Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge
A quick overview
When trying to describe this lodge, words like wizards, fairies and gnomes come to mind. The lodge itself is situated on a farm in the Crags (close to Nature's Valley), between the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua Mountains on the Garden Route. The Crags is famous for its many sanctuaries and boasts an snake, elephant, bird, wild african cat and primate sanctuary.
It borders the Tsitsikamma forest, with many hiking trails, like the Saltriver circular trail and nature walks. It doesn't look as though this place was built, but rather grown and woven into the forest with driftwood sculpturing and wooden cottages.
Here, you will find all kinds of magical creatures, like the three dogs who act as tour guides, if you go for a walk in the forests and a crazy horse called Jerepigo, (complete wth his own facebook profile) who looks like he can talk, if only you ask him the right question.
If you spend more than a day here, be sure to take a walk down to the waterfall and rock pools in the forest,
and if its summer time, go for a swim ...because this water is so pure, it is sure to sort out all your ailments.
The walk takes about 30 minutes to the waterfall and another 30 minutes back. Take an empty bottle with to fill, as this water is Valpre quality. If you need some good deli, cheese and bread for lunch be sure to head up the road to Nature's Way farm stall.
Another beautiful walk is a circular walk through the magic forest. which takes about 45 minutes. Try and do this in the afternoon, as this will allow for awesome photo opportunites, with the afternoon sun breaking through the forest canopy and lighting up the forest with all kinds of interesting colour.
A short walk of about ten minutes, will take you to a big old giant Outeniqua Yellowwood tree, estimated to be between 600 and 1000 years old.
These trees are indigenous only to this area and are now protected species. When you reach this tree, take special note to see how far its root system extends down the embankment, to fully appreciate just how majestic this tree really is. If you have stayed here, please be so kind to drop a comment of your experience
Accommodation
You can book a dormatory bed for the night, which will be your most economical option, but it means you would be sharing the room with others. The nice thing about the dorms are the views from the balcony over the forest, and the fact that none of the beds are bunker beds.
Should you need more privacy, there are double rooms or twin rooms with ensuite bathrooms available, also with balconies overlooking the forest.
To get right close to nature, pitch a tent in the shade of oak trees. If you set your camp up cleverly, you will experience an amazing sunrise over the Tsitsikamma forest (that is, if you wake up early enough), since the campsite faces east.
Meals
There are a couple of options on meals. For self-caterers, there's the use of a communal kitchen, which has all the 'tools', storage space and equipment you'd need to prepare yourself a fine meal.
Homecooked meals are served every night on a deck overlooking the forest, and weekends often see an ostrich neck potjie on the fire.
You can get a basic breakfast with cereal, fruit, toast and jams, or upgrade it to a cooked breakfast for which gets you eggs and tomato on toast as well.
Lunches are not served, but a 15 minute walk will get you to a farm stall, where you can buy a variety of cheeses, breads and other fresh farm produce, or get a light lunch.
Ten minutes drive and you are at the Peppermill cafe, where you'll have more options on sit down meals. Try a chocolate cake here, as the owner has won the prize for the best chocolate cake in South Africa (Cosmopolitan Magazine), and it really is good!
Nick, the owner and main chef at Peppermill is of course, always keen to partake in festivities, so this is the kinda food you can expect at Peppermil (btw...notice the "frozen before served' technique...)
Prices
| Accommodation | High Season |
Low Season |
| Dormatory Beds | R100 | R100 |
| Double Room | R400 | R300 |
| Twin Room | R400 | R300 |
| Camping pppn | R50 | R60 |
*High season ranges between 15 Dec and 21Jan
| Meals | |
| (Breakfast) | |
| Cereals,Toast, Jams, Fruit, Tea/Coffee | R25 |
| As above, but with eggs & fried tomato | R35 |
| (Dinner) | |
| Homecooked Meal | R50 |
Getting There
From Cape Town on the N2 going North
Drive 25kms past Plettenberg bay and take R102 Nature's Valley turn off to the right. After 3kms you will see a sign to Wild Spirit on the left.
From Port Elizabeth on the N2 going South
Drive 13kms past the Tsitsikamma Toll Gate then take the R102 Nature's Valley turn off to the left. After 3kms you will see a sign to Wild Spirit on the left. Be careful not to take the first R102 turning immediately after the Toll Gate.
GPS COORDINATES: S33.94828 E23.52092