Walk the Garden Route like never before: Inside South Africa’s new Sedgefield–Wilderness Camino

The newly launched Sedgefield–Wilderness Camino invites travellers to explore one of South Africa’s most beautiful regions on foot. There is a new way to experience the Garden Route, and it does not involve a car, a tour bus or a packed itinerary. Instead, it begins with a single step.

The newly launchedSedgefield–WildernessCamino invites travellers to explore one of South Africa’s most beautiful regions on foot, trading speed for stillness and sightseeing for something far more personal. Created by Sedgefield resident Alvin Witten, the route offers a structured, multi-day walking experience through forests, farmland, wetlands and coastline, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the landscape. To understand why this matters, it helps to understand the idea behind a Camino.

The word “Camino” comes from Spanish, meaning road, path or journey. Its roots lie in the Latin word “caminus,” meaning road, and it is most closely associated with the historic Camino de Santiago in Spain, where pilgrims have walked for centuries towards the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. While its origins are spiritual, the concept has grown into something broader; a journey that invites reflection, connection and a slower way of moving through the world.

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That same philosophy now exists along theGarden Route. The biggest appeal of a Camino is the freedom it gives walkers to simply be present and to enjoy the beautiful scenery at their own pace. Witten says one of the biggest appeals of a Camino is the freedom it gives walkers to simply be present and to enjoy the beautiful scenery at their own pace.

It also removes the stress of planning. Accommodation, meals and luggage transfers are arranged in advance, allowing participants to focus entirely on the experience of walking.

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