinating insight into our history and the paths that can be taken to repair past injustices.
(Punda Maria and Makuleke,Limpopo)

Gateway Backpackers
A good overnight stop.
(Ermelo,Mpumalanga)