Wilderness, Western Cape

Wilderness Wildernis
The town of Wilderness from the Kaaiman's River Pass incline
Wilderness Show map of Western Cape Wilderness Show map of South Africa Wilderness Show map of Africa  Wilderness shown within Western Cape
Coordinates: 33°59′S 22°35′E / 33.983°S 22.583°E / -33.983; 22.583Coordinates: 33°59′S 22°35′E / 33.983°S 22.583°E / -33.983; 22.583
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Eden
Municipality	George
Established	1877
Area
• Total	36.97 km2 (14.27 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	6,164
• Density	170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	12.0%
• Coloured	47.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.6%
• White	38.5%
• Other	1.8%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	68.5%
• English	23.7%
• Xhosa	4.9%
• Other	2.9%
Postal code (street)	6560
PO box	6560

Wilderness (Afrikaans: Wildernis) is a seaside town on the Garden Route of the southern Cape in South Africa.

It is situated a short distance east from the city of George, on the N2 down the Kaaiman's River Pass. It is known for its long white sand beach and lagoons. The town caters mostly to holiday-makers and is situated directly on the Touw River Lagoon.

The town experiences an extremely mild climate, typical of the Garden Route and has little temperature variation, seldom dropping below 10 °C and above 28 °C, with year-round rainfall. The flora type is Afromontane gallery forest.

The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train originally ran through the town en route between George and Knysna during its years of operation.

Wilderness was the home of the former State President of South Africa, P.W. Botha, until his death in 2006.