Knysna Travel Guide - Unique South African Experience
Knysna Travel Guide - Unique South African Experience
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.
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. Traffic can become extremely busy during the tourist high season and long queues in and out of Knysna are common.
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 (like Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay) for those with their own transport.
The lagoon is 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. Take a boat across to the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Heads (this is an organised tour because it's a private reserve, but it's a good way to spend some time on the lagoon than take a walk in the reserve).
The Knysna Forest is 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. The most famous animals are the Knysna elephants. Currently research, involving DNA testing of dung, is being done to see how many of them may still rumble in the jungle, please report any dung sightings! Remember to always take care. There are several hiking trails but you need a car to access the forest. Don't forget the conservation motto Take only photographs, leave only footprints!.
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 one of the first gold rushes in South Africa, the Millwood 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, entrepreneurship, energy, and ultimate failure of the first gold discovered in South Africa during the late 1800's. Tours through the old gold diggings are available.
A lot to see in Knysna such as :
Brenton-on-Sea
Featherbed Private Nature Reserve
Garden Route National Park
View point Eastern Knysna Head
Leisure Island
Ocean Odyssey Whale Watching Knysna
Diepwalle Forest
Knysna-Amatole montane forests
Pezula Championship Course
Featherbed Co
Pledge Nature Reserve
Buffalo Bay Beach
Knysna Fine Art
Margaret´s Viewpoint
Brenton Beach
Judah Square
Knysna River
Bollards Bay Beach
East Head View Point
Old Gaol
Coney Glen Beach Knysna
Goukamma Marine Protected Area
Steenbok Nature Reserve
Thesen House
Knysna Harbour
Brackenhill Waterfall
( Knysna - South Africa ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Knysna . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Knysna - South Africa
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