Garden Route Trail Itinerary

Garden Route Trail is a relaxed coastal walk through diverse habitats and vegetation. Beginning in Wilderness, this five day coastal trail traverses two nature reserves (Wilderness National Park and Goukamma Nature Reserve) to finish on the western head of the Knysna Lagoon. The hike passes through some of South Africa's largest tract of remaining Afromontane rain, Milkwood dune forests, wetland, beach, rock pools, and lagoon habitats. With more than 185 African Oystercatchers en route, the coastline offers a perfect sanctuary for these fascinating and threatened species.

Reservation Procedure:

Recommended dates for trails are listed on the reservations page. Actual trail dates depend on availability of accommodation and tide conditions. Consideration is given to the tide tables to make the beach sections as easy as possible. To book, view the available dates on the reservation page, confirm availability and submit completed reservation form with proof of deposit.

Itinerary :

Day 1. 7Km forest walk, 7km wetland canoe, 3km walk with views of the lakes and Outeniqua Mountains. Guests meet at the Wilderness Ebb & Flow rest camp for registration. Activities start with a canoe trip and walk following the Touw River through indigenous forest for lunch alongside the river. Returning to the canoes, guests take a meandering canoe trip birding before returning to the rest camp for the evening. Dinner is prepared by your guide.

Day 2. 16Km beach walk. On the second day, after breakfast, guests are collected by a local taxi and driven to Kleinkrans from where the days walks starts. The trail passes rock pools which can be explored at low tide and tracts of washed up sea shells along some of South Africa's most pristine and secluded golden beaches. 800m before reaching your accommodation you are ferried across the Kingfisher Creek in a row boat when the mouth is open. Dinner is prepared by your guide.

Day 3. 10km beach walk, 5km dune fynbos and forest walk. After breakfast you start off on a 10km beach walk with plenty opportunities to swim in the surf before leaving the beach at Skimmelkrans in Goukamma Nature Reserve and traversing vegetated dunes to Goukamma River. Crossing the river on a pont you reach your accommodation in thatched rondavels where you over night for two nights. Dinner is a Potjie.

Day 4. 3 hour Birding canoe, 8km dune and beach circuit. After breakfast the group canoes up the Goukamma River looking for African Fish Eagles and Spotted Eagle Owls for the morning. For the afternoon you walk to the top of a vegetated dune en route to the beach and the mouth of the river to terns and seabirds. Dinner is a meal of seafood to round off the day.

Day 5. Relaxed start, 8km walk, reflective drink, shuttle back to Wilderness. Guests enjoy relaxed breakfast followed by a 8km walk to Brenton on Sea where you can enjoy an optional lunch or beverage before being transported back to Wilderness.