The Top 8 Fun Things To Do in Knysna
Knysna is one of the many beautiful places to see in South Africa and is perfectly situated along the Garden Route. The town is famous for its stunning sights, especially the Knysna Heads and Estuary, which is home to the Knysna seahorse.
The tiny creature can be seen by the town’s most patient visitors. The George Airport is only an hour away and there are a wide variety of Knysna attractions and activities to enjoy.
What To Do in Knysna: And What Not To Miss
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Along with the many excellent restaurants and the lagoon, which gives visitors to the little town an endless amount of fun on holiday, we have compiled a list of some of the most unmissable aspects of Knysna.
The Knysna Elephant Park
The park was the first in South Africa to care for orphaned African elephants and is currently home to 10 elephants, making it the biggest matriarchal herd in the country.
The Knysna Elephant Park (KEP) runs daily elephant tours from 09h00 to 15h00. There are also elephant walks where visitors follow the herd on their route in an unobtrusive environment. Visitors can enjoy extraordinary views of the Outeniqua Mountain range and Knysna Forest.
Spitzkop Viewpoint
Approximately 40 minutes away from KEP is a stop with a view, Spitzkop Viewpoint, which is the highest vehicle-accessible point above Knysna.
Visitors can choose to hike up from the Diepwalle Forest in Knysna or drive to the viewpoint via Prince Alfred Pass. The view is worth it as it gives you a panoramic look at the Outeniqua Mountains, the Knysna Heads and Plettenberg Bay.
The Knysna Oyster Festival
If you’re planning ahead, the Knysna Oyster Festival usually takes place from at the end of June/early July. The festival is a major part of Knysna tourism and makes Knysna the perfect winter destination with over 100 activities on offer during the festival.
The line-up usually includes live entertainment and talent shows, the Momentum BIG5 Challenge for any fitness fanatics and endless opportunities for eating top-shelf oysters.
The Best of Knysna’s activities
For anyone interested in a bit more action on your trip to Knysna, there is plenty to choose from. Knysna offers an ideal blend of sea, forest and mountains to enjoy.
Adventure Kloofing
If you are looking for exciting activities in Knysna, and adventure is your thing, canyoning is your first stop. Kloofing with TripOut includes taking the Drupkelders hiking trail to a stunning gorge in the Knysna Forest. You can cool off in the waterfall at the bottom and take a dip in one of the many pools. The kloofing session is approximately 3-4 hours long and there is a maximum of 10 guests at a time.
Explore the Wilds of Knysna
On the list of fun things to do in Knysna, is the full-day exploration trip that takes you on a 6-hour adventure, which includes:
⦁ Biking,
⦁ Kayaking
⦁ Hiking
⦁ A picnic
Participants will travel along the lower slopes of the Outeniqua Mountain Range, down Touw’s River, along the Seven Passes and will finish their trip at sunset on Wilderness Beach.
Eco-tours in Knysna
Ocean Odyssey offers a 45-minute tour of the Estuary, where guests are accompanied by an experienced guide. Your guide will give you a history of the region and its waterways as you experience it yourself.
At Featherbed Nature Reserve, visitors can go on an eco-tour of the Knysna Heads with unique trails and beautiful views of the estuary.
A Trip Along the Canals
Enjoy a day in the sun, exploring the waterways of Thesen Island with a session of stand-up paddleboarding (supping), which you can rent by the hour. There are stunning views of the Estuary and nearby inlets to enjoy, amazing birdlife and sea creatures to spot, including jellyfish.
Boat Trips
For a different kind of day on the water, there are a number of boat rides on offer, including:
⦁ A sundowner cruise on The Outeniqua yacht that sails you across the Knysna Estuary, through the headlands and into the Indian Ocean for a ride up the coast. They also include a delicious Mediterranean platter and champagne.
⦁ A 2-hour whale-watching trip with Ocean Odyssey, where there is the opportunity to see penguins, seals, dolphins and the skipper takes you on a quest to find the migrating whales.
The Garden Route has endless opportunities for exploring the South African coast, nearby forests and enjoying local beaches. Knysna fits right in with its small-town feel and an abundance of places to visit, wildlife to see and waterways to enjoy.
There is something for everyone in the many corners of Knysna – the idyllic lagoon is perfect for hot afternoons, there are endless hiking destinations and the Heads offer an ideal spot for the photographer in all of us.
