From Knysna to Wildnerness it will take around 1½ hours of driving, but there is so much to see in between on these diverse hiking trails and view points! Nearby is the city of George which is the largest in the area.
+The Knysna Heads refer to two scenic cliffs narrowly separated by the Knysna lagoon. Exploring the two sides can lead to very different experiences. To access the western head requires a ferry boat ride with Featherbed Nature Reserve. 
On the other hand, you can drive on the eastern head and find numerous little parks to explore the view. 
East Head View Point (22 Glen View Rd, The Heads, Knysna, 6571, South Africa) has a short walking trail leading to dazzling vistas from above.
There is also an interesting sculpture adding to the atmosphere.
If you plan on dining in the area seek out the Knysna Oyster, which the town is famous for.
+The Cape Dune Molerat Trail is a lesser visited parcel within the Wilderness section of Gardens Route National Park showcasing the areas lakes. Before you hit the trail make your way to the bird blind, where we had a surprise encounter. 
A kingfisher was trapped inside for god knows how long – so happy we were able to set it free, and it obliged us with some pictures.
That wasn’t it for the excitement, there were some flamingos adding a splash of color to the scene too.
The blind has some identification boards to help with your sightings. After the birding, continue on to the 3.7 mile loop.
It ascends initially with some nice lake views and has some rolling hills, the track can be sandy and rutted due to its namesake resident digging holes.
We didn’t see any molerats, but an elusive Knysna loerie flew by before I could snag a picture of it. Something that was more my speed with the camera this day was a shy tortoise spotting.
+The Woodville Big Tree is an 800 year old a yellowwood towering over 100 feet tall and almost 40 feet in circumference.
It’s a behemoth just a few steps away from the parking lot, an easy quick activity for those short on time.
Additionally, there is a lovely hike around the forest which was entirely empty during my visit. A scattering of informative plaques detail the flora with some interesting facts.
Wildlife in the forest was active as the evening approached, frogs were croaking in puddles,
and a female boomslang snake slithered in front of us – though I was too surprised to snap a picture of her beautiful bright green belly this is what they look like:
Image taken from Google
Admission fee or Wildcard required.
+Hoekwil Country Cafe is known for its cheesecake (said to be the best in South Africa), which is pretty good,
but if they have their carrot cake you must try a slice, which is truly out of this world!
The presentation is pleasant and so is the shady outdoor seating area beside the quaint playground.
Breakfast and lunch are available at the café as well, get there earlier though because closing times vary between 4-5:30 daily.
+The Half Collared Kingfisher Trail is 4.5 miles roundtrip on a well maintained and easy path. It begins from the Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp located in the Wilderness section of Gardens Route National Park (map).
A lush canopy of trees keeps the path shady, but the sun will break through when you reach the river.
An element of silly adventure ensues, where you pull yourself across the way on a makeshift pontoon – it so much fun and makes the hike very memorable!
Upon making it across, the dirt trail turns into an elaborate boardwalk that surprisingly stretches almost the entire rest of the trail.
The end of the trail is marked by a charming little waterfall, and its surrounding pools make for swimming holes on a hot day.
Admission fee or Wildcard required.
+Map of Africa is a viewpoint which can be visited quickly, but not soon forgotten. Geography fans will see it right away, 
but others instead might see the head of a crocodile, or something else completely – perhaps nothing at all but a striking river bend.
On the opposite side of the road, just further down the street there is a short ladder over a fence where visitors can take in an additional view of the coast.
This is the Guide to Day 3 of Gardens Route National Park, click the link to help plan the rest of your road trip.