Knysna
Oudtshoorn
March 4, 2020
The charming town of Knysna is situated in the heart of the Garden Route with a veritable paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes, and golden beaches; showcasing the natural loveliness of South Africa.
Knysna is nestled on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, now a protected marine reserve that is home to the extraordinary Knysna seahorse and over 200 species of fish.
Sandwiched between the towering Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, Knysna is known as the ‘Garden of Eden’. It is surrounded by world-renowned forests, lovely lagoons and pristine beaches.
Visitors can look forward to an array of markets offering delicious food and organic locally-made goods, explore the town’s picturesque waterfront and quaint streets, adventure through the lush forest, skip over streams and catch a glimpse of the multicoloured Knysna Loerie, take a ferry trip to the famed Knysna Heads and sample the local oysters. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of exciting activities including: surfing, swimming, yachting, jet skiing, boating, fishing, and golfing.
We just adore this little town. It has such a warm, friendly atmosphere and will feel like a home from home the moment you arrive. Surrounded by lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes, and golden beaches, this stunning little spot is for sure one of the pride and joys of the country. Nestled on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, the town was well loved by Nelson Mandela who stated in his book, Conversations with Myself, “I sincerely thought that if God came back to earth he would settle there, you know?”. There is so much to do and see here, we would highly recommend at least three nights to truly make the most of it. The lagoon itself is just stunning, and we’d certainly recommend jumping onto one of the cruises which will take you across the estuary to the famous Heads and give you a fantastic view of Knysna including Thesen Islands, Leisure Island, Featherbed Nature Reserve and the Eastern and Western Heads. Hikes in this area (specifically Featherbed) are definitely worth strapping on your walking boots for as the reserve is quite truly a pristine wilderness paradise. Knysna forest is also well worth a visit, particularly Jubilee Creek which has a beautiful picnic site and a cool forest stream which meanders along the 1.8k trail to a crystal-clear rock pool where you can swim. If that isn’t enough – the restaurants at the waterfront offer some of the tastiest seafood in the country - we just LOVE their fresh oysters!
Knysna is a quaint town located on the edge of a vast estuary which flows into the Indian Ocean through two giant sandstone heads in the Western Cape of South Africa – right in the heart of the world-famous Garden Route. Getting to Knysna is super easy, and well worth it as the Knysna Estuary is simply gorgeous and is in fact the most important estuary in the country when it comes to conservation. It is home to over 40% of South Africa’s estuarine species. A fun fact for you - the estuary is also home to the only endemic seahorse species, the Knysna seahorse!
Cape Town is just shy of 500 km from Knysna, approximately 6 hours by road. It is also possible to get there by air, which is just a 50 minute flight into George airport, and then we can organise a transfer for you for the last hour to Knysna from there. As part of a Tailormade Africa trip, we will organise your transport though so you don’t have to worry and we will make sure you get to Knysna the most comfortable way possible for your itinerary!
You certainly can! The closest airport to Knysna is just one hour away by road. George airport has regular flights arriving from all over the country, including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban so it’s very easy to fit into a wider South African itinerary. Don’t worry – here at Tailormade Africa we plan everything for you bespoke, so we will help you to get to Knysna in the most comfortable way possible and whichever suits the rest of your itinerary. You’ll be in the best of hands with us!
There is SO much you can do in Knysna, particularly for those who are outdoorsy type folk. You could bike, walk or run in the picturesque indigenous forests and nature reserves, enjoy the Knysna Estuary by boat, ferry, yacht or kayak, visit Thesen Island to discoer its timber history and check out the Knysna Seahorse, go for a round of golf… the possibilities are endless. For those who are more into taking the area in, in a more lazy fashion, the beaches are the perfect way to chill out. There are lots of local markets you can mosey around, pop into some of the art shops to get some local inspiration, or (our favourite) sit at the waterfront and take your time tasting all the delicious treats on offer in one of the many eateries!
As a coastal location, Knysna is one of those places that can often have four seasons in one day. That said, there is more than enough to keep you busy even if the weather changes suddenly! In our opinion, as with the rest of the country, there is no ‘best time’ particularly as it depends on what you want to do and what is in your wider itinerary. The Garden Route itself has so much to offer at all times of year, and visiting Knysna is going to be a highlight of your journey on the coast! We do recommend that you pack layers just in case, but no matter when you visit, we’re convinced you will absolutely love this little gem of a town.
KnysnaAccommodation
Uniquely situated on the shores of the famous Knysna Lagoon, this exclusive Five Star Country House Hotel offers guests exclusivity and personal individual attention. The magnificient and extensive landscaped gardens offer peaceful walks, a l arge Koi pond, walk-inGreen House, two swimming pools, croquet and angling off the private jetty... Learn more
