From Millwood through the Passes

Retrace your route past the forestry station and turn right onto the tarred road. The tar soon gives way to gravel, and the road winds down to an iron-girder bridge across the Homtini River. After the bridge, the road climbs out of the gorge, passes through farmlands, then drops again to the Karatara River.

After crossing the Karatara River on a single- lane bridge, the road passes the Karatara forestry settlement. The next pass leads through the gorge of the Hoogekraal River, and the one after this takes you across the Diep River.

You reach the tar again roughly 35 km from Rheenendal, and soon after this you pass the small settlement of Woodville. Turn right onto the gravel road signposted ‘Big Tree and Picnic Spot’. The picnic site to which this leads has braai places and toilets. From the car park a short path leads across a wooden bridge to the Woodville Big Tree, an Outeniqua yellowwood roughly 800 years old.

Return to the tarred road and turn right, noting your kms. After a little over 3 km, turn right onto a gravel road for ‘Saasveld’. The road now negotiates three more river-valley passes. Note your kms as you cross the Touw River, and 4,6 km later keep straight, onto the tar, for ‘George’. You then cross the Silver River, and after this the Kaaimans River. The old stone bridges over the Silver and the Kaaimans rivers have been proclaimed national monuments.

After climbing out of the Kaaimans valley you pass Saasveld on your right. This is the country’s only training school for foresters, and it is worth driving into the grounds to appreciate its beautiful setting. 5 km after Saasveld you reach the N2, shortly before entering George. Unless you wish to stop in George, turn left onto the N2 towards Knysna.

The N2 crosses the Swart River, and immediately afterwards the Kaaimans River. It then swings around the hillside overlooking the Kaaimans River mouth, presenting a splendid view of wild beaches and lakes stretching far into the distance. Stop in the parking area alongside the road to appreciate the view.

At the bottom of the hill, turn left into the village of Wilderness. After passing the Wilderness Hotel, turn left at the T-junction. Turn right almost immediately onto the narrow White’s Road, and follow this road as it climbs the hills north of Wilderness. Turn right onto the tarred road, then turn left, following the sign to ‘Map of Africa‘. This side-road leads to a viewsite overlooking the Kaaimans River. A twist in the river encloses an area of wooded land that resembles the map of Africa as viewed from the south.

Drive back down White’s Road, stopping part-way down for a fine view over the lakes. Retrace your route to the N2, and turn left towards Knysna.

When you reach Sedgefield, turn right into the road signposted ‘Police’. Drive around the traffic circle and continue straight towards the sea, with Sedgefield Lagoon on your right. Park in the parking area next to the lagoon mouth for a walk along the beach.

As you walk towards the sea, a path on your left, with a few broken steps, leads around to the top of a weathered bluff. There are views from here along the beach. (Archeological research has shown that this was for many centuries a favourite Strandloper camping site.)

Return to the N2 and turn right for Knysna. You will pass Groenvlei on your right, the only fresh water lake in this region. If time allows, return to the ’soft sand’ viewsite on the road to Brenton-on-Sea, to look out over that same vista in its evening mood.