Location

Welcome to Knysna

Welcome to Knysna – welcome to nature’s Eden.

Indigenous evergreen forests; the fascinating flowers of the fynbos (heathland or Cape macchia); craggy mountains; tranquil lakes and lagoons; and a beautiful coastline of rocky shores and sandy beaches – all basking in a moderate, comfortable climate.

Add to them the largest unfenced wildlife preserve in South Africa (the Garden Route National Park, which starts where our gardens end at The St. James of Knysna) – and include an exciting array of adventures, cultural attractions, restaurants, shopping, golf, mountain biking, and more… and that’s Knysna.

The little town at the heart of nature’s Eden.

About Knysna

Situated on the Garden Route coast of the Western Cape Province in South Africa – 500 km by road from Cape Town to the west, 280 km from Port Elizabeth to the east, and 60 km from the city of George (with its domestic airport, 67 km from The St. James) – Knysna is an ideal destination from which to explore the region. Population: around 85,000.

The municipal area covers around 109 square kilometres, and includes the CBD and surrounding suburbs (Noetzie, Brenton, Rheenendal, Belvidere, Buffalo Bay, etc.), as well as the villages of Sedgefield and Karatara.

The area’s economy is driven by timber and tourism, with retirement an important contributor.

Climate

Knysna’s moderate climate makes it the perfect year-round destination – and each season has its own particular charms.

The seasons

South Africa’s peak holiday period coincides with the height of summer (December) – when local temperatures reach into the high 20s and low 30s.
In spring (September) the weather’s mild and generally wind-free.
In autumn (April) the air’s as fresh as champagne on your skin, and the clear, calm light is kind and gentle on the eye.

While we do have occasional cold snaps in winter (July) – sometimes called our Secret Season – you’ll only ever see snow on the peaks of the high Outeniqua Mountains far away in the distance. And it’s often the best time to visit us, too, with average daytime temperatures hovering around a pleasant 19o Celsius.

Rainfall

Rain occurs throughout the year, although summer tends to be our westest time. Thanks to the presence of the Outeniqua Mountains, most of Knysna’s rain falls at night.

Garden Route National Park

The 155,000 ha Garden Route National Park protects much of the Knysna forest – the largest continuous complex of indigenous forest in South Africa, as well as vast areas of indigenous fynbos (heathland or Cape macchia), and many of the mountains, beaches, lakes, lagoons and estuaries between Tsitsikamma and George.

Rather than a single, contiguous region, the Park is made up of a mosaic of individual reserves – many of which remain unfenced to this day.

The Knysna section of the Park includes the Knysna River Estuary – which laps the end of our gardens here at The St. James of Knysna

Activities in the Park include birding (more than 250 species), mountain-biking, walking, picnicking, forest canopy zipline tours, lagoon cruises, kayaking, etc. – and there’s even a ‘Secret Elephants Forest Experience,’ a 4-hour tour of the home of Africa’s southernmost herd with author and wildlife researcher, Gareth Patterson.

Eating out

Reflecting our many cultures, Knysna offers a selection of fine restaurants, seafood taverns, pubs, coffee shops, delicatessens, and other interesting eateries.

So what should you eat?

Famous Knysna oysters, plucked from the rocks and served fresh in a thousand different ways; South African favourites like braai (BBQ), or bobotie (a spicy egg-and-mince variation of meatloaf), or umngqusho – a Xhosa dish also known as samp and beans (‘served with butter or fat, it was apparently Nelson Mandela’s favourite dish’ – Wikipedia).

Then there’s Oriental-style fusion food, nouvelle cuisine, Italian home cooking, and many, many more.
• Please ask at reception for help or advice about dinner reservations, and for ordering taxis if you need them.

Culture and history

People have lived in Knysna for hundreds of thousands of years – and if you want to know why and how, you’ll find some of your answers at the Knysna Museum, with its displays that explore the local archaeology, and the history of the timber and shipping economies – and other topics, too.

Knysna also has museums dedicated to the volunteers of the local NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute Station 12), to the history and natural history of the forests of the Garden Route National Park, and to the motorcycles we loved (or dreamed about) when we were kids.

Art

Visit Knysna’s galleries of local art, or meet the artists themselves at weekly gatherings like the Friday Market at Knysna Montessori (1.3 km from The St. James of Knysna), or the the Sedgefield or Harkerville Country Markets (every Saturday morning, weather permitting.)

For revolving exhibitions of many of South Africa’s top contemporary artists, visit Knysna Fine Art (3.2 km from The St. James of Knysna), which specialises in packing and transport to every corner of the world.

Historical and cultural tours

Meet Knysna with the locals: join one of Knysna’s heritage tourist guides for a tour of the Knysna forests, the museums and other heritage sites, for local township experiences, or even for a visit to the Plett Winelands (about 35 km from The St. James of Knysna).

Attractions and adventures

Explore the lagoon, the forests, our beaches and more:

Lagoon cruises, yacht trips, and trips through The Knysna Heads

• Knysna Pirate Ship – a fun, pirate-themed journey back in time on the 1968 yacht, Zamani. Departs from The Waterfront Knysna Quays
• Magic Lagoon Charters – cruise the lagoon on a classic 1940s-style runabout (gentleman’s racer)
• Springtide Sailing Charters offers 90 minute to 4-hour sailing charters on the 52′ luxury yacht Outeniqua, departing from The Waterfront Knysna Quays
• John Benn – Knysna’s original wooden restaurant cruiser; Paddle Cruiser – South Africa’s only working paddle boat; Three Legs Rivercat Experiences – 75-minute cruises on the Knysna Lagoon; and the yacht Heads Explorer: all operate from the Featherbed Ferry Terminal at Cruise Cafe
• Ocean Sailing Charters offers cruises on two luxury catamaran cruises from Thesen Harbour Town.

Whale and dolphin watching

• Ocean Odyssey offers boat-based whale-watching and dolphin-watching tours through The Heads, and also SUP (stand-up paddle board) hire and e-bike hire from Thesen Harbour Town.

Forest walks and tours

• Featherbed Nature Reserve’s Eco-tours of the Western Head include a boat ride from the Featherbed Ferry Terminal at Cruise Cafe, a scenic drive to the top of the headland, a guided 2.2 km walk along the coastline, buffet lunch (on selected tours) and return boat trip.
• SANParks’ Rooted in Time self-drive tour (download pdf or collect a map from Knysna Tourism): visit historic sites in the Knysna Forest including Dalene Matthee’s Big Tree, the old Coffee Pot railway station; the Forest Legends Museum, and more
• Knysna Timber Route (download pdf or collect a map from Knysna Tourism): explore historic places, and visit local wood factories, shops and galleries

Adventures

• Tony Cook Adventures offers canoeing, guided trail running tours, kite boarding, surfing trips, etc.

Cycling and MTB

Looking for the ultimate cycling destination? Tty the forests, plantations, fynbos, and back roads of Knysna.

• Knysna Cycle Works, Bespoked Bike Shop, and Ultimate Cycling offer sales, rental, spares, and accessories, as well as routes and information for riders.
• You’ll need a permit to ride on any of the many MTB trails in the Garden Route National Park – visit SANParks for information.
• The Garden Route Trail Park (35 km from The St. James of Knysna) offers three crazy single tracks for mountain bikers and trail runners
• Follow visitknysna.co.za for information about bike races and other events

Golf: champion of destinations

With three top courses – and a fun, country-style short links course, too – Knysna is one of South Africa’s favourite golfing destinations.

• Knysna Golf Club (7.7 km from The St. James of Knysna): 18 holes, par 73. Length: championship 5,924 m, club 5,924 m. Lagoon-level course steeped in history; possibly the only golf course in South Africa with holes below sea level!
• Pezula Championship Golf Course (6.3 km): 18 holes, par 72. Length: championship 6,281 m, seniors 6,198 m, ladies 6,218 m and 5,027 m. Links course designed by Ron Fream. On the Eastern Head, between the Indian Ocean and the Knysna Lagoon.
• Simola Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course (13.3 km): 18 holes, par 72.. Length: championship 6,033 m, ladies 4,595 m, seniors: 5,189 m, pro Ts 6,318 m. Parklands course designed by The Golden Bear himself. Overlooks the Knysna River and the Knysna Lagoon – and with awesome views of the Knysna Heads.
• Sedgefield Links (26.9 km): 9 hole short course on the banks of the Swartvlei Lagoon.

… And there are other courses close by, too – and all within less than an hour’s drive of The St. James of Knysna: Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, Oubaai, Fancourt, George, Kingswood, Goose Valley, and Plettenberg Bay.

Stay at The St. James of Knysna, and play a different course every day for nine days in a row!

More Information

For more information about the area and other activities available, please visit www.visitknysna.co.za