Visit
Featherbed Nature Reserve Go
deep sea fishing Picnic
at Jubilee Creek Rent
a houseboat on the lagoon Ride
the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Shop
at the Waterfront Eat
oysters at the Oyster Catcher Go
see the Big Tree Visit
the Knysna Heads Go
swimming at Buffalo Bay Kayak
on the lagoon Shop
for carvings and curios Visit Millwood House Museum
The bustling town of Knysna is a popular
holiday destination at the heart of South Africa's
Garden Route. It lies between
the evergreen forests of the Outiniqua Mountains and the warm
waters of the Indian Ocean on a large estuary
protected from the sea by two impressive sandstone buttresses
known as the
Knysna Heads.
Knysna has so much to offer the visitor - well-appointed accommodation
in B&Bs, hotels and guesthouses, fine restaurants serving an
eclectic range of cuisine, interesting and exciting attractions
within easy reach, and enough watersports and adventure
activities to keep the most active visitor busy for weeks.
Knysna's history goes back to the early 1800s when the
port supported a thriving ship-building industry - carpenters
sourced chestnut, Cape alders, white ironwood, blackwood, yellowwood
and stinkwood from the forests bordering
the town to construct sea-worthy vessels for voyages to Europe.
Alluvial gold was discovered in the area in 1885 and at Jubilee
Creek, one can still explore the old mines and diggings while
enjoying beautiful
walks through the indigenous forest.
The Knysna Lagoon is a haven for fishermen, sailors, kite surfers
and anyone looking for a little solitude on its peaceful shores.
Fishing, both estuarine
and deep sea, is popular all year round - fishing
licenses are required and can be bought at the local
post office. Knysna also has one of the oldest Yacht
Clubs in South Africa and is a favourite coastal mooring for large
ocean going yachts. Visitors can hire boats and canoes from
various boating companies and take a ferry around
the lagoon or out to the Heads.
The lagoon is rich in nutrients brought down
from the forests by the Knysna River, and a large oyster
hatchery produces some of the tastiest cultivated oysters in the world!
Knysna's annual Oyster Festival attracts thousands of local
and international
visitors who come to savour these ocean delicacies in an atmosphere
of revelry and fun.
If you're longing for golden sands, Buffalo Bay is
the closest beach to Knysna and one of the safest
swimming spots along the coast. The beach at Leisure
Isle on
the lagoon is also perfect for an afternoon's relaxation and
is easily accessible
by car. Just north of Knysna is Nutzi Beach,
a secluded cove and estuary where a group of privately
owned castles built
into lush foliage overlook the sea.
Shopping at Knyna's Waterfront is superb. Buy locally made
clothing, gifts, books, adventure gear, wooden furniture
and maritime artifacts, or dine alfresco at one of the many restaurants
serving seafood, steaks and locally brewed beer, while taking in the
spectacular
views of the lagoon. The Waterfront is also the starting point
for the famous Outiniqua
Choo-Tjoe's journey down the coast. Take a nostalgia trip on this traditional
steam train as it winds its way across the estuary and through
the woodlands to Sedgefield, Wilderness and George.
Knysna is one of South Africa's truly unique destinations
and deserving of its title of 'Jewel of the Garden
Route'. It is
a wonderful combination of Bohemian chic, unspoilt nature and
relaxed coastal living, and an essential stopover on any visitor's
Garden Route itinerary.
Visit
Featherbed Nature Reserve
Freestate 
