At the heart of the scenic Garden Route, you will find a charming holiday town called Knysna, famous for its delectable oysters and wild elephants. Placed in a natural paradise of lush, indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, Knysna is nestled on the banks of a lagoon, which is now a protected marine reserve, home to the extraordinary sea horse, the rare Pansy Shell and over 200 species of fish. The Knysna Lagoon is more accurately an estuary, where the waters of five different Outeniqua Forest rivers merge together, meeting the ocean at landmark sandstone cliffs, known as the Knysna Heads, where hikers go to view the plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, including the brilliantly colourful, yet elusive, Knysna Loerie.

As you can imagine, these beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers, all provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town itself, however, you will find high-end clothing boutiques, art galleries, local crafts shops, flea-markets and cosy cafés that beckon with small-town charm and hospitality.