Wilderness Lakes

Behind the Wilderness beach a line of dunes traps a chain of five lakes - Island, Langvlei, Rondevlei, Swartvlei and Groenvlei - connected by channels and the Touw and Serpentine rivers. The Serpentine is the classic paddle: a narrow winding waterway between reed banks that opens into lake after lake, and canoes hired at Ebb and Flow let you do it without a guide. Swartvlei is the largest and deepest; Groenvlei is unusual for being fed by groundwater rather than a river, so its water is fresh and its level barely moves. The whole system is a Ramsar wetland and the birding is the reason many people come - kingfishers on the channels, waterfowl in numbers, and five kingfisher species recorded in the park. Behind the lakes the hills carry Afromontane forest with the Half-Collared Kingfisher trail running up the Touw River to a waterfall.

What you actually see

• The Serpentine - a narrow winding channel paddled between reed banks into open lakes.
• The five lakes - a linked chain trapped behind coastal dunes.
• Groenvlei - a lake fed by groundwater rather than any river.
• The kingfishers - five species recorded, with a river trail named for one.

When to go

October to April. A day. Mornings are calmest for paddling; afternoon wind picks up on the open lakes.

Honest expectations

Wind makes the big lakes choppy by afternoon. Canoe hire and the river trail are inside the park with a fee and gate hours. The Touw River mouth opens and closes with the sea, changing water levels. Summer holidays fill Wilderness village.

Nearby

Wilderness beach is over the dunes; Knysna is east along the Garden Route.