From Wikitravel

Knysna, pearl of the scenic Garden Route, is situated between George and Plettenberg Bay. Perennially green thanks to a Mediterranean Maritime climate with rain falling throughout the year, Knysna is mantled by indigenous forests extending into the Tsitsikamma National Park area. Nestled between the impressive Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian ocean, the culinary capital of oysters and other delectable seafood is a compulsory stopover on every travelers’ itinerary. At the heart of Knysna is a lagoon protected from the sea by the monolithic sandstone "Heads" – best explored on board a catamaran or from along hiking paths in the Featherbed Nature Reserve. A hotspot for art and craft, as well as adventure activities such as tree canopy gliding, kloofing and abseiling, Knysna offers something to everybody.

The peculiarity of the origin of the place-name Knysna is commonly explained with a light-hearted joke of two German tourists travelling to Knysna, and upon reaching the lookout point on the eastern Knysna Head, the one says to the other: 'Nice, na?'. On a more serious note, Knysna is believed to be derived from a Khoi word for place of wood, or fern leaves, but most probable straight down or hard to reach - referring to the steep Knysna Heads.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By road 1.2 By bus 1.3 By plane/ rail 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

By road

Located in the middle of the Garden Route Knysna is easily accessible from Cape Town (about 500 km) and Port Elizabeth (about 270 km).

By bus

The major bus companies serve Knysna on their run from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. The Baz bus stops here, too.

By plane/ rail

The next airport is in George, while for international flights you have to go for Cape Town. There is no rail service to Knysna (except the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe historical steam train between George and Knysna which offers a wonderful scenery)

Running from George to Knysna, and stopping at both Wilderness and Sedgefield stations, this is a not-to-be-missed experience.

For true steam lovers, pop into the stream museum in George - for a trip down memory lane.

Get around

Walking around is the best option or rent a bicycle for longer distances. Except the minibuses there is no public transport so you have to take a taxi if you want.

There is a Hertz car rental outlet (tel: 876 9999) but traffic jams can be pretty bad during the tourist high season!

See

Knysna Tourism are available to help you in making the most of your stay in Knysna.

• The lagoon: about 18 sq. km and home to at least 200 species of fish is connected with the Indian Ocean through a turbulent channel between "The Heads", two sandstone cliffs. Tour around on one of several boats or just take a coffee at "the Heads".

• The Knysna Forest: about 80.000 ha are now under conservation. The ‘King Edward VII’ tree (at Diepwalle forest station) is an estimated 600 years old, 39 m at height, and has a circumference of 6 m. But most famous is the forest for the Kynsna elephants (some of them may still rumble in the jungle but weren´t seen for several years. But keep care!). There are several hiking trails but you need a car to access the forest.

• Pledge Nature Reserve: offers 3.5 km of pathways through scrub forest and hillside fynbos with fine views over the lagoon and is just 500 meters of the town centre. A nice place for a walk in the afternoon.

• Millwood Gold Fields: Site of the first gold rush in South Africa, the Millwoods Museum and Materoli Tea Room (be sure to try a piece of Jayne's World Famous Chocolate Cake) offers a unique and fascinating view of the greed, entrpreneurship, energy, and ultimate failure of the first gold dicsocovered in South Africa during the late 1800's. Tours through the old gold diggings are available.

Do

• Walk along the lagoon, take a coffee at one of the many shops at the waterfront and head straight on for The Heads.

• There are many golf courses around, often with stunning settings or views. You can also book fully organised or self-drive golf tours in and around Knysna with Platinum Golf.

• Knysna Elephant Park [1] offers the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with African elephants. The elephants here are orphans from various SAN Parks and further afield, and they are so used to humans now that it is possible to feed them and actually touch them! Buy a bucket of fruit at the entrance and the elephants will pick up bits of fruit that you offer to them in your hands, or far more likely, they will take it straight from your bucket when you're not looking! You can also (if you book well in advance) take an evening or morning walk with the elephants. If you have the time, this is an experience not to be missed

Buy

Shops line along the Main St. and the Waterfront.

Eat

Many restaurants line the main street and the waterfront area.

• Knysna Oyster Company [2], Thesens Island. The name says what you are going for. Mains from R30.

Drink

• Mitchell's`s Brewery, Arend St. offers tours around the brewery and tastings of their beers.

Sleep

Many guesthouses, hotels and B&Bs compete for the visitor in off-season, but in high season prices rise and places fill early so book ahead. There are also several nice options out of town (e.g. in Brenton-on-Sea, Buffalo Bay ...) for those with their own transport.

• Inyathi Guest Lodges ph: +27 (0) 44 382 7768 (fax: +27 (0)44 382 7768) [3] is a most unusual guesthouse: although they are situated right in the center of town, once you enter the premises you have the feeling of being in the middle of the African bush. 3 star.

• Tonquani Lodge [4] Rated best B&B/Guesthouse with Self-Catering in South Africa three times in a row. 5 Star accommodation at an affordable price and with excellent facilities. Prices from R199/pps.

• Highfield Backpackers, 2 Graham Street ph: +27 (0)44 382 6266, (fax: +27 (0)44 382 5799) A nice place with a pool a little bit off main street and offers dorms and private single/ double rooms.

• The Wayside Inn, Main street, ph: +27 (0)44 3826011(fax: +27 (0)44 382 6011) [5] A very nice B&B in the centre of the town with charming rooms starting at R240 pps.

• Protea Landmark Hotel, 51 Main Street, ph: +27 (0)44 382 2127, (fax: +27 (0)44 382 3568,) [6] Protea Landmark Hotel offers standard rooms without any specials on the pro side.

Get out

Hike in the Kynsna forest or take a tour in the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam-train to Knysna. Other options are a day tour to Oudtshoorn or the Noetzie castle a few km north east of town.

• Noetzie Castle - East of Knysna some Britons lost their castles on the beach. Worth some hours or more if you like the beach.

• Brenton-on-Sea - Less crowded than Knysna this sea-side village offers endless beaches

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