Knysna

Where to stay and what to do in Knysna.

Knysna is one of the Garden Route’s best known and most popular towns and holiday destinations. The town itself is located on the northern shore of the large Knysna Lagoon, a tidal estuary. This large, sparkling body of water opens into the Indian Ocean between two large peninsulas, commonly known as The Heads.

Knysna town is situated between George and Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, both of which have airports, making a visit to Knysna extremely accessible from all over South Africa.

George Airport is 70kms to the west of Knysna, whilst Plettenberg Bay Airport is 33.5kms to the east of Knysna. Although many visitors (especially visitors from overseas) hire a car from Cape Town and enjoy a multi-day tour along the coast from Cape Town to Knysna and beyond. Cape Town International Airport is only 475kms from Knysna.

Whilst the Knysna Estuary and lagoon are protected and are managed by South Africa National Parks Board, because of their rich marine life, (over 200 fish species can be found in its waters, as well as the endangered Knysna Seahorse), there are still a huge variety of water based experiences and activities to be enjoyed.

In addition to this, to the north of Knysna lie the Ounteniqua Mountains and for 20kms from the town to high up on this mountain range, are temperate rainforests, which are protected national parkland full of beautiful and unspoilt hiking and biking trails. So as well as Knysna town being a popular location for water sports such as kayaking, SUPing, boating and fishing, it also has a vast array of land based activities available too.

Add to all of this Knysna’s artistic flair with numerous arts and craft shops, handcrafted furniture made from local, indigenous wood, a gin distillery, boutique stores, the gorgeous Waterfront and a multitude of different restaurants and it is understandable why Knysna is a popular locations for visitors exploring the Garden Route.

Knysna hosts a number of annual events which draw visitors from all over South Africa, as well as internationally. These are particularly special times to visit Knysna. The largest annual event is the Knysna Oyster Festival, which is held at the end of June / beginning of July for a duration of 10 days.

As you would expect, there are a huge number of different types of holiday accommodation also available in Knysna. Prices to suit all budgets, from camping and backpackers, to luxury spas.

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