Abseiling
Take a 45m (148-ft.) abseil next to a waterfall in the Kaaimans River Gorge, then canoe out! This exhilarating experience is offered by Eden Adventures (www.eden.co.za). We are more than happy to arrange bookings for you if you wish.
Art
There are a number of very talented artists living in close proximity to Moontide. Some are considered of the best art investments in South Africa, others are not as famous but offer exceptional value and will make a wonderful souvenir or gift. George is also home to one of the best art galleries in South Africa: the Strydom Gallery is a real gem, offering an eclectic combination of classic and contemporary South African artists, across all price and period spectrums. If you are an art lover, let Maureen know, and she will make private appointments to visit various studios, or provide you with directions to the Strydom Gallery in George.
Beach and Forest Walks
One of the best Garden Route beach walks, with nary a human or house to mar it, is the amble to Gericke's Point, where locals come to pick fresh mussels - ask at reception for details on how to get there. Besides the trawling the gorgeous beaches, you can opt for any number of forest or lakeside trials in the Wilderness National Park (www.parks-sa.co.za), taking between 1 and 4 hours to complete - we like to take things easy; if you're up for a gentle stroll in stunning surrounds, one of our favourites is the 13km Pied King Fisher Trail (starting point 5km from Moontide). Alternatively, visit the "Big Tree" an easy circular 40 minutes walk that starts and ends at a 1000 year old Yellowwood Tree (starting point 14km from Moontide).
Birdwatching
Wilderness falls within the 2600ha Wilderness National Park, which is host to over 230 different bird species - you'll see many of them while breakfasting!
Canoeing
Moontide has a paddleboat at guests disposal which you are welcome to use at any time (we recently had one honeymoon couple who took it out on a moonlit night with a bottle of champagne!). Please just tie it securely when finished! There are also some 15km (9 miles) of inland waterways you can explore in a canoe - guests can hire canoes from Eden Adventure in the Park; again reception will assist with enquiries. For sea-kayaking tours, the marine-rich Plettenberg Bay is ideal.
Day Trips: Two Fabulous Drives
Wilderness and its scenic surrounds make for wonderful day trips. Here are our two favorites; one short, and one long.
Daytrip 1: Knysna Roundtrip If you've headed off to Knysna along the scenic N2, which features panoramic lake and sea views, consider returning via the Seven Passes Road. This, the original road linking George and Knysna takes you through dense indigenous forests, crosses streams via Edwardian bridges, and finally traverses the Homtini Pass, another engineering feat by the famous Thomas Baines. Approximately 2 hours driving)
Daytrip 2: The Four Passes This is a highly recommended (but long) inland day trip, guaranteed to keep your jaw dropping. Take the Outeniqua Pass (or R29) to Oudtshoorn (an hour away). Either stop for lunch here at the award-wining Jemima's, or immediately set off to traverse the hair-pin gravel road that is the Swartberg Pass - arguably the most spectacular in the country - to the charming village of Prince Albert (2 hours from Wilderness), where you should stroll around to admire the unique Karoo architecture. Stock up on traditional Karoo fare before returning via Meiringspoort Pass, a road that follows a natural ravine, and flanked with soaring cliffs, to Oudtshoorn, Time allowing, return to George via the Montagu Pass, a gravel road dating back to 1843, before the finally returning home via the Kaaimans River Pass to Wilderness. Approximately 4 hours driving.
Elephant Experience
The 80-ha Knysna Elephant Park (www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za) in Knysna affords you the opportunity to really get up close with a pachyderm. The park has 14 elephants, and you can touch them, feed them, ride them or take a sunrise or sunset walk with them through the forests. Tip: If you intend to ride them, wear thick trousers.
Game Viewing
Botlierskop (www.botlierskop.co.za) is a 3000-ha reserve near Mosselbay (about 60 minutes drive from Moontide) that offers 4-hour game drives to view a large variety of game, including rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and various kinds of antelope. Also lion and elephant though do note that these are not free-roaming. Botlierskop is not worth doing if you are planning to go on safari (or have already been on safari), but if this is your only chance to see animals in the wild, worth booking. Day visitors can also take horseback safaris, helicopter flights and elephant rides.
Golfing
Golfers are spoiled for choice on the Garden Route, often referred to as South Africa's "Golf Coast". Our three top recommendations, all within easy striking distance, are: the George Golf Club course ([tel] 044/873-6116), still one of the most scenic, and offering excellent value (around R500). Pezula ([tel] 044/384-1222; www.botlierskop.co.za), designed by Ronald Fream and David Dale, enjoys a glorious location perched atop the Knysna East Head cliffs. Along with great views the course boasts a luxury spa alongside (greens fees R525-R775). Deeper inland, on undulating hills that overlook the Knysna river and lagoon, is the perfectly groomed Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Simola ([tel] 044/302-9677; www.simolaestate.co.za), named the best new golf course in the country in 2005. The course has an interesting configuration: 5 par-threes and 5 par-fives.
Horseriding
We can recommend a variety of stables in the nearby vicinity. The best outrides lead you through the forests, with horses to suit riders of various abilities.
Market Shopping
Every Friday night there is a village market in Wilderness. Though there is not much of real interest for sale it is very popular with locals and the atmosphere is entertaining. Every Saturday mornings there is a large market in Sedgefield (15 minute drive towards Knysna). This is well worth attending, with plenty of interesting things to buy and a wonderful farmer's market selling everything from organic honey to superb cheeses - ideal to stock up for a picnic! Every second week there is a morning market in Wilderness.
Paragliding
Wilderness is considered South Africa's best site for coastal flying, particularly from August to May. A basic license paragliding course lasts 7-10 days, weather depending-or you can do a 1-day introductory course, or take a one-off tandem flight with a qualified instructor. There are a number of outfits, including www.cloudbase-paragliding.co.za.
Shark Cage Diving
Shark Africa (www.whitesharkafrica.com) is the only shark-cage operator in Mossel Bay, so your close-up encounter with a great white is likely to be less crowded experience than in the better known Gansbaai waters, near Hermanus. The four-hour trip including the shark-cage dive, breakfast and a light lunch.
Treatments/Beauty Therapy
There are a number of spa and beauty therapy options, most of them located in local hotels (the Karos Hotel and the Beach Hotel) but we also know of some excellent home-based therapists. Please ask us for specific recommendations. Given enough notice, massage therapists can be arranged to visit you in the privacy or your room.
Swimming
There is a plunge pool to cool down in but the river is safe, and wonderful to swim in: temperature is usually warmer than the pool and the water is clean (Remember, you're in a nature reserve! The brown colour is from plant oxides). Swimming in the sea can be treacherous. If you feel like an ocean plunge we'd recommend you go to Victoria bay (signposted off the N2 between Wilderness and George). One of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa lies just beyond Knysna: Noetzie is not only pretty but it has a number of castles overlooking the beach.
Whale-watching
Between August and November you will often spot whales from Dolphin's Point, clearly signposted at the top of the Kaaiman's Pass (between George and Wilderness).
Zzzz ... The area offers enough to do something different every day. But for pure relaxation, head straight for one of our decks overlooking the river, and be lulled by the lapping waters and birdsong...
More info
For more information on Wilderness attractions visit http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsgr/wilderness.php