Paddling near George, Western Cape

George sits in the Western Cape's Garden Route, a stretch of coastline and indigenous forest threaded with estuaries, lakes and rivers that suit kayaking, canoeing and SUP at almost every skill level. The Kaaimans River gorge near Wilderness is the marquee paddle — a tidal estuary flanked by sandstone cliffs — while Island Lake, the Serpentine River, the Garden Route Dam and the Groot Brak River round out a compact set of accessible flatwater routes within easy reach of the city.