Knysna Tourism

The Greater Knysna Area

Situated in the Western Cape of South Africa in the heart of the world famous Garden Route, Knysna is a quaint town built around the Knysna Lagoon, a vast estuary which flows into the Indian Ocean through two giant sandstone heads.

Just 15 minutes away is Sedgefield, renowned for being the Garden Route’s Slow Town, with its beautiful lagoon, rivers and beaches.

The Greater Knysna area is one of the most scenic holiday destinations on the Garden Route and provides a natural playground for lovers of the outdoors and of nature.

The warm seas of the Indian Ocean, estuaries, lakes and rivers, and the thousands of hectares of forest, provide the perfect backdrop for numerous outdoor adventure sports, from surfing, sailing, whale watching and paragliding, to mountain biking, trail running and hiking.

The area boasts numerous accommodation options from backpacker lodges and camping sites, to houseboats, B&Bs, guesthouses and 5-star hotels, as well as many delightful shops, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Regular markets promote locally grown produce and locally crafted goods.

There are three world-class 18-hole golf courses in Knysna and a Mashie course.

The area’s cultural diversity draws many tourists every year to experience a variety of festivals, tours and food, the most famous of which is the annual Knysna Oyster Festival.