Knysna is a town in the center of South Africa’s gorgeous Garden Route simply East of Cape Town. Knysna can be found located in between the Outeniqua Mountains as well as the Indian Ocean. Knysna has two times been chosen as South Africa’s number 1 favored town, and of course for a valid reason. This is a welcoming, vibrant town with plenty of adventures and scenery. Simply don’t go throughout the summer holidays in mid-December to early January because it gets very congested and costs increase two times.

1. Have Fun with the Beach

Knysna rests within a charming scenery filled with fantastic natural splendor. Having its huge tidal estuary, rising sandstone cliffs, pristine sandy beaches, vibrant history as well as excellent accommodations, Knysna provides all of the elements you require to get a romantic retreat or beach vacation in South Africa.

Try swimming or surfboarding around the dazzling and capturing white-sand beaches of Buffels Bay Beach. Go kayaking around the protected marine environments of the Knysna Lagoon and sunbathe alongside a pool around the white sands of Bolards Beach at Leisure Isle.

2.Find Peace within a Forest

Knysna is flanked by sections of state forest by which you can find trails of different lengths.  Knysna Forest – in certain areas are very thick that it borders on impassable -, is really a splendid blend of historical trees, both exotic and native. Creepers, tree ferns, flowers as well as the elusive Knysna lourie, its call heard more frequently than it’s seen, are also found in the forest .Get a roadmap at Knysna Tourism and and also a permit in the forest entrance.

In case you are a biker, there are lots of tracks to discover on the state forests. You could go for unescorted trekking, bicycling, kayaking, kiting, as well as surfboarding trips in South Africa’s magnificent Garden Route.

3. Go to the Knysna Elephant Park

Knysna’s numerous animal sanctuaries are worthy of a trip, particularly if you are going along with kids. Probably the most enjoyable and renowned of them is the Knysna Elephant Park, that provides the chance to feed and get up close to such spectacular creatures, that once wandered free around the Knysna forests.

The Knysna Elephant Park was the very first center around South Africa to home and take care of orphaned African elephants. These days, it is becoming a world-class center, getting managed and grown over 40 elephants.

4. Take a ferry trip across the lagoon

Have a cruise trip all over the lagoon around the renowned John Benn or River Cat ferries. Such beautiful cruise trips leave the Waterfront or in the front of Cruise Café cafe, as well as take cruisers along the estuary towards the well known Heads and definitely will provide you with a wonderful and incredibly different viewpoint of Knysna such as Leisure Island, Thesen Islands, Featherbed Nature Reserve, as well as the Eastern and Western Heads.

You will ride a ferry boat over the estuary to Featherbed Nature Reserve, in which a 4 wheel drive brings you to magnificent views across the town’s well-known Heads. Native forests, as well as a plethora of birdlife, also make this town a must-see for nature enthusiasts.

5. Enjoy Knysna’s Delicious Oyster and Festival

The Knysna Oyster Festival is perhaps among the most well known yearly activities in the Western Cape.  Also, it is something of a special event for the good life and sport and has now happened annually since 1983, in which it started as the “Knysna Winter Festival” – a blend of sport which attracted individuals to Knysna over the peaceful wintertime.

The charming small town of Knysna is situated 32 kilometers western side of Plettenberg Bay. Around a half hour drive, it is a great trip coming from Plett and Milkwood Manor. Across the road to Knysna, you can find a number of farm booths as well as crafts areas to see. Midway in between Plett and Knysna, you will find the Knysna Elephant Park. You may possibly not know, but the local forest in the region was in the past inhabited by several thousands of Knysna elephants trampling throughout the plants. Unfortunately, there might be as few as a single wild elephant remaining on the forest because of massacres were done in the past centuries. As Plettenberg Bay is recognized for countless shorelines and waves, the wood town of Knysna is divided by the Knysna estuary which leads to the spectacular Knysna Heads, 2 headlands which open up to the sea. Crossing the Heads from the sea is hard because of sea conditions, however when inside of the Heads, the lagoon as well as estuary rest beautiful and serene, enclosed on each side by lovely plant life.

The Knysna Heads are actually a set of two sandstone cliffs which split the Knysna Lagoon through the sea beyond; the renowned landmark across the famous Garden Route. The Knysna Heads is surely the very best identified geological feature in the whole southern area of African shoreline. They flank the deep lagoon mouth that is a probably dangerous route in which the sea flows perfectly into a broad and spectacular lagoon in the mouth of the Knysna River. Two huge towering sites along with their remarkable cliffs shielding the lagoon entry ways from the surging ocean waves. A visit to the Knysna Heads is definitely an amazing experience for all those first-time tourists to Knysna.

They are simply divided into two headlands. The East Head is inhabited by magnificent houses, with the scenery of the town, the Heads as well as the open ocean, and it’s also a pleasant easy walk to look around the East Head. It is best to stop by at the East Head parking zone to get a drink or perhaps a bite to nibble on, it’s the absolute right place to unwind and appreciate the landscapes. Surprisingly, the most well-known wreck of the Knysna Heads is the Paquita Wreck that is situated straight in the front of the East Head parking zone. Over a clear day, it’s possible to even make out the outline of the particular wreck and it’s also a well-known spot both for divers and snorkellers. Bear in mind, though, that the ocean currents in the Knysna Heads could be dangerous and it’s recommended to just dive once the currents are light and gentle. The eastern head is well accessible by vehicle and it has a lot of magnificent views overlooking the water channel, Indian Ocean, the Knysna Lagoon as well as the estuary, and also the Outeniqua Mountains. As a matter of fact, it was actually due to its exceptional lookout which the National Sea Rescue Institute (Station 12, Knysna) made a decision to construct its observation room there.

The West Head is nearly completely unpopulated and it is a privately-owned natural reserve, called Featherbed. It is just reachable by ferry boat and tourists are ferried over for guided strolls around the reserve. You will find four-hour excursions into the reserve departing from the Knysna Waterfront every day.

Knysna is really a captivating, enchanting small town which will provide tourists many different activities and cafes and makes a perfect excursion for tourists to Plettenberg Bay.