Chitika

Monday, May 6, 2013

Wilderness, one of the Best Towns in the Garden Route

By Rhonda Oh


The Garden Route is one of the most widely known traveler places in South Africa, individuals flock here each year to enjoy gorgeous nature, ocean safaris, outstanding wine and all kinds of outdoor activities. The most popular towns in this location are Mossel Bay, Knysna and Oudsthoorn. However there is a town called Wilderness which is a little "jewel", although it is not as well known to foreigners as the various other towns.

Wilderness is just 40km far from Knysna, 50km away from Mossel Bay and 60 kilometers away from Oudsthoorn, all distances that can easily be covered in leisurely outings. Likewise Wilderness Beach has actually been awarded the "Blue Flag", an International acknowledgment for beaches with clean water and flawless ecological management.

The town of Wilderness permits you to truly enjoy local food with its many bistros, most of which are accessable on foot. The town also has its own Lagoon and a lovely Park. There is a shopping mall, an art gallery and a bank teller machine, so if you do not wish to drive at all for a few days and just enjoy beach and restaurants, this is definitely the location for you!

If you Google search "Garden Route South Africa" you will discover all there is to know about the many activities available in the area. You can go water tubing down Storms River Gorge or Kloofing at Kaaimans Kloof. You can go Abseiling down Kaaimans Gorge or canoeing along the Touw River. If you are not scared of heights, you can glide from tree to tree in Environmentally friendly tree adventures.

Boat based whale viewing and dolphin encounters can be very intense, particularly if your chosen company has a SABBWWA license as they can get within 50m of the whales. Ocean safaris are offered all year round; in winter you will see the Southern Right whales and Humpback whales, in the summer season you will see common dolphins, bottle-nose dolphins and even the rare humpback dolphin that is just sighted in this location.

Another way to enjoy Wilderness and the bordering area is with hikes and horse rides in the nature reserves. You might easily spot bush pigs, bush-buck, monkeys and numerous stunning birds, including the Knysna Loerie. Leopards and Caracal (Rooikat) are tougher to see as they just come out at night and usually stay away from humans.

For yet another possible way to enjoy spectacular views and a little adrenalin, you can opt for a tandem paraglide. No paragliding experience is needed as you will launch with a seasoned trainer, and all you will have to do is sit back and relax and delight in the breathtaking views. The very best launch sites are in Kleinkrantz, Wilderness Neach, Map of Africa, Sedgeview and Gerrickes Point.

Wilderness and the Garden Route also permit even more mundane activities such as shopping and wine tasting.

Ask your tourist information center where and when you will discover craft markets since they are an outstanding occasion to find original and truly good souvenirs. The artisans and women typically offer their own production therefore you will be able to get to know and talk to some residents. The people in this area are astonishingly friendly and helpful, and they are usually honest to tourists.

For the wine sampling you can hop onto the Cape Route 62 which runs parallel to the N2. This road is likewise referred to as the Wine Route and it will lead you directly to some of the country's best wine estates. It runs through Knysna and Oudsthoorn and so you can possibly incorporate a day trip to among these towns with lunch on a nearby wine estate.

The Garden Route is genuinely an incredible location to go to and Wilderness is its unknown gem!




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