Knysna

Knysna, pearl of the scenic Garden Route, sits between George and Plettenberg Bay. Perennially green thanks to a Mediterranean Maritime climate with rain falling throughout the year, Knysna is mantled by indigenous forests extending into the Tsitsikamma National Park area. Nestled between the impressive Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian ocean, the culinary capital of oysters and other delectable seafood is a compulsory stopover on every traveller's itinerary. At the heart of Knysna is a lagoon protected from the sea by the monolithic sandstone "Heads" Webcam– best explored on board a catamaran or from along hiking paths in the Featherbed Nature Reserve. A hotspot for art and craft, as well as adventure activities such as tree canopy gliding, kloofing and abseiling, Knysna offers something to everybody.

The peculiarity of the origin of the place-name Knysna is commonly explained with a light-hearted joke of two German tourists travelling to Knysna, and upon reaching the lookout point on the eastern Knysna Head, the one says to the other: 'Nice, na?'. On a more serious note, Knysna is believed to be derived from a Khoi word for place of wood, or fern leaves, but most probable straight down or hard to reach - referring to the steep Knysna Heads.

Knysna hosts a variety of events annually, which draw local and international visitors alike. Such events include the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival (late June/early July); the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras (end of April/beginning of May); Gastronomica lifestyle festival, which promotes healthy eating and organic principles(September); and the Rastafarian Earth Festival held at the end of July, celebrating Rastafarian religion, culture and lifestyle.

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, held annually in late June/early July, is the town's biggest event. The duration of the festival is ten days, first held in 1983. Oysters, the festival's namesake, are a large component, and approximately 200 000 are consumed over the 10-day period. Many sporting activities take place too, such as rugby, golf, bowls, squash, cycling and marathons. The Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon, as well as the Rotary Cycle Tour draw many a sporting enthusiast to the town.

• The lagoon: about 18 km² and home to at least 200 species of fish is connected with the Indian Ocean through a turbulent channel between "The Heads", two sandstone cliffs. Tour around on one of several boats or just take a coffee at "the Heads". Take a boat across to the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Heads (this is an organised tour because it's a private reserve, but it's a good way to spend some time on the lagoon then take a walk in the reserve).
• The Knysna Forest: about 80,000 ha are now under conservation. The 'King Edward VII' tree (at Diepwalle forest station) is an estimated 600 years old, 39 m at height, and has a circumference of 6 m. The most famous animals are the Knysna elephants. Research involving DNA testing of dung is being done to see how many of them may still rumble in the jungle, please report any "dung" sightings! Remember to always take care. There are several hiking trails but you need a car to access the forest. Don't forget the conservation motto "Take only photographs, leave only footprints!".
• Pledge Nature Reserve: offers 3½ km of pathways through scrub forest and hillside fynbos with fine views over the lagoon and is 500 m from the town centre. A nice place for a walk in the afternoon.
• Millwood Gold Fields: Site of one of the first gold rushes in South Africa, the Millwood Museum and Materoli Tea Room (be sure to try a piece of Jayne's World Famous Chocolate Cake) offers a unique and fascinating view of the greed, entrepreneurship, energy, and ultimate failure of the first gold discovered in South Africa during the late 1800s. Tours through the old gold diggings are available.
• Jubilee Creek, +27 44 302 5600. Picnic site in forest.

The lagoon: about 18 km² and home to at least 200 species of fish is connected with the Indian Ocean through a turbulent channel between "The Heads", two sandstone cliffs. Tour around on one of several boats or just take a coffee at "the Heads". Take a boat across to the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Heads (this is an organised tour because it's a private reserve, but it's a good way to spend some time on the lagoon then take a walk in the reserve).

The Knysna Forest: about 80,000 ha are now under conservation. The 'King Edward VII' tree (at Diepwalle forest station) is an estimated 600 years old, 39 m at height, and has a circumference of 6 m. The most famous animals are the Knysna elephants. Research involving DNA testing of dung is being done to see how many of them may still rumble in the jungle, please report any "dung" sightings! Remember to always take care. There are several hiking trails but you need a car to access the forest. Don't forget the conservation motto "Take only photographs, leave only footprints!".

Pledge Nature Reserve: offers 3½ km of pathways through scrub forest and hillside fynbos with fine views over the lagoon and is 500 m from the town centre. A nice place for a walk in the afternoon.

Millwood Gold Fields: Site of one of the first gold rushes in South Africa, the Millwood Museum and Materoli Tea Room (be sure to try a piece of Jayne's World Famous Chocolate Cake) offers a unique and fascinating view of the greed, entrepreneurship, energy, and ultimate failure of the first gold discovered in South Africa during the late 1800s. Tours through the old gold diggings are available.

Jubilee Creek, +27 44 302 5600. Picnic site in forest.

• Knysna Houseboats, +27 44 382-2802. Hire a fully equipped self-drive Knysna houseboat and spend your holiday gently floating along on Knysna's tidal lagoon. No experience or skipper's licence is required.
• Walk along the lagoon, take a coffee at one of the many shops at the waterfront and head straight on for The Heads.
• There are many golf courses around, often with stunning settings or views. Pezula Championship Course and Golf Club Simola Golf and Country Estate, and Knysna Golf Club.
• Knysna Elephant Park, +27 44 532-7732. Offers the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with African elephants. The elephants here are orphans from various SAN Parks and further afield, and they are so used to humans now that it is possible to feed them and actually touch them! Buy a bucket of fruit at the entrance and the elephants will pick up bits of fruit that you offer to them in your hands, or far more likely, they will take it straight from your bucket when you're not looking! You can also (if you book well in advance) take an evening or morning walk with the elephants. If you have the time, this is an experience not to be missed.
• Orbit Day Trips, +27 44 382-1546. Departures daily from Knysna at 8:30AM. 4 Safaris in the Knysna and Plettenberg bay area. Safari 1: Monkey, Bird & Elephant Safari. Safari 2: Game, Whale & Dolphin Safari. Safari 3: Site-seeing Day Tour (ideal for rainy or drizzly weather days). Or a customised tour (minimum 6 people).
• GoVertical Mountaineering Adventures, Waterfront Knysna, +27 82 731-4696. Abseiling, rock climbing, kloofing, trekking, hiking and slackpacking adventures in the Garden Route Knysna.
• Millwood Mine walk.
• Forest Walks.
• Mountain bike in one of the beautiful forests.

• Knysna Oyster Festival. Mid-July every year.
• Gastronomica Festival Knysna. End September to first week of October every year. Food, wine festival
• Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival. late April.

Knysna Oyster Festival. Mid-July every year.

Gastronomica Festival Knysna. End September to first week of October every year. Food, wine festival

Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival. late April.

Knysna Houseboats, +27 44 382-2802. Hire a fully equipped self-drive Knysna houseboat and spend your holiday gently floating along on Knysna's tidal lagoon. No experience or skipper's licence is required.

Walk along the lagoon, take a coffee at one of the many shops at the waterfront and head straight on for The Heads.

There are many golf courses around, often with stunning settings or views. Pezula Championship Course and Golf Club Simola Golf and Country Estate, and Knysna Golf Club.

Knysna Elephant Park, +27 44 532-7732. Offers the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with African elephants. The elephants here are orphans from various SAN Parks and further afield, and they are so used to humans now that it is possible to feed them and actually touch them! Buy a bucket of fruit at the entrance and the elephants will pick up bits of fruit that you offer to them in your hands, or far more likely, they will take it straight from your bucket when you're not looking! You can also (if you book well in advance) take an evening or morning walk with the elephants. If you have the time, this is an experience not to be missed.

Orbit Day Trips, +27 44 382-1546. Departures daily from Knysna at 8:30AM. 4 Safaris in the Knysna and Plettenberg bay area. Safari 1: Monkey, Bird & Elephant Safari. Safari 2: Game, Whale & Dolphin Safari. Safari 3: Site-seeing Day Tour (ideal for rainy or drizzly weather days). Or a customised tour (minimum 6 people).

GoVertical Mountaineering Adventures, Waterfront Knysna, +27 82 731-4696. Abseiling, rock climbing, kloofing, trekking, hiking and slackpacking adventures in the Garden Route Knysna.

Millwood Mine walk.

Forest Walks.

Knysna has two shopping malls, and there are shops along the Main St. and at the Waterfront.

• Pep Store, St Georges Street. 9AM-6PM. Low-cost clothing, shoes & cell phones. low price.

• Spar, Main Road. 8AM-7PM.
• Checkers, Rawson Street. 8AM-7PM.
• Shoprite, Crn Grey & Nelson Streets. 8AM-7PM.
• Savers Lane, 1 Nelson Street (over the street from Shoprite. 8AM-7PM. Low cost supermarket.
• Pick N Pay, Woodmill Lane. 8AM-7PM.
• Game, Main street. 8:30AM-5PM. Part of Wal-mart USA.

Spar, Main Road. 8AM-7PM.

Checkers, Rawson Street. 8AM-7PM.

Shoprite, Crn Grey & Nelson Streets. 8AM-7PM.

Savers Lane, 1 Nelson Street (over the street from Shoprite. 8AM-7PM. Low cost supermarket.

Pick N Pay, Woodmill Lane. 8AM-7PM.

Game, Main street. 8:30AM-5PM. Part of Wal-mart USA.

• First National Bank, 41 Main Street. ATM 24 hours. Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM. no fee at the ATM for overseas cards..

First National Bank, 41 Main Street. ATM 24 hours. Has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM. no fee at the ATM for overseas cards..

Pep Store, St Georges Street. 9AM-6PM. Low-cost clothing, shoes & cell phones. low price.

Many restaurants line the main street and the waterfront area. There are so many good restaurants in and around Knysna that you will be spoilt for choice!

• The Dry Dock, Waterfront. Great ambiance and delicious food.
• Ile de Pain, Thesens Island. Delicious dishes with various kinds of home-made bread.
• Zachary's Restaurant'. The highly acclaimed Zachary's is a sophisticated world-class gourmet restaurant under the helm of Executive Chef Geoffrey Murray, who delights in serving up local ingredients inspired by global influences.
• Persello's Pizzeria, Memorial Square (By Knysna Public Library, +27 44 382-2665. Italian pizzeria with wood-fired ovens, home-made pasta, lasagne, cannelloni, crostoli, crisini and other gourmet treats all under a charming atmosphere.
• Freshline Fisheries, +27 44 382 3131. Open from 11:30AM – kitchen closes at 8PM – restaurant closes at 10pm.. Probably the best value for money seafood in Knysna.
• Tapas and Oysters Knysna, TH 29, Thesen Island, Knysna, +27 44 382 7196. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su 11AM-10PM.
• 34 South, Shop 19, Knysna Quays, +27 44 382 7331.

The Dry Dock, Waterfront. Great ambiance and delicious food.

Ile de Pain, Thesens Island. Delicious dishes with various kinds of home-made bread.

Zachary's Restaurant'. The highly acclaimed Zachary's is a sophisticated world-class gourmet restaurant under the helm of Executive Chef Geoffrey Murray, who delights in serving up local ingredients inspired by global influences.

Persello's Pizzeria, Memorial Square (By Knysna Public Library, +27 44 382-2665. Italian pizzeria with wood-fired ovens, home-made pasta, lasagne, cannelloni, crostoli, crisini and other gourmet treats all under a charming atmosphere.

Freshline Fisheries, +27 44 382 3131. Open from 11:30AM – kitchen closes at 8PM – restaurant closes at 10pm.. Probably the best value for money seafood in Knysna.

Tapas and Oysters Knysna, TH 29, Thesen Island, Knysna, +27 44 382 7196. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su 11AM-10PM.

34 South, Shop 19, Knysna Quays, +27 44 382 7331.

• Mitchell's Brewery, Arend St, +27 44 382-4685. Offers tours around the brewery and tastings of their beer.

Mitchell's Brewery, Arend St, +27 44 382-4685. Offers tours around the brewery and tastings of their beer.

The town has rolled out municipal wifi provided by Uninet. Access is restricted to 45 minutes per user per day.

Hike in the Kynsna forest or take a tour in the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam-train to Knysna. Other options are a day tour to Oudtshoorn or the Noetzie castle a few km north east of town.

• Noetzie Castle - East of Knysna some Britons lost their castles on the beach. Worth some hours or more if you like the beach.
• Brenton-on-Sea - Less crowded than Knysna this sea-side village offers endless beaches
• Continue up the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay or down towards Wilderness

Noetzie Castle - East of Knysna some Britons lost their castles on the beach. Worth some hours or more if you like the beach.

Brenton-on-Sea - Less crowded than Knysna this sea-side village offers endless beaches