Knysna is a tourist centre at the Garden Route and is idyllic situated at the same named 20 hectare lagoon. The city is more than a half-day drive far away from Cape Town. However the streets along the Garden Route are in a good condition. In addition Knysna is well connected via bus to Cape Town.
Over the whole year the climate is very mild and even the Indian Ocean is warm enough to take a warm bath in the winter season.The complete region is covered by forests but today only shows a small part of the immense stand of trees from the past.
This place was founded to save the necessary amount of timber for the shipbuilding but today nothing is remained of this time.
Nowadays Knysna is specialized in tourism. The attractions are the lagoon with Waterfront, a journey with the Outeneniqua Choo Tjoe – train and the oyster farming.
In the forests,that have beautiful hiking trails, you can find another reservation for the Knysna-elephant.100 years ago there existed numerous animals but they disturbed the inhabitants in their economic expansion.
Starting point for discovering Knysna can be the new built Waterfront. The dimension of it is not comparable to the Waterfront in Cape Town but it has its own charm. Different music groups are playing, there is a diversity of cafés, restaurants and shops and an enormous marina. While drinking a cup of coffee you can watch the crush of tourists.
About one hundred metres further you can find the place where the excursion boats dock. Recommendable is the elegant boattour with the only paddle wheel steamer. The boattrip takes you to the Knysna – Heads that are two striking ledges that presents the entrance of the lagoon. Via Webcam you can throw a glance at it.
After this amazing boattrip you should taste the delicious oysters in one of the numerous restaurants. This seafood is famous for this city so that every year a festival is organised. The next one will take place in July 2011.
A further touristy highlight was the steam train ride from George to Knysna but that attraction unfortunately did not exist anymore since last year. This railway train ran through the lagoon and the route, in part, directly along the coastwas breathtaking.
But in recent years,however, there was always some landslides, which blocked off the roads for weeks. Due to financial constraints was decided not to use the route anymore what is really too bad.
Someone who wants to stay some more days in Knysna can use this chance to visit Nature`s Valley and the Tsitsikamma Nationalpark or some other nice neighbouring places.
Homepages: http://www.visitknysna.co.za and http://www.gardenroute.co.za/knysna
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