Knysna Activities

Knysna boasts many eateries offering a variety of dining experiences to suit different tastes and budgets, from coffee shops and bakeries to fine-dining restaurants. Choose from fusion and contemporary food, seafood, sushi, Indian, Portuguese and Italian food.

You'll be spoilt for choice, with cosy restaurants tucked away in squares and shopping centres, coffee shops in the bustling high street or tourist hives on the waterfront where you can watch the yachts sail in and out of the harbour. In high season booking is essential and our front office staff will be happy to assist you to make your reservations.

Take one of our canoes out onto the lagoon or down the Knysna River, parts of which are restricted to non-motorised craft. Here one can picnic on the banks under the ancient indigenous trees and spot many of the bird species for which Knysna is famous. Pack water, suntan lotion and your binoculars.

Knysna provides a wealth of opportunities for the keen fisherman: fly-fishing, rock and surf fishing, deep-sea fishing, bass and trout fishing. The most common fish caught in the area are steenbras, grunter and leervis (garrick). Licences are required but are easily obtainable from the local post office in the Main Road. Guests can fish from the jetty of the resort or join the locals at the popular site on Thesen's Jetty. Various charter options are available for deep sea fishing.

Hire bikes in town and cycle around Knysna or challenge yourself to a ride on one of the area's great mountain bike trails which are graded according to difficulty. In Harkerville, between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, four district routes have been laid out though the indigenous forest and coastal fynbos and are colour-coded. Or take a guided cycle tour with a local cycle company.

Knysna has one of the oldest yacht clubs in South Africa with an active sailing membership. Sail with the locals on Wednesday nights or Saturday afternoons during the summer months (September to April), or take one of the many charter options available. Visitors can also hire boats from various local boating companies.

Knysna's surfers hang out at Buffalo Bay, a pristinely beautiful beach which generally has good waves all year round. Boards and wet suits can be rented from a company in town.

The lagoon provides many spectacular dive sites - hire all your scuba equipment at The Heads and explore the famous Paquita wreck and Thesen's Jetty where the rare Knysna seahorse can be seen. For the less adventurous, snorkelling at The Heads is a fun pastime for the whole family.

Knysna is a golfer's paradise, with many world-class golf courses between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay (just 20 minutes away), including Knysna Golf Course, Simola Golf & Country Estate, Pezula Championship Course, Goose Valley and Plettenberg Bay Golf Course. Golf clubs can be hired at most of these courses.

The area has some of the most spectacular hiking trails in the world - through forest, fynbos and along the rugged coastline. Permits are required - ask for details at reception.