The town of Knysna, established in 1825, recently won a prize for the Best Town in South Africa. It is situated about five hours drive from Cape Town and three hours from Port Elizabeth, but the nearest airport is 60 km's away in George, with daily flights from all the main centers of South Africa. See Kulula.com or FlyMango.com for competitive fares.
The town spans the Knysna River estuary and spreads between indigenous forests, the Outeniqua Mountains and rugged coastline. The Knysna Lagoon is about 3,2km wide and 12 km long, which translates in to about 400 square km, surrounded by 1800 hectares of unique wetlands. The climate ranges from mild winters to hot summers, the yearly average temperature being 16,9C. The average summer temperature of the Knysna Lagoon water is 18C. The annual rainfall is approximately 700mm although we have needed more rain this last season.
Knysna is an ideal place for day trips to:- Plettenberg Bay and the beautiful Robberg Nature Reserve
- Nature’s Valley
- The Tsitsikamma Forest, Tsitsikamma National Reserve and Storm’s River
- Sedgefield with its famous Saturday Wilds Oats Market
- The Wilderness and George
- Buffalo Bay and Brenton on Sea
- Historical Belvidere
- Noetzie and nearby indigenous forest walks
- Historic landmarks
- A wide variety of restaurants, galleries, markets and shops. Knysna is a catchment area for artist people as can be seen in many of the shops and galleries
- Knysna oysters and locally brewed Mitchells Beer
- The Elephant Park, Birds of Eden and Monkey Land
- Regular ferry trips on the lagoon or private charter boats and catamarans
- Sailing and paddling
- A visit to Featherbed Nature Reserve, by dedicated ferry across the Lagoon and by 4X4 trailer up through indigenous flora to the top of the Western Head. Visitors then walk down to the restaurant, about a two hour scenic walk, for a well deserved buffet meal and ice cold drink!
- A drive up the East Head for panoramic lagoon and ocean views and then to Coney Glen, a secluded beach with rock pools
- The organic markets, on Saturday mornings, at nearby Sedgefield or Harkerville
- Indigenous forest walks, both leisurely meanders and challenging climbs and also amazing hiking trails
- Exhilarating bike routes or escorted horse rides
- Fishing
- Abseiling and paragliding
- Canopy tours over the forest floor
- Snorkeling, diving and tubing
- Cycling and mountain biking
- Coney Glen, for picnics, barbeques/braais and fishing
- Buffalo Bay – the walk along the beach from Buffalo Bay to Brenton on Sea is about 4kms and quite beautiful
- Brenton on Sea and Brenton on Lake
- Noetzie Beach the most private romantic spot
- Goukamma Nature Reserve and beach meanders
- Sedgefield, a quaint village with lagoon and magnificent beaches
- Picturesque Plettenberg Bay, a sophisticated resort town
- Nature’s Valley
- Keurbooms
- Leisure Isle has a small family beach with shallow waters, ideal for small children
Now we get to the golfers! With a number of golf courses within easy reach, no golf fanatic need go without. Check out two of the golf estates below.
Courses in or near Knysna are:- the friendly Knysna Golf Course on the way to the Heads. Professional lessons and a driving range can be found nearby
- Two spectacular Jack Nicklaus courses at Simola, in the forest setting
- Another two magnificent courses at Pezula with ocean and lagoon views
- Goose Valley near Plettenberg Bay
- George Golf Course
- The two elegant courses at Fancourt, near George
- The spectacular courses at Pinnacle Point, en route to Mossel Bay
