One of my all-time favourite activities on the Garden Route was canoeing in the Wilderness. Now there are many things to do in the Garden Route, but here you are emerging into this lush greenery forest. So take a break from the many beaches worth visiting on the Garden Route, and take on some adventuring for the day.
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We started our morning early at Eden Adventures. They are located at the Fairy Knowe Hotel and they offer various activities.
So we opted for the canoe option, as we wanted to combine this with the Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail.
Cost
Take note that should you not have a Wildcard, you will be required to pay an additional fee for the SANParks conservation levy. This is payable at Eden Adventures.
Rates (excluding the SANParks conservation levy) – 2024:
SINGLE CANOE:
- Per hour = R185
- Half day / 5 hours = R400
- Full day = R550
DOUBLE CANOE
- Per hour = R220
- Half day / 5 hours = R550
- Full day = R750
- SA residents – Adults (R55pp) & Children 2-11 years (R27pp)
- SADC Nationals – Adults (R110pp) & Children 2-11 years (R55pp)
- Foreign Nationals – Adults (R190pp) & Children 2-11 years (R95pp)
Can the whole family join?
This activity is suitable for the whole family. I would however suggest that if it is windy, a parent is present with a child on a double canoe. It was perfect weather when we canoed up the river, but when we got back the wind started picking up – making it a bit harder to paddle. Others ended up in the bush. So just keep this in mind.
The three routes
The route you take all depends on how long you’ve hired the canoes for and how far you want to travel along the river.
Touw River Waterfall
The most popular option. To get to the waterfall you paddle for about 3km (40 minutes) through the beautiful indigenous forest up to where the river becomes narrow. Here you leave your canoe on the banks of the river and you hike for about 2.5 km to get to the waterfall (an extra 40 minutes). The hike is part of the Half-Collared Kingfisher Hiking Trail.
Island Lake
To get to Island Lake you paddle for about 3.5 km (1.5 to 2 hours) down the Serpentine River. At the Island Lake, you can enjoy a nice picnic. This route is great for bird lovers, as the birds are abundant in the reedbeds.
River Mouth
The River mouth is about 30-40 minutes of paddling.
What to do with your valuables?
All the canoes have large splash-proof buckets for you to fit your backpack in. Most backpacks fit into these buckets.
Other Activities at Eden Adventures
Canoeing is not the only activity Eden Adventures offer. There are indeed many others – like kloofing and abseiling.
Kloofing
This is a half-day activity where you are accompanied by a tour guide. You start with a walk through the forest, after which you swim through canyons while being surrounded by majestic cliffs. You will be provided with a wetsuit and buoyancy aid.
Cost = Adult is R850 and Child is R700
Abseiling
Abseiling takes place in the afternoon. Here you get to abseil 45m next to the waterfall in the Kaaimans Gorge. Once at the bottom, you jump into an inflatable boat, and then you can just relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Cost = Adult is R850 and Child is R700
You can combine Kloofing and Abseiling for a day full of adventure. The full-day cost is R1600 per adult and R1300 per child under 16 years. (Including lunch)
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