Knysna, Garden Route / Knysna Attractions and Places of Special Interest in Knysna Garden Route South Africa / Knysna

Knysna, Garden Route

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Garden Route Tourism

KNYSNA - GARDEN ROUTE

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Sedgefield relaxationspacer.gif (43 bytes)Knysna, Garden Route: Knysna is a natural paradise of lush, indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. She nestles on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, now a protected marine reserve that is home to the extraordinary sea horse and over 200 species of fish. Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafés beckon with small-town charm and hospitality. The area around Knysna is a veritable Garden of Eden. This is home of the only forest elephant in South Africa, the rare Pansy Shell, the brilliantly coloured, and elusive, Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.

The indigenous forests in Knysna constitute the largest complex of closed-canopy forest in southern Africa, whilst the remarkable richness of the Fynbos vegetation contributes over 8000 plant species to the Cape floral kingdom. Exploring the Knysna forests, along demarcated walks, with the occasional call of the Loerie, provides a complete escape into a former time when many elephants trod these paths, particularly if you’ve read Dalene Matthee’s ‘Circles in a forest’.

Today a mere three elephants are reputed to still roam the forest. The Knysna Elephant Park has brought the elephant back to Knysna and all the elephants are former orphans rescued from culling operations in the Kruger Park, except for Thandi who was born in the park.

A visit to Knysna would be incomplete without a trip to the heads - a striking geological feature made up of a pair of huge, brightly coloured cliffs lying at the mouth of the lagoon, flanking a channel of potentially treacherous water that flows into Knysna’s lagoon. The eastern head houses a lookout with spectacular views of the lagoon, Leisure Isle and Knysna whilst the western head is a privately owned nature reserve called Featherbed Bay. Visitors can get to the reserve via ferry.
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Garden Route Tourism

KNYSNA ATTRACTIONS

Featherbed Nature Reserve
The Featherbed Nature Reserve provides scenic views of Knysna and The Heads from the opposite shore of the lagoon. Ferries depart daily. On arrival at the reserve, guests are taken in 4-wheel drive vehicles to the top of the Western Head. A foot trail leads through 2 km of coastal forest and along the water’s edge back to the Featherbed tavern, where a delicious lunch of grilled, fresh line fish can be enjoyed.

Outeniqua Choo-Choo
One of the top attractions on the entire Garden Route, the Choo-Choo steam train provides some of the best views of the coastline and hidden valleys inaccessible by car. First opened in 1928, the 68km Choo-Choo is the last fully operational steam train in South Africa and chugs across the Knysna lagoon into the verdant valleys and lakeside settings that lead to Wilderness, where it traverses the Kaaimans River gorge, past Victoria Bay to Knysna. Most locomotives date back to 1948 (though some are over a century old) with timber-and-leather-fitted carriages dating from 1903 to 1950. Grab a window seat, the views really are spectacular.

Knysna Elephant Park
This safari is undertaken in four-wheel-drive vehicles that depart from reception every half-hour. You are guaranteed an opportunity to touch the three elephants that roam the 75 hectare reserve. There are now seven elephants, most of whom were born in the Kruger Park, and have now been returned to "the home of their ancestors." You can walk with the elephants through the forests.

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