Knysna is an attractive bustling resort town in the heart of the Garden Route surrounded by the glorious Knysna lagoon and backed by an expansive indigenous forest of yellowwoods. The central location of Knysna makes it a good base to visit all parts of the Garden Route (though we also recommend two bases if you have time).

It is a charming town full of restaurants, interesting boutiques and arts & craft galleries. The beautiful Knysna lagoon and nearby beaches of Brenton and Noetzie allow you to swim, surf, canoe, sail and walk.

Drive up to The Heads, the sandstone buttressed cliffs at the mouth of Knysna lagoon for stunning ocean views. Take a boat cruise to Featherbed Nature Reserve or a catamaran cruise through the famous Knysna Heads. You may be able to see whales and dolphins in season. Explore the indigenous Knysna forest with its walking trails & old goldrush village ruins.

Both Knysna Quays waterfront & Thesen Island are attractive places to relax with restaurants, boutiques & lovely lagoon views. More leisurely options might be a picnic on the beach beneath the delightful castles of Noetzie or a gentle forest ramble in the indigenous rainforest. From Knysna, it’s easy to also visit Plettenberg Bay, the Tsitsikamma or Wilderness for the day.