Ten kilometres east of George is South Africa’s lake district. This chain of salt- and freshwater lakes at the foot of forested mountain slopes forms part of the Wilderness National Park. Protecting some 30 kilometres of unspoilt coastline, the park features two long white beaches – wilderness and Leentjiesklip; swimming is not safe here due to strong undercurrents.

Of the five lakes, the three westernmost ones, Island Lake, Langvle and Rondevlei, are all linked and fed by the Touws River via a natural water channel called the Serpentine. Swartvlei is the largest and deepest lake, and is connected to the sea by an estuary, although its mouth silts up for six moths of the year.

Horse riding is permitted along Swartvlei’s shores. A scenic drive stating at Wilderness runs along Lakes Road, which skirts the lake chain and meets up with the N2 at Swartvlei.