Wilderness Section, Garden Route National Park

Lakes and forest park protecting estuaries, rivers and indigenous woodland

The southern half of the Garden Route National Park wraps around Wilderness village. It protects a 30-kilometre coastal strip of indigenous Afromontane forest, a chain of five interconnected freshwater lakes, the Touw and Serpentine river estuaries, and the dune fynbos behind the beach.

The main entry point is the Ebb and Flow rest camp at the edge of the Touw River, where SANParks runs cabins, camping pitches, and a small ranger station that issues hiking permits and rents canoes. From here you can paddle upriver through indigenous forest to a waterfall, take any of half a dozen marked trails, or simply float in the calm tannin-stained water of the lagoon. Daily entry fees apply.

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The five connected lakes — Eilandvlei, Langvlei, Rondevlei, Swartvlei and Groenvlei — form one of South Africa's most important wetland systems and are listed under the Ramsar Convention. They host over 250 bird species, including ospreys, fish eagles and the elusive African finfoot.

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