South Africa

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Knysna

Garden Route lagoon town of forests and oysters

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Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Currency: ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: South Africa

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

Knysna is a coastal town on a warm-water lagoon in the Garden Route, framed by indigenous forest and the sandstone Heads. People come for lagoon cruises, forest walks, oysters and outdoor adventure.

Largest cities

Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
Pretoria
Port Elizabeth

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: South Africa
Capital: Bloemfontein
Town population: 51,078
Population of South Africa: 62M
Country area: 1,221,037 km²
Official language: South Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, and Tswana
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) · 1 USD ≈ 16.54 ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +27
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 8 m
Plugs: C / M / N · 230V
Emergency numbers: 10111 (police) · 10177 (ambulance) · 112 (mobile emergency)
Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	24°	24°	24°	21°	20°	19°	17°	18°	18°	20°	22°	23°
Low	17°	17°	17°	14°	12°	11°	9°	9°	11°	13°	14°	16°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$49
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$110
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$260

Plan a trip to Knysna

Top things to do

≈ $30
Knysna Lagoon Cruise
Boat trips cross the 18 km² lagoon toward the Heads, home to at least 200 fish species; book a morning departure for calmer water.
- Half day
- Knysna Waterfront and town centre
- Good for kids
≈ $60
Featherbed Nature Reserve
A four-hour organised eco-tour with a boat crossing, a bus to the hilltop viewpoint, a 2.2 km walk and an optional buffet lunch; the reserve is private, so you must join the tour.
- Half day
- The Heads and Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Good for kids
Free
The Heads Viewpoints
Lookout points on the eastern head give views over the lagoon mouth and the Map Stones; a coffee stop here works well at sunset.
- Half day
- The Heads and Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $5
Knysna Forest Walk
Trails in the 80,000 ha conserved forest lead to the 600-year-old King Edward VII tree at Diepwalle; you need a car to reach the trailheads.
- Half day
- Knysna Forest and Millwood
- Good for kids
≈ $8
Millwood Gold Fields and Museum
See the site of South Africa's first gold rush, with a small museum and tea room; tours of the old diggings are available.
- Half day
- Knysna Forest and Millwood
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $3
Pledge Nature Reserve
A 3.5 km network of paths through scrub forest and fynbos with fine lagoon views, only 500 m from the town centre.
- Half day
- Pledge Nature Reserve
- Good for kids
≈ $45
Knysna Elephant Park Day Trip
Halfway to Plettenberg Bay on the N2, orphaned elephants can be fed and touched; book an early morning or evening walk well in advance.
- Full day
- The Heads and Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Good for kids
≈ $90
Garden Route Safari Day Trip
Full-day guided safaris from Knysna visit game, whale and dolphin areas around Knysna and Plettenberg Bay; departures are usually around 8:30 AM.
- Full day
- Knysna Forest and Millwood
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business, while other nationalities may need a visa or must apply in advance; rules depend on nationality, so check before booking. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and have at least two blank pages, and travellers with children aged 17 and under face extra documentation requirements. From 1 July 2026 all travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling, and yellow fever vaccination

Official website

From the airport

The nearest airport is George (about 60 km west), reached by shuttle, taxi or rental car in roughly an hour; most international visitors fly via Cape Town. Buses and minibus taxis also connect Knysna with George, Plettenberg Bay and Cape Town.

Getting around

There is no public transport beyond minibus taxis, so walking, cycling or a rental car works best; traffic is heavy in peak season.

Local tips

Summers are warm and winters mild, but rain falls all year, so pack a light rain jacket.
Tipping around 10-15% is standard in restaurants and for good service.
Book lagoon cruises, the Featherbed reserve and the Oyster Festival well ahead in peak season.
Swim and boat with care near the Heads, where currents are strong and unpredictable.