Eden Canoeing

Eden Adventures, located in the heart of the Wilderness National Park, specialises in outdoor adventure tours, as well as teambuilding activities and tailormade tours of the Cape Garden Route in South Africa.

We have been running a professional tour operation since early 1997 and with over 10 years of experience we can show you the best that the area has to offer. Our main tours include canoeing, kloofing and abseiling, but for those who would like to explore the area in their own time, Eden Adventures has an affordable range of canoes for hire.

Eden Adventures have single, double and triple canoes for hire. These come equipped with paddles, buoyancy aids and waterproof containers for picnics, cameras etc, and a map to assist you in your decision making.

There are essentially three canoeing routes you can follow in Wilderness National Park.

The most popular is to pack a picnic and some swimming gear and head to the Touw River Waterfall. As you leave Eden Adventures you paddle up the Touw River through the indigenous forest, where there is an abundance of birdlife. After about 40mins of easy paddling you will reach a point where it becomes too shallow and too narrow to continue. Leave the canoe on the right hand side of the river and follow the path up onto the bank. There you will come across a stunning new 2km long boardwalk which will take you straight to the waterfall. Relax, swim, picnic and return via the same way.

Island Lake is about a 1.5 to 2 hour paddle down the Serpentine River. Turning right into a tributary of the Touw River, continue through the meandering reedbeds to Island Lake. About half way there, one passes under the Hoekwil road bridge. Just after the bridge the reeds become very overgrown. Push through the reeds for about 20m and it will then open up again. At Island Lake there is a picnic site on the left. Return the same way. Round trip = 4 to 5 hours. Although scenery on this route is not spectacular it is often good for birdwatching.

For those wanting to paddle to the beach, the river mouth is about 30 to 40 mins paddle from Eden Adventures. The river gets wider towards the mouth and banks become more developed, however it is still a lovely alternative.

Eden Adventures is located in Wilderness National Park, in the Wilderness area of the Western Cape Garden Route, South Africa.

• Life jackets
• Map
• Canoes and paddles.

There are large splash proof buckets in the canoes to keep your belongings dry. You can use them to pack cameras, picnics etc. In fact most daypacks fit inside one of the buckets, however these buckets also act as the buoyancy for the canoe. Therefore they must be kept sealed, with the cords fastened over them.

You will need to bring dry clothes and a towel for afterwards. Don't forget refreshments and food, particularly if you're planning on having a picnic along the route.

Anyone can enjoy this scenic adventure, on the calm river.

Rental rates available on enquiry. Remember to ask about Reserve Entrance fees, which are separate. Please also enquire about guided canoe tour options.