PROPERTY | Spotlight on Knysna

A small town that explodes into full-on holiday mode in peak season, Knysna’s beautiful lagoon and surrounds of awe-inspiring indigenous forest are the heart of its attraction, with so much to do that the hard part is fitting it all into one holiday.

“It’s a very relaxed lifestyle, we’re very fortunate to have every activity imaginable on our doorstep – extreme kloofing, boating, diving, fishing and mountain biking trails,” says resident Nikki Smit.

“I also love that it’s very community driven, you know everyone.”

After the devastating 2017 fires, the town pulled together to rebuild and, like the surrounding fynbos and forest, it’s once again bursting with new growth and energy.

Accommodation

Knysna has long been a favourite place for second homes, filling up in the December holiday season as everyone escapes the city to immerse themselves in lagoon and beach activities.

From guest houses and B&Bs to luxury hotels and forest lodges, or holiday rentals and caravan parks, there is a huge variety of holiday accommodation and many different locations.

This includes the new developments on Thesen Island with their waterfront marina feel, traditional holiday homes on Leisure Island, villas high on the hills around the lagoon with stunning views, or hidden farms and lodges in the forest along the Garden Route.

The whole area really does get booked up in peak season, with regular visitors booking up to two years ahead to be sure of their favourite spot.

he Knysna Oyster festival – from June 29 to July 8 this year – is another drawcard filling up all the local accommodation for the duration of the 10-day festival with its sports events, food and entertainment.

Lagoon and ocean fun

Think of any watersport and you’ll find it in and around Knysna. On wind-free days the expanse of flat lagoon water is ideal for water-skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and when the wind pumps, switch to sailing or kite-boarding.

“Boating is massive in Knysna. During the holiday season a big portion of our sales are impulse buys,” says James Turner of Fusion Power Boats.

“People will go into one of our dealers to buy a water-ski and leave with a boat ready to take on the lagoon that afternoon.”

Traversing the tricky waters of the Heads to reach the Indian Ocean is best reserved for experienced skippers, but the lagoon has more than enough space to explore and play, whether power boating, sailing or paddling.

A sunset cruise is another must for the more leisurely explorer.

Buffalo Bay is the perfect beach for surfing and safe swimming and play.

“Everything is so accessible and family orientated,” says James. “We’ll go up-river to the Red Bridge to chill, the kids love swimming in the river, and there’s fishing at all levels in the lagoon – they can spend hours catching cuttlefish.”

The small tidal beaches around Leisure Isle in the lagoon are perfect for younger kids to play safely, and most days in Knysna are spent at least partly in and on the water.

Forest Behind Knysna, the vast stretches of indigenous forest conceal hidden trails, waterfalls and endless adventure.

The best place to start exploring is at one of the picnic sites, accessible by car. Jubilee Creek is in a cool forest valley beside a peaty stream with a 3km signposted walk to a waterfall.

The Circles in the Forest trail starts from the Krisjan-se-nek picnic site and takes you into elephant country to a forest pool and a waterfall. Or sign up for a guided hike to go deeper into off-the-beaten-track forest.

Mountain bikers and trail runners have endless forest trails to explore, the Garden Route Trail Park serving all abilities, or head to Harkerville with four trails to suit various levels.

For those who love wa tersports and outdoor adventure, Knysna really does have it all.

“Living in Knysna, we’ve got everything at our fingertips. On a normal day, we’ll do two or three different things: surfing, mountain biking, sailing if the wind picks up or kiteboarding, taking a boat out to sea, or hiking in the forest. The outdoor side has so much to offer within a relatively small area,” says James.

PROPERTY PRICES

The median asking price for a three-bedroomed home in Knysna is R2,84-million. Based on a typical property like this, you could expect to pay a bond of R27406 over a period of 20 years at 10% prime.

EAT

• Ile de Pain: for the legendary pastries and breads, breakfasts and lunches;
• East Head Cafe: for relaxed cafe food and spectacular views;
• 34 Degrees South: for fresh local seafood;
• Le Maquis: for authentic French bistro cuisine;
• Kilzer’s Kitchen: for an interactive dining experience on their Cook n Look Wednesday evenings;
• Totties Farm Kitchen: for real farm food and Sunday lunches after a forest walk.

DO

• Scenic MTB and running trails at Garden Route Trail Park;
• Sunset cruise with Featherbed Co Heads Explorer;
• Birds of Eden free flight bird sanctuary;
• Guided hikes and more with Tony Cook Adventures;
• Wild Oats Market in Sedgefield on Saturdays;
• Play golf at Pezula Championship Golf Course or Simola Golf & Country Estate.

SLEEP

• Head over Hills Luxury Retreat: for incredible views over the Knysna Heads;
• Villa Paradisa Guest House: for luxury B&B stay with lagoon views;
• Elephant Hide of Knysna: for a tranquil barefoot experience;
• Oakhurst Farm Cottages: for a family-friendly forest farm stay;
• Teniqua Treetops: for eco-friendly treehouse tented suites in the forest canopy.