Plan Your Trip
How to get to Wilderness: flights to George, the drive from Cape Town and car hire
Wilderness is a one-hour flight from Cape Town or two from Johannesburg, and twenty minutes from the airport. Here are all the ways to get here, and how to find us on the ridge.
Ecoresort Wilderness: 381 Remskoen Street, Wilderness 6560, beside the Map of Africa.
The short answer
The fastest way to Wilderness is to fly to George Airport (GRJ), about 20 minutes' drive away. Airlink, FlySafair and CemAir connect George with Johannesburg (about 2 hours), Cape Town (about 1 hour), Durban, Lanseria, Bloemfontein and, since May 2026, Hoedspruit. There are no international flights to George; international travellers connect in Johannesburg or Cape Town. By car, Wilderness is about 440 km (5 hours) from Cape Town on the N2 and about 330 km (4 hours) from Gqeberha. A rental car is essential.
- Nearest airport
- George (GRJ), about 20 minutes
- Flights
- Johannesburg ~2 h, Cape Town ~1 h
- From Cape Town by car
- About 440 km, 5 hours on the N2
- From Gqeberha by car
- About 330 km, 4 hours
- Our address
- 381 Remskoen St, Wilderness 6560
In this guide
Wilderness feels remote when you arrive, with forest on one side and the ocean on the other. In reality it is one of the easiest places on the Garden Route to reach. The regional airport is twenty minutes away, and the N2 runs right past the village.
By air: George Airport (GRJ)
George Airport is the gateway to the Garden Route. It sits about 7 km from the centre of George and roughly 20 minutes by car from Wilderness. In 2025 it handled a record 911,000 passengers, and in 2016 it became the first airport in Africa to run on solar power.
Direct flights to George
| From | Flight time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo) | about 2 h | FlySafair, Airlink, CemAir |
| Cape Town | about 1 h | Airlink and others |
| Johannesburg (Lanseria) | about 2 h | FlySafair |
| Durban | about 2 h | CemAir |
| Bloemfontein | about 1 h 30 | check current schedules |
| Hoedspruit (Kruger area) | about 2 h 15 | CemAir, since May 2026 |
Routes and airlines change; check current schedules when you book.
From Europe
There are no international flights to George. From Europe, fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town and connect. Cape Town is usually the better choice: you can spend a few days there first, then either fly to George (one hour) or drive the Garden Route (see below). Allow at least two hours for an international-to-domestic connection, more in Johannesburg if you need to collect and re-check bags.
Airport expansion: from October 2026, George Airport begins a R310 million upgrade to double its capacity by 2028. Expect some building work around the terminal.
By car from Cape Town
About 440 km · 5 hours without stops
The N2 is a good, mostly single-carriageway highway. The classic route: over Sir Lowry's Pass, through the Overberg, past Swellendam and Mossel Bay to George, then down the Kaaimans River Pass into Wilderness. Plan a coffee stop in Swellendam and lunch in Mossel Bay, and you will arrive relaxed.
The Route 62 alternative: head inland through Worcester, Robertson, Montagu and Barrydale to Oudtshoorn, then cross the Outeniqua Pass down to George. It is slower but beautiful, through wine valleys and the Klein Karoo. See the road trip itinerary.
By car from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
About 330 km · 4 hours
Follow the N2 west through Tsitsikamma, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. Worth breaking up with a stop at Storms River Mouth or a night in Plett.
By bus
Intercity coaches (for example Intercape) and the Baz Bus backpacker shuttle run along the N2 between Cape Town and Gqeberha with stops in George and sometimes Wilderness. They are fine for getting here, but once in Wilderness you will still want a car.
Stay where this story happensTwenty minutes from the airport, a world away from the terminal.Three self-catering places on 21 hectares above Wilderness. Book direct for the best rate.Check dates →
Car hire
A car is essential. There is no useful public transport around Wilderness, and the beaches, trails, viewpoints and neighbouring towns are spread out.
- Where: all the major rental companies have desks at George Airport. Book ahead in December and January, when cars sell out.
- What: any normal car is fine. We are on a graded gravel road near the Map of Africa; drive slowly, and you do not need a 4x4. A higher car is nice for gravel passes like the Montagu.
- One-way rentals between Cape Town, George and Gqeberha are common but carry a drop-off fee.
- Licence: a licence in English with a photo is accepted; otherwise bring an International Driving Permit.
- Insurance: check whether gravel roads, tyres and windscreens are covered.
- Drive on the left. See our South Africa travel tips.
Finding us on the ridge
Ecoresort Wilderness is at 381 Remskoen Street, Wilderness 6560, on the ridge above the village, beside the Map of Africa viewpoint.
- From the N2, take the turn-off into Wilderness village.
- Follow the road up the hill towards Wilderness Heights and the Map of Africa, following the brown signs.
- Our detailed directions and a map pin are in your booking confirmation. The last section is gravel.
From George Airport: about 20 minutes. We can arrange an airport transfer on request.
Arriving after dark? Let us know your arrival time. The ridge roads are unlit, and we would rather meet you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest airport to Wilderness, South Africa?
George Airport (GRJ), about 20 minutes' drive away.
Are there international flights to George Airport?
No. International travellers connect via Johannesburg or Cape Town. Flights from Cape Town take about an hour; from Johannesburg about two.
How long is the drive from Cape Town to Wilderness?
About 440 km, or around five hours without stops, on the N2.
Do I need a 4x4 to reach Ecoresort Wilderness?
No. The final stretch is a graded gravel road that any normal car can handle. Drive slowly.
Is there public transport to Wilderness?
Intercity buses stop in George and along the N2, but there is no practical local public transport. A rental car is essential.
We live on the Garden Route and update this guide every season. Something changed? Tell us.
