Wilderness, the most romantic location on the Garden Route

Wilderness is situated on the world-famous Western Cape Garden Route. It’s the kind of place you want to settle down for a while and forget about the rest of the world. People arrive here and don’t want to leave at the end of their stay.

This attractive holiday resort town offers beautiful beaches and numerous vantage points from which to watch the whales and dolphins. The area has a reputation for its natural bounty and tranquillity, making it ideal for seaside holidays.

Not only does Wilderness overlook the sea but also the tranquil lagoon (Touw River Estuary), the Serpentine, which meanders between the Touw River, Island Lake and Rondevlei. This is a favourite venue for waterskiing and attracts enthusiasts from far and wide.

Recreational activities in Wilderness include hiking, mountain-biking, bird-watching, whale-watching, hang-gliding and paragliding. Horse rides, scenic drives, angling, boating, and other day tours are all available too.

Woodville Big Tree (over 800 years old) creates shaded areas with its massive branches making it an ideal picnic spot. Stroll along the boardwalk (also wheelchair-friendly) which is part of the Pied Kingfisher Trail and home to a wide variety of birds.

The winter climate is splendid with sunshine days and temperatures that rarely drop below 8^oC. The annual rainfall averages around 700 mm.

Need a Place to Stay for a Night or Two? Try Moontide Guest Lodge situated on the banks of the Wilderness Lagoon. It’s probably the most romantic guest lodge in the region.

Eight individually styled cottages and rooms, each with private entrance and outdoor seating area offer the best value Garden Route accommodation.

Start your day by helping yourself to the cold buffet breakfast, and after that, your host will offer you something hot to eat, while you enjoy bottomless filter coffee or Rooibos tea.

For further details on Moontide Guest Lodge, visit Web Ref. 312 on www.theholidayzebra.co.za

The Western Cape

The Western Cape is the most admired tourist province - with good reason. Cape Town, The "Mother City", is one of the world's top destinations to visit. Evocative of other stunning coastal cities such as Monaco and San Francisco, with its spectacular scenic drives, the Western Cape offers an incredible assortment of enticing experiences.

The Cape metropole covers Cape Town, Table Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and False Bay.

The Cape Winelands, the longest wine route in the world, is famed for its excellent wines and the natural beauty of its lush valleys that are sparkling green in summer and covered in warm, rusty colours in autumn.

The Breede River Valley is a region of rivers, fruit orchards and vineyards.

The West Coast is strewn with charming whitewashed fishing villages.

The Cape Peninsula comprises the spectacular Table Mountain system. Washed by two oceans, residents and visitors alike have a vast choice of beaches and pretty coastal villages, offering excellent seafood restaurants and stunning scenery.

The splendour of the Western Cape is best enjoyed by leisurely drives. The peninsula has several breathtaking views such as Chapman's Peak Drive, Hout Bay, the Constantia winelands, Fish Hoek, Simonstown and Kalk Bay.

Alternatively, drive inland to investigate the longest wine route int he world, sampling excellent vintages along the way. The oldest vineyards date back to the 1660's, but the wineland area is continuously expanding. The entire stretch of wine country picture-perfect, dotted with quaint historic towns, an abundance of excellent country food, and some of the world's finest wines to taste.

Ideal destinations for a day's exploratory drive outside Cape Town include Matjiesfontein, Darling and Riebeeck Kasteel, which have become the hideouts of sophisticated urbanites and artists seeking respite from the rat race.

Further up the coast, the small city of George is the Capital of the Garden Route and a veritable magnet for golfers. Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are the most popular destinations on this scenic coast. Further inland, the Karoo town of Oudtshoorn is famous for its ostriches and the enchanting Cango Caves are waiting to be explored.

The Cape is the perfect venue for a wide range of outdoor activities including canyoning, rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking and water sports that would be difficult to beat anywhere in the world.

Key experiences:

Urban rhythm: Cape Town

Scenic beauty and tranquility: Cape Point, West Coast, winelands, Garden Route

History and culture: Robben Island, the Bo-Kaap

Table Mountain

Cape Floral Kingdom

The Cape Winelands

Robben Island

Cape Point Nature Reserve

Hermanus Whale Watching

Victoria and Alfred (V&A) Waterfront: world-class shopping

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Garden Route