Wilderness, South Africa

Last updated

Wilderness
Wildernis
Wilderness WC.jpg
The town of Wilderness from the Kaaiman's River Pass incline
South Africa Western Cape location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Wilderness
South Africa adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Wilderness
Coordinates: 33°59′S22°35′E / 33.983°S 22.583°E / -33.983; 22.583
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
District Garden Route
Municipality George
Area
[1]
  Total
36.97 km2 (14.27 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
  Total
6,164
  Density170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
   Black African 12.0%
   Coloured 47.2%
   Indian/Asian 0.6%
   White 38.5%
  Other1.8%
First languages (2011)
[1]
   Afrikaans 68.5%
   English 23.7%
   Xhosa 4.9%
  Other2.9%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
6560
PO box
6560

Wilderness is a seaside town on the Garden Route of the southern Cape in South Africa. It is situated a short distance to the east from the city of George, on the N2 down the Kaaiman's River Pass.

Contents

The area around Wilderness has yielded significant palaeoclimatological data on the prehistoric climate of South Africa. Sediment core data from the nearby coastal lake Eilandvlei indicate higher aridity relative to the present day during the intervals spanning ~8,900-7,900 years BP and ~6,400-3,000 years BP, whereas the interval from 7,900 to 6,400 years BP was relatively moist and similar to the present day.

The town is also known for having been both the retirement and death place of P. W. Botha, who served as Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and as the first executive State President of South Africa from 1984 until his resignation in 1989. [2]

In media

Tuiskoms , a 2025 Netflix original drama series in Afrikaans is set and filmed in the town. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Wilderness". Census 2011.
  2. Wündsch, Michael; Habertzettl, Torsten; Cawthra, Hayley C.; Kirsten, Kelly L.; Quick, Lynne J.; Zabel, Matthias; Frenzel, Peter; Hahn, Annette; Baade, Jussi; Daut, Gerhard; Kasper, Thomas; Meadows, Michael E.; Mäusbacher, Roland (April 2018). "Holocene environmental change along the southern Cape coast of South Africa – Insights from the Eilandvlei sediment record spanning the last 8.9 kyr" . Global and Planetary Change. 163: 51–66. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2018.02.002 . Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  3. Simpi Motaung, Rolland (5 March 2025). Tuiskoms: Finding healing in humour Mail & Guardian. Retrieved on 24 August 2025