Activities around Knysna and the Garden Route

Outdoor activities include swimming, bird watching, boating, canoeing, fishing and plenty more while rainy days will see you in restaurants and shops, viewing wildlife and catching the amazing scenery from the many drives.

Also don't miss out on regular events in and around Knysna.  Every year the 'Oyster Festival' comes to Town.  There are many things to do - Oyster tasting, cycling, running.  Even the South African Navy make a perilous journey through the Heads.  This year minesweepers came through and docked at Thesen Island for several days.  The famous Cape Epic cycle race takes place each year, setting off from Knysna. The arduous event takes three days to complete!

Knysna is ideally situated to explore the Garden Route. Everything is just a day trip away.  Including the 2010 FIFA World Cup Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay - Port Elizabeth.


Visit the Knysna Elephant Park
Cango Caves
Knysna, the Lagoon & Waterfront
Glide through the tree tops of the Tsitsikamma Forest
The Heads
Tee off from one of the many Golf clubs
Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
Emily Wakeboarding
Sun and sea

The Garden Route offers some of the best water sport areas along the Southern Coast of Africa.

  • Hire a boat, or bring your own, and cruise our beautiful lagoon, streams and rivers
  • Take a ferry across to Featherbed Nature Reserve or to the Knysna Heads - enjoy a romantic sunset, or leisurely lunchtime cruise.
  • For an adrenalin rush in the water, go shark cage diving at Mossel Bay or Blackwater Tubing at Stormsriver.
  • Watch the dolphins and whales play along our coastline.
  • WakeBoarding, Water-skiing
                
Adventure activities
  • Paraglide in heavan - soar above the coast and have a birds-eye view of this beautiful enviroment.
  • Abseil down the Knysna Heads and some other cliffs on the coastline
  • Rock climb in some unique and beautiful areas
  • Explore the area by quad bike (biking on the beach is not allowed due to the fragile eco-system).
  • Experience the thrill of hanging from a cable and gliding from one tree top to another in the dense Tsitsikamma Forest.
Wild Life
  • Visit a Game farm just a few minutes outside of George and watch the crocodiles feed.
  • Visit one or more of the world-famous ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn
  • Touch leopards at a wildlife ranch.
  • Get up close and personal with the inhabitants of Monkey Land.
  • Visit the Cheetah farm, the Knysna Elephant Park and see the Knysna Seahorses in the Knysna Lagoon.
  • Go to one of the many Nature Reserves in and around the Knysna area.
Tourist Attractions
  • George offers you the opportunity to go back in time and experience the old railway history of Southern Africa at the Railway Museum.
  • Take the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train from George to Knysna and travel through the most scenic coastal areas.
  • Indulge in fresh Oysters from the Lagoon and visit the local beer brewery.
  • Take a trip through to Outshoorn and experience one of the Cango Caves.
  • Visit the Post Office Tree and the Dias Caravel Museum in Mossel Bay.
Outdoor Activities
  • This area is a golfer's paradise. Visit one of the various PGA registered golf-courses along our beautiful coastline.
  • Cycle on the many biking trails through the forests in the area.
  • Hike or horse-back ride one of the excellent hiking and horse riding trails along the coast and in the forest.
Out and About
  • Shop 'til you drop in the many unique shops in Knynsa - The Waterfront, Woodmill Lane and Main Street are just some shopping areas.
  • There are a wide selection of Restaurants, Coffee shops, Pub & Grills, Pizzerias and Farm stalls in the Knysna area.
  • Weekends are famous for the many markets in the area - from Sedgefield to Harkerville and Wilderness.
  • In and around Knysna Quays Waterfront are numerous shops, coffee shops and restaurants. The centre of Knysna is less than a kilometre away and is an easy 5 minute walk. Just around the corner is the Knysna Yacht Club and the historic Steam Train terminus and turntable. Also within walking distance are three ferries that dock at and depart from the quayside at the waterfront to take you to the Heads and Featherbed.
Voluntary Organisations

Perhaps you are just interested to see more of the community, even get involved as a volunteer?

Helping Hands is an organisation which promotes all charities in the area from Wilderness to The Crags. Please contact  www.HelpingHands.za.com for more information.