South Africa's Knysna National Lakes Area

Useful Information

History

The word “Knysna” comes from the original inhabitants, the Khoikhoi. The name means “fern.” The “k” is silent but indicates that the word started with a click. Europeans arrived at Knysna in the 1760s and established a farm called Melkhoutkraal. The first farmer, Stephanus Ter Blans, was given a loan permit to farm here in 1770. George Rex is credited with being the founder of Knysna. The British-born entrepreneur was long rumored to be a royal bastard of King George III. Rex acquired the loan rights to Melkhoutkraal in 1804 and to another farm, Welbedacht (renamed Eastford), in 1816. Rex gave 32 hectares of Eastford to the colonial government, where the Royal Navy established the township of Melville.

Knysna started developing commercially after the Thesen family arrived from Norway on a sailing ship, the Albatross. The Thesen brought sailing, commercial, and practical skills. They started extracting and exporting timber, established a sawmill, and even manufactured small boats. Knysna experienced a minor gold rush after a golden nugget was found in the Karatara River in 1878. This fast-developing port became infamous for the dreaded Knysna Heads that ships had to enter the estuary through. The famous coxswain and pilot John Benn became known for guiding ships through this treacherous port. The Heads are still counted among the most dangerous port entries in the world.

Wildlife

At first glance, Knysna might not seem full of wildlife, but upon closer inspection, this will prove false. It is a treat to dive into the Knysna estuary and spot this endangered tiny seahorse among the marine vegetation. It is the world’s first seahorse to be listed as endangered. If you don’t want to get wet, look at it in the SANParks Thesen Island office. For anyone keen to dive, the Knysna estuary is an underwater wonderland filled with indigenous fauna, flora, and many shipwrecks.

Birds are plentiful. The estuary provides the perfect habitat for marine birds. Thus, seagull, cormorant, and even the endangered southern black oystercatcher are spotted frequently. The area hosts five kingfisher species, and fish eagle are common. The nearby natural indigenous forests contain the famous Knysna turaco (Knysna loerie). The large indigenous forests have antelope like bushbuck, blue duiker, common duiker and steenbok. Leopard and caracal also move through these forests, though very stealthily. Recently, when trying to capture leopard footage on camera traps, the Cape Leopard Trust even got one sneaky photo of the thought-to-be extinct Knysna elephant!

Vegetation & Terrain

A large part of the Knysna Lakes Area recently joined with the Wilderness and Tsitsikamma regions previously protected by SANParks to create the Garden Route National Park. The Knysna Lakes Area is of critical importance because it encompasses the most important estuarine ecosystem in South Africa. It is also the only known natural estuarine bay in the warm-temperate region and is home to the rare Knysna goby and Knysna seahorse. An estuary acts as a nursery and essential feeding ground for marine animals.

Flanking the estuary, two geological features, known as the Knysna Heads, tower over the estuary like sentinels. You can visit the eastern head at any time. The western head is located on a privately owned reserve. Looking inland from the Heads, the Knysna Forest and its closed canopy stretch in both directions. The indigenous forest is accompanied by fynbos vegetation, which has over 8,000 plant species and falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom. Although the entire forest is protected, the Outeniqua yellowwood, real yellowwood, milkwood, and stinkwood count among those with the highest level of protection.

Activities

Knysna is an all-in-one area for wildlife, landscapes, and adventure. Some of the best hiking trails in the country can be found in the area and encompass a series of settings, including the famed Knysna Forest and coastal regions. The lagoon and Knysna Heads are ideal spots for landscape photographers or those searching for a breathtaking view. You can play golf at the impressive Simola Golf and Country Estate, and boating, snorkeling, and various other water activities are available for those more comfortable on or in the water. Paragliding is also popular in the area.

If you are traveling with kids, sandboarding and a trip to Monkeyland or the Knysna Elephant Park are a few activities to keep in mind. If you prefer a more relaxed experience, try a sunset cruise on the lagoon, a day at the beach, or a picnic in the woods. There are various weekly and monthly local markets and events where local craft-makers gather. If you love wine or beer, visiting the Packwood Wine Estate & Vineyard or Mitchell’s Brewery should be on your to-do list.