Things to do in Knysna, South Africa - 10 tips

What to do in Knysna, South Africa? Knysna, pronounced 'najsna', is a South African coastal town located along the popular 'Garden Route'. Here are our top tips for things to see and do in Knysna.

Knysna in South Africa

Knysna is a nice coastal town in South Africa, which is known, among other things, for the "Knysna Heads" rock formations. We visited the town during our drive along the coast and fell in love with this place.

Knysna is 60 kilometres east of the town of George on the N2 motorway and 33 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.

What to do in Knysna, South Africa?

So what can you see and do in Knysna? First and foremost, you can admire the 'Knysna Heads', but there are plenty of other things to do. We've listed our top tips here.

1. see the view at Knysna Heads

Knysna Heads is perhaps the most famous and iconic estuary in the UK. South Africa. The two 'heads' are separated by about 300 metres of water and are the headlands of two peninsulas that surround the mouth of the Knysna River.

The eastern headland, Eastern Head, is home to housing, farmland and a golf course. On the western head, Western Head, is the Featherbed Nature Reserve. We made our way up the eastern headland to visit the East Head Viewpoint.

The viewpoint is well worth a visit! From up here you have a fantastic view of the dramatically beautiful surroundings.

2. Discover Leisure Island

Leisure Island is a small island located just off Eastern Head. There are mainly residential areas on the island, but also several nice little beaches. In addition, you have a good view of the "Knysna Heads" from here.

3. Hang out on beaches

There are plenty of nice beaches in and around Knysna, where you can sunbathe and swim, or just hang out. Note that water temperatures in South Africa can be relatively cool. Here are some beaches to check out:

• Belvedere, Brenton Lake and Brenton-on-Sea
• Buffalo Bay
• Coney Glen Beach
• Leisure Island
• Noetzie Beach

4. Shopping at the Knysna Waterfront

One thing you won't want to miss doing in Knysna is getting to the Knysna Waterfront, which is a waterfront area with shops and restaurants.

This area has a great holiday atmosphere and the shops offer clothes, bags, hats, jewellery, furnishings, crafts and art. Did we go shopping? Yes, we bought trousers and bracelets.

5. Eat at Knysna's restaurants

If you get hungry during your visit to Knysna, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. There are a number of restaurants, including a fish restaurant, at the Knysna Waterfront. However, we only had an ice cream here.

There are also several restaurants on Thesen Island. We settled for a simpler dinner at Olde's Pub and Grill in the centre of Knysna. Here we each ordered a "half portion" of schnitzel, which tasted excellent, was very affordable and without any problems sufficed as a whole portion ...

6. Cruising on Knysna Lagoon

Cruising the Knysna Lagoon is popular, and there are many different boat tours to choose from. We saw several boat tours departing from the Knysna Waterfront, where tickets are also available.

7. visit Thesen Island

Thesen Island is a special island, full of homes and canals. Much of the island is only accessible if you live there, either permanently or by renting a holiday home. However, a smaller part can be visited by day trippers, and in this corner there are restaurants, boats for cruising and canoes for hire.

8. Learn about the Knysna seahorse

The Knysna seahorse is endemic to the coast of South Africa, meaning that it is only found there. It has also only been found in a few places, the Knysna Lagoon being one of them. On Thesen Island you can visit the reception, where you can see seahorses in a small aquarium and read about them on large information boards.

Also be prepared to find jewellery and trinkets in the shape of seahorses!

9. go whale watching

Another popular thing to do in Knysna is to go whale watching. The period for this is August - November, so there was no whale watching for us on this trip.

10. Take a trip to see animals

If you're interested in wildlife, there are plenty of parks and wildlife sanctuaries to visit. Here are some places that are within travelling distance of Knysna:

• Birds of Eden is located east of Plettenberg Bay.
• Elephant Sanctuary is right next to the Birds of Eden.
• Garden Route Wolf Sanctuary is located east of Knysna.
• Knysna Elephant park is located just east of Knysna.
• Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary is located east of Plettenberg Bay.
• Monkeyland is right next to the Birds of Eden and the Elephant Sanctuary.

More to see and do in Knysna

Want even more tips on things to do in Knysna? Here are some more suggestions.

• Knysna Township can be experienced during a guided tour with a local guide.
• Fishing can be made in Knysna Lagoon.
• Golf can be played at Knysna Golf Club, where there is an 18-hole course.
• Kayak or SUP can be experienced at Thesen Island.
• Knysna Forest offers 'Elephant walks' (7-9 kilometres).
• Local market organised every Friday afternoon, except in winter
• oyster is a popular place to eat in the city.
• Wild Oats Market is organised in Sedgefield every Saturday morning.

Where to stay in Knysna?

There are of course many different hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts in Knysna. We stayed at Aestas Bed & Breakfast, a super cosy place that we liked very much. It had everything we needed, including a great breakfast, caring owners and lots of tips on what to see and do in the area. The location was also excellent, with walking distance down to the Knysna Waterfront.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Just to the east of Knysna is Plettenberg Bay, where you can go on a fantastic hike in the Robberg Nature Reserve. To the west of Knysna is the town of George, and you can also head inland to Oudtshoorn, which offers caves and ostrich farms.

More tips for things to do in Knysna?

Have you visited this South African coastal town? If so, what are your top tips on what to see and do in Knysna?