11 stops to Wilderness! Living your best life –

A SHORT BREAKAWAY WITH LIMITED TIME (3-4 DAYS) MAKES

GEORGE/WILDERNESS AN EASY AND EXCITING DESTINATION TO EXPLORE, RELAX AND JUST ENJOY…

About 5 hours from Cape Town, this is a great route to take if you don’t want to wake up with the chickens! Tackling the N2 just after peak time traffic, Somerset West whizzes past and excitement sets in along the scenic Sir Lowry’s Pass (passengers can take full advantage of the panoramic views, but drivers need to be alert on the sharp bends and a lot of trucks).

1st stop: Peregrine Farmstall (Padstal), Grabouw

The Peregrine Farmstall serves up spectacular coffee and fresh goods (the pies are heavenly) to kickstart the adventure… and there are so many treats to buy that you will be pretty much set for snacks for the journey.

2nd stop: Ou Meul Bakery, Riversdale

More pastry heaven for an early lunch and to stretch your legs. You can also fuel up at the nearby petrol station.

After Riversdale you pass Mossel Bay, which is a chilled spot with activities including the longest zipline over the ocean, the Point of Human Origin, and some superb restaurants and accommodation options.

Destination George reached

It’s always a marvel to note how clean the streets of George are. Gone are the days when George was considered as a bit of a retirement village – there is loads to do here, be it outdoors, shopping, or dining and exploration. It is also a fantastic spot to get to areas like the Wilderness, which can only be described as breath-taking.

3rd

stop: George Golf Course

We hit a few balls on the course and had our own caddy, which felt like we were channelling our inner Ernie Els. This course has amazing views!

4th

stop: Buff and Fellow (accommodation)

An eco-game farm about 10km from George airport and near Glentana Beach, the architectural elements are novel. We stayed in a “coconut” pod that was a two-bed selfcatering unit that has a spiral staircase around the dam. It’s George, but aesthetic-wise it feels like you are in Bali. Activities on offer:

• Enjoy an interesting breakfast – walk to the chicken coop to get your fresh eggs

• Game drives – spot some buffalo, rhino, buck and more. There is also a Shetland pony that you can feed.

• Fishing – catch and release

• Board games in each unit

• Chilling near the water or at the dam

5th

stop: Garden Route Botanical Gardens

You can walk for hours exploring indigenous flora, a maze, owl sanctuary and the bird hide. A great lunch spot here is the Marshmallow Garden Café, which serves up positively sinful milkshakes.

6th

stop: Outeniqua Transport Museum

Showcasing a variety of steam locomotives and the museum is also home to ox wagons and restored vehicles.The museum boasts a charming miniature town with small trains that’s definitely something to see with its attention to detail. Some of the individuals who spent years building this small town are available to talk you through the history.

It is also at this venue where you can hop onto the Outeniqua power van – a rail trip that takes you back in time with insights into our rail history, and journeys through the OuteniquaMountains, which were originally inhabited by the Khoi San.

7th stop: Redberry Farm

It’s a berry celebration all year long! A great spot for the family or people who love berries – everything has a strawberry flavour – the pizza with the strawberry balsamic is divine. There are also activities such as pony rides, bumper boats, gift shops, a maze to explore and a jaw dropping big strawberry that you can climb up via the use of stairs, which leads to a beautiful lookout for stunning views of George and the farm.

8th stop: Victoria Bay

Situated between George and Wilderness, this tucked away cove enclosed by cliffs offers frolicking and superb waves to surf.

9th stop: Kaymans River, Wilderness

Time to get serious about nature and adventure! On offer is abseiling – which looks easy enough but in reality can be quite daunting (unless you are a complete adventure junkie) – that gets paired with canoeing. The one end of the river features a waterfall and on the other side is where the ocean meets the river (the Kaaimansrivier railway bridge, which was constructed in 1925-1928 can be sighted here). So not only is there tons of adventure in the Kaaimans River, there’s beautiful history too.

10th stop: Backline Lounge, Wilderness

Trendy and cool, this lounge has an extensive cocktail menu that is perfect for a chilled afternoon of sundowners. Sometimes the venue hosts a live DJ – the best way to find out is to check out their Facebook page for any cool events happening.

Okay, this is not something generally read in a travel mag, but just as we like to take the road less traveled here’s another one of those – the bathrooms! Visiting the bathrooms here is an experience on its own! The female bathroom has been designed and made to feel like you’re under the ocean with the water actually above you moving. The men's bathroom was designed to make it look like you’re in the deep ocean with the sunrise happening on the top. It’s truly a cool little add on to this magnificent cocktail bar.

11th stop: e-Biking Wilderness

For a novel way to experience Wilderness, try e-biking, which does not require a lot of peddling. The route proceeds to take you over the mountain where you can stop off at various viewpoints and experience the beauty of nature en route to The Map of Africa, where you can enjoy panoramic views of peaks and a river valley that resembles the shape of Africa. There is also a paraglider launch spot nearby.