Where To Stay In Wilderness: A First Timers’ Guide

Are you looking for where to stay in Wilderness, Garden Route? You have come to the right place!

Wilderness is one of the best spots to add to your Garden Route itinerary. It is a fabulous mix of culture, art, nature, beautiful beaches, lagoons and the best paragliding sites. This is the kind of village you’re never entirely done visiting and will stay in your memories forever.

With a variety of accommodation options, picking the right Wilderness spot may be a daunting task – especially for first-time visitors. The good news is that in this post, we have put together a list of unique and beautiful places to stay.

Wilderness Beach House

Nestled in a grove of Milkwood trees, overlooking charming Leentjiesklip, this is one of our favourite spots, Beach House offers a welcome haven for backpackers and adventure tourists. This isn’t just the best backpackers in Wilderness. It is one of the best backpackers you will ever stay at.

The rooms are comfortable and spotless – you can pick between dorms with a sea view, a comfy cottage or private en suite rooms. Social spaces and a bar overlooking the beach are abundant. On Thursdays and Sundays, they have live music and a lovely vibe. The reception is always available to book tours or share information.

Oakhurst Farm Cottages

You’re spoilt for choice at Oakhurst. From the historic Forge, and the beautifully fun-filled Farm Cottages to the Africamps with their beautiful canvas tents overlooking rolling green fields and the Outeniqua Mountains. All of Oakhurst’s accommodation has free WiFi and are self-catering. The Forge and Cottages have permanent wood-fired hot tubs that can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Oakhurst has a selection of fun outdoor activities to keep you and your kids busy. From mountain biking or trail running, to hikes through the forest to the farm’s waterfall, fishing in the farm dam and canoeing. You can visit the Oakhurst Dairy and watch the cows being milked, go on one of their horse-riding trails or take the kids to play on the climbing wall and jungle gym. Also, make sure to visit their well-stocked farm shop for unique treats, farm produce and kids' toys to make your stay even more memorable. They offer their guests a real taste of the farming community and you will leave relaxed and refreshed.

The Fairy Knowe Hotel

Recently renovated the Fairy Knowe Hotel is one of the oldest Hotels in Wilderness welcoming guests since 1924. This landmark hotel is looking gracious and with its new light and airy rooms next to the Touw River, this hotel is a birders' paradise with over 280 species to be found, of which the Knysna Loerie is a regular visitor. If you need a break from life, look no further than this hotel. The Hotel facilities include a swimming pool, a restaurant with a beautiful deck, a “Step back in time” bar, Bird Hide, Yoga, Pilates, Trail running, and Mountain biking. There is also a wide selection of activities done by Eden Adventures.

The Wilderness Hotel

One of the Garden Route’s oldest and best-loved hotels, situated in the centre of the beautiful Wilderness village and an easy walk to all the great restaurants in the village. With old-style charm and featuring modern facilities, it is an ideal spot for any traveller. The hotel boasts a beauty spa, two swimming pools, a bowling green, two tennis courts, a squash court as well as an entertainment area for the kids. They have a selection of eight rooms to choose from, you can visit their website and select the room that fits your needs.

The Views Boutique Hotel & Spa

This hotel is a five-star boutique hotel located on a beachfront dune, their sea-facing accommodation, restaurant and Spa have uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean and Wilderness Beach. Their rooms are individually designed offering a variety of views from direct sea facing, suburban Wilderness or partial sea views. Their facilities include an upper deck with an outdoor swimming pool and a fully stocked gym. The Views Restaurant has a unique identity and uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients. While sipping on your Cocktail and enjoying your dining experience you can look at the paragliders soaring past. They have a selection of art in their restaurant in collaboration with Wilderness Art Association to showcase local artists in our area. The art is on sale and changes monthly adding to a great dining experience.

The Views create memorable experiences and celebrations and are truly a great luxury accommodation option in Wilderness.

The Old Post Office Lodge

The Old Post Office Lodge is an affordable Bed & Breakfast accommodation in the heart of Wilderness, Garden Route. The rooms are comfortable and in the evenings you can enjoy sundowners on their patio overlooking the quaint village. The Lodge is centrally situated and a short walk from most of the restaurants and the beach. Pomodoro Restaurant is situated right below the rooms. Pomodoro’s is a charming family trattoria. The pizzas are one of the best on the Garden Route. All dishes are based on traditional Italian recipes. The relaxed, warm atmosphere, good food, great wines and friendly service make this one of the best food stops on the Garden Route.

Treedom Villas & Vardos

Step into an enchanted place, it's truly a unique fantasy accommodation experience. Escape from the city to a unique piece of paradise nestled in the heart of the Garden Route. Each self-catering Vardos environment has been uniquely curated with romance, relaxation and magic in mind. You can relax and dine in your greenhouse and hang out on your daybed or moon swing. They also have a luxury family treehouse villa available, which is perfect if you need a bit more space.

Mountain Magic

The name says it all, magical accommodation with breathtaking mountain and sea views. Mountain Magic consist of converted containers joined by a deck with a hammock & braai. This accommodation is self-catering and pet friendly. They have a registered paragliding site on the property which has a separate entrance, so you will see paragliders launching in season. There is also Yoga classes available that are done on a gorgeous deck. They are one of the most popular and highly rated accommodation options on Airbnb.

Boardwalk Lodge

Boardwalk Lodge is a luxury Guest House with self-catering chalets and a gorgeous view of Wilderness. Their facilities provide the perfect setting to relax. You can take a dip in the lodge’s crystal-blue swimming pool, spend an afternoon searching for the Knysna Loerie from the comfort of your private deck and enjoy the view of the village while sipping on a cocktail. 

Serendipity Guest House and Restaurant

In the heart of Wilderness accommodation does not get any better than this property. Serendipity Guest House consist of luxurious top-quality en-suite air-conditioned bedrooms with under-floor heating. The rooms overlook the Touw River, and you have free usage of their canoes to explore the river and the Wilderness National Park. Serendipity Restaurant is an award-winning fine dining restaurant that only uses sustainable sourced and fresh products. Each dining experience is complimented by n selection of fine wines. Time spent at Serendipity will be warm, friendly and truly luxurious.

Ebb & Flow Restcamp

Set in the heart of the Garden Route National Park, camp next to the river with a backdrop of lush forest and mountains. The nature trails are well-maintained and you can enjoy a walk through a lush forest. You will spot birds like the Knysna Loerie, Giant Kingfisher and the Fish Eagle. Labels along the route indicate all the indigenous plants and trees - look out for the Yellowwoods, Stinkwoods and Milkwoods. Ebb & Flow Restcamp is a great camping option.