The Lakes District is an adventure playground. There is bird watching, hiking, paragliding, diving, riding, mountain biking, canoeing, abseiling, surfing and more. The Wilderness also has many reputable and accredited adventure companies, run by by professional people who are committed to giving you the experience of a lifetime.

The activities in this area are designed for everyone no matter what your fitness level. You can take a gentle stroll along a forest path or sit quietly in a wooden birdhide and discover our wealth of bird life with a experienced birding guide.

However, you can go without a guide and see if you can catch the otters playing or the beautiful Malachite Kingfisher diving for fish. Keen birders will spot forest species as well as grassland, wetland, shore and marine birds. Bird hides have been carefully situated at Rondevlei and Langvlei. The walks and hikes through Wilderness National Park (2500ha) and the adjoining reserves are ideal for discovering the many birds, plants and animals of this unique area.

The Lakes District offers some of the best land-based whale and dolphin watching along a coast, particularly from June to November during mating and calving season.

You can explore many rivers (which have their source in the Outeniqua Mountains) on foot, along an extensive network of hikes and trails. Some of which are easy, others more challenging. The trails range from one hour to seven days to complete.

This area is a golfer's paradise. Visit one of the various PGA registered golf-courses along our beautiful coastline.

Some of the other Garden Route attractions you have access to are:

• The Cango Caves and Ostrich farms.
• Outeniqua hiking trails.
• Museums.
• Monkey land.
• Knysna Elephant Park.
• Tsitsikama forests.

Sun and sea

The Garden Route offers some of the best water sport areas along the Southern Coast of Africa.

• Hire a boat, or bring your own, and cruise our beautiful lagoon, streams and rivers.
• Complimentary Canoe is available on Wilderness Lagoon.
• Take a ferry across to Featherbed Nature Reserve or to the Knysna Heads - enjoy a romantic sunset, or leisurely lunchtime cruise.
• For an adrenalin rush in the water, go shark cage diving at Mossel Bay or Blackwater Tubing at Stormsriver.
• Watch the dolphins and whales play along our coastline.

Adventure activities

• Paraglide in heaven - soar above the coast and have a birds-eye view of this beautiful environment.
• Abseil down the Knysna Heads and other cliffs on the coastline
• Rock climb in some unique and beautiful areas
• Explore the area by quad bike (biking on the beach is not allowed due to the fragile eco-system).
• Experience the thrill of hanging from a cable and gliding from one tree top to another in the dense Tsitsikamma Forest.

Wild Life

• Visit a Game farm just a few minutes outside of George and watch the crocodiles feed.
• Visit one or more of the world-famous ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn
• Touch leopards at a wildlife ranch.
• Get up close and personal with the inhabitants of Monkey Land.
• Visit the Cheetah farm, the Knysna Elephant Park and see the Knysna Seahorses in the Knysna Lagoon.
• Enjoy one of the many Nature Reserves in and around the Knysna area.

Tourist Attractions

• George offers you the opportunity to go back in time and experience the old railway history of Southern Africa at the Railway Museum.
• Take the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train from George to Knysna and travel through the most scenic coastal areas. Daily departures (except Sundays in the Quiet season) from George and Knysna. You may also board at one of the many stops at siding and villages along the way.
• Indulge in fresh Oysters from the Lagoon and visit the local brewery.
• Take a trip through to Oudtshoorn and experience the Cango Caves.
• Visit the Post Office Tree and the Dias Caravel Museum in Mossel Bay.

Outdoor Activities

• This area is a golfer's paradise. Visit one of the various PGA registered golf-courses along our beautiful coastline.
• Cycle on the many biking trails through the local forests.
• Hike or horse-back ride one of the excellent hiking and horse riding trails along the coast and in the forest.

Out and About

• Shop till you drop in the many unique shops in Knynsa - The Waterfront, Woodmill Lane and Main Street are just some shopping venues.
• There is a wide selection of Restaurants, Coffee shops, Pubs & Grills, Pizzerias and Farm stalls in and around Knysna.
• Weekends are famous for the many markets in the area - from Sedgefeild to Hakerville and Wilderness.

Above Photo: Mini golf course at Slanting Acres