Knysna & Plettenberg Bay

Top 10 attractions in Knysna & Plett

• Beaches (try Brenton-on-Sea, Buffels Bay, Knoetzie & Robberg beaches)
• Knysna Heads and Knysna forest ecoregion
• Robberg and Featherbed Nature Reserves
• Hiking, walking, mountain biking and horse riding 
• Great restaurants - try locally brewed Mitchells beer & cultivated Knysna oysters
• Springtide charters boat trip on the Knysna Lagoon 
• Monkeyland primate sanctuary, Birds of Eden bird park and Lanwood Snake Sanctuary
• Watersports - sea kayaking (sometimes with dolphins); river trips and surfing
• Bloukrans River bridge, the world’s highest (commercial) bungy jump
• Art, crafts, markets and shopping

Beaches and lagoon

Enjoy sundowners on a boat trip in the vast Knysna Lagoon, hire a paddleboat or kayak for day time family fun. Located to the west of Knysna, Brenton-on-Sea is great for children with plenty of rocks to climb and rock pools to explore and splash about in. One can take a walk from Brenton to Buffels Bay for lunch, collecting shells along the way. To the east of Knysna is the secluded Noetzie Beach, famous for its castles which were built in the 1930's and also home to the rare African Black Oystercatcher. In Plettenberg Bay, the trendy Robberg Beach boasts white sandy coastline and is also known as a good location for land-based dolphin and whale watching.

Outdoor activities

The Knysna and Plettenberg Bay region is filled with beautiful nature reserves boasting rivers, estuaries, lagoons, coastline, and mountains, not to mention incredible biodiversity, lush forests, vegetation and fantastic bird life. Numerous hiking, mountain biking and horse trails offer a great way to experience the area. Water sports and activities include boating, boat-based whale and dolphin watching, river cruises, kayaking, fishing, surfing and great scuba diving in both Knysna and Plettenbery Bay. For the very adventurous, the highest bungee bridge jump located close by!

Golf

This region of the Garden Route is known for its world class golf estates. Fancourt, Pezula and Simola are all located within 100km of each other, each offering opulent golfing experiences amid endemic flowering bush vegetation known as Fynbos, rolling green hills, and views of the ocean.

Nature & wildlife

In addition to the nature reserves, the area is also home to Monkeyland primate sanctuary, Birds of Eden bird park, Lanwood Snake Sanctuary, the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary, and Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre (home to wild cats). Boat-based whale and dolphin watching is also a must for wildlife fanatics. 

Food, drink & entertainment

A great variety of beautiful bay-side restaurants offer great seafood - be sure to try the locally brewed beer and oysters down at the Knysna waterfront. During July Knysna holds the annual Oyster Festival, but throughout the year this quaint town is known for an abundance of local art, galleries and craftsmanship. For trendy tourists, Plettenberg Bay is a fashionable destination with a bustling nightlife and a variety of distinguished restaurants.