Knysna Tourist Attractions

Knysna is one of the principal centers on the famous Garden Route along the south coast of South Africa. It is delightfully situated between the forest and the sea on a lagoon which offers scope for a variety of water sports.

Knysna Forest

Knysna Forest is the largest tract of forest in the country, although much of it is planted forest. Some areas do have giant yellowwoods, which are somewhere between 400 and 800 years old.

Millwood House Museum

The Millwood House Museum is a trim little house which originally stood in the nearby settlement of Millwood, where gold was discovered in 1876 - a small deposit which was almost worked out by 1895. This house was then taken down and re-erected in Knysna. It is now a national monument. The museum is mainly devoted to the town's founder, George Rex, and to the gold-mining operations in Millwood

Pledge Park

Near Knysna is Pledge Park, a small nature reserve with an area of only 10ha/25ac. The park, which is freely accessible, has a fine show of indigenous vegetation and many attractive viewpoints.

Belvidere Church

The road running west from Knysna, which turns left immediately after crossing the river and heads for Brenton-on-Sea, runs past the Belvidere Church, a Norman-style chapel built in 1855 for a son-in-law of the legendary George Rex.

Brenton-on-Sea, South Africa

6km/4mi south of Knysna church is Brenton-on-Sea, a charming little seaside resort on Buffalo Bay with magical, endlessly long sandy beaches.

Buffalo Valley Game Farm

To the west of Brenton-on-Sea, in the valley of the Goukamma River, is the privately owned Buffalo Valley Game Farm, with zebras and numerous species of antelopes and gazelles, which visitors can observe from their cars (on a 3km/2mi long track running through the reserve) or on short guided walks.

Featherbed Nature Reserve

There is a daily ferry service from Knysna to the Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Head. Here visitors can observe the local flora and fauna; there is a restaurant.
The reserve is privately owned and visits are limited.

Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe (closed)

The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, a narrow-gauge steam train, runs between Knysna and George.
ATTRACTION CLOSED - The rail line was damaged by floods in 2006 and has not run since that time.