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Knysna nestles on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route of South Africa. It is surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland.
The town of Knysna is vibrant and buzzes with creativity and energy. It's a place where the you can watch the world go by. The main street is very leafy with trees along the pavements and it has a wonderful holiday atmosphere. During the winter months, the town remains a cheerful place to be because of its colour and vibrancy .
There are lots of shops in the town, ranging from trendy boutiques to supermarkets, from high-priced specialist shops to cheap fleamarkets. And then there is the Waterfront - this is where everything happens. Here are nice shops, craft markets and great restaurants. It is a fairly new development in Knysna that encompasses marinas, shopping malls, residential complexes, etc. It caters for frenetic shopping, exciting dining, or relaxed contemplation. Sipping a glass of wine over lunch is also a great way to spend part of Sundays.
 
Knysna Heads must be the most striking geological feature along the entire southern African coastline. The East and West Head flank a deep but potentially treacherous channel through which the sea pours in to flood the wide and breathtakingly pretty lagoon at the mouth of the Knysna River.
Added to this Knysna is home to a host of wildlife species, like dolphins, seals and whales, as well as the Knysna seahorse and the brilliantly coloured Knysna Loeire.
The Knysna Oyster Festival - early July
Knysna's clear, crisp winter days are ideal for this celebration of the good life. The Knysna Oyster Festival is an outdoor and leisure adventure. Sportsmen and gourmets, culture-hunters and party people gather for great all-round family entertainment. Central to the festival are the Knysna Forest Marathon and Knysna Cycle Races.
Golfing in the Garden Route
The Garden Route is fast becoming the golfing Mecca of South Africa with 14 new golf courses in the planning to final development stages. Big name designers like Ernie Els and Jack Nicklaus feature prominently in the design of these new golf courses.
Golf Courses:
- Fancourt Bramble Hill
- Fancourt Outeniqua
- George Golf Club
- Goose Valley Golf Estate
- Knysna Golf Club
- Mossel Bay Golf Club
- Plettenberg Bay Country Club
- Pezula
- The Links at Fancourt
- Fancourt Montagu
- Simola
Things you can do include:
- The Knysna Heads - go for a walk along the Heads and see the panoramic views of the town and lagoon from various viewsites.
- The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe - This unique steam train departs daily from George to Knysna in the morning and back to George in the afternoon.
- A ferry ride across the lagoon is a great way to see the heads and get a full view of the lagoon.
- Markets - There are many markets in the centre and on the outskirts of Knysna. Here you can buy anything from African Curios to clothes, shoes and jewellery.
- Beaches - There is no beach in Knysna itself, but the coast surrounding Knysna has some really beautiful places to visit for the day. Visit Brenton-on-Sea, Buffalo Bay, Bollard Bay on Leisure Isle, and the beach and estuary at Noetzie. Noetzie is famous because of the castles surrounding the beach that make it look like a scene from the medieval times.
- Whale and Dolphin Watching - The Knysna coastline is home to one of the highest diversity of marine mammals in the world - including whales and dolphins. During certain times of the year, sightings of the following can be had: Southern right whale, humpback whale, Bryde's whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, orca, humpback dolphin.
- Canoeing - Many waterways in the area are restricted to non-motorised craft, giving ample opportunity for canoeing on the Knysna lagoon, Knysna River or Goukamma River.
- Abseiling - Knysna has awesome scenery and what better way to experience it then abseiling the cliffs at the Heads or through a waterfall in the Harkerville forest.
- Diving - Diving along the Knysna coastline is a great experience. Contact a local dive shop for information before going diving.
- Fishing - Knysna provides a wealth of opportunities for the keen fisherman: fly-fishing, rock and surf fishing, deepsea fishing, bass and trout fishing.
- Hiking Trails - The Garden Route features some of the most spectacular hiking trails in the world, through forest, fynbos and along its pristine coastline. There are also many great walks you can do in the Knysna Forest.
- Horse Riding - Enjoy the Knysna forest on horseback; there are trails in the Harkerville area.
- Cycling and Mountain Biking - Knysna offers cyclists some great mountain bike trails. These cycle routes consist of a choice of difficulty grades.
- Sailing - With over 18 square kilometres of lagoon, and a tidal system of over 1.7 metres (five feet) Knysna draws sailors from far and wide who enjoy swapping stories at the third oldest yacht club in South Africa, with its most hospitable 'bar'.
- Monkeyland is unique as a primate sanctuary. It is home to many varied species of monkey from several continents which were captive bred prior to their release at Monkeyland. Situated 16 km east of Plett, it offers safaris conducted by game rangers. This is the world’s only multi species, free roaming primate sanctuary.
- Elephant Park - The experience is somewhat of a closer kind than at Kruger or Addo – visitors are allowed to touch and feed the elephants, Harry, Sally and Duma.
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What to do in the Lagoon
Knysna Lagoon is actually an estuary and a water sport haven. Fishing, both estuarine and deep sea, is perhaps the most popular activity. Fishing licenses are required and are easily obtainable at the local post office.
Sailing is another popular activity - from sailboards to large ocean going yachts. Knysna has one of the oldest Yacht Clubs in South Africa.
In the late afternoons a score of kayaks paddle up the lagoon and for the more adventurous there is the challenge of going through the Heads into the open sea in a sea kayak.
Visitors can hire boats and canoes from various boating companies and are a number of ferries taking visitors around the lagoon. A number of charter options are available for deep sea fishing or whale and dolphin watching. The best time for watching whales is from August to October.
Swimming at Leisure Isle on the side facing the Heads and scuba diving at the Heads.
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