Not just "Knice"— A Guide to Knysna's Unique Experiences

Knysna is known as a scenic seaside town located on South Africa's Garden Route that offers an idyllic blend of natural beauty and top-quality hospitality. While you may be forgiven for thinking it may be one of the most conventional of pleasant holiday destinations, this Western Cape town also has its quirks (Thank goodness!) and some incredibly charming ones at that!   

Whether you’re bunking in a power station (yes, really), braaing your way through the iconic Knysna Heads or playing hide-and-seek with mythical forest creatures, this post is your guide to making the most of the beautiful, quirky and adventure-filled town of Knysna. 

*I was a guest of The Turbine Hotel & Spa, Ocean Sailing Charters / Cape Country Routes and Ford but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where to Stay

The Turbine Hotel & Spa

Okay, the idea of spending a weekend in a power station doesn’t sound very inviting but I promise it is! 

The Turbine Hotel and Spa on the Thesen Islands is a boutique hotel built in a decommissioned heritage turbine power station. As it had been declared a heritage building, the antique machinery legally had to be preserved in a museum-quality state. Somehow the hoteliers behind this endeavor managed to do this and fit a boutique hotel in the same building. Shocking, I know!

The way that the turbines and industrial machinery have been incorporated into the layout and decor to result in a quirky and hip but stylish boutique hotel is quite the feat and needs to be experienced. It’s like a history museum and modern art gallery in one — and they serve cocktails!

It's also remarkably affordable and its location on the Thesen Islands makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the rest of Knysna. 

Read the full review of my stay, including information about pricing, here:

The Turbine Hotel & Spa: I Spent the Night in a Power Station!

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What to Do in Knysna: 

Braai your way through the Knysna Heads

No trip to Knysna is complete until you have sailed through the Knysna Heads.

A number of boat operators take visitors from the lagoon, through the heads to the ocean and back again. Ocean Sailing Charters (a member of the Cape Country Routes) is a luxury catamaran boat tour that operates from a pier just a short walk from the Turbine Hotel on the Thesen Islands.

Here you can sip on sparkling wine (or a non-alcoholic alternative) as you sail through the Knysna Heads and out into the open ocean.  Bask in the light of Golden Hour, as you gaze at the coastline and the iconic Heads from out at sea, as well as the occasional whale spray. 

After returning to the tranquil waters of the lagoon, apart from being mesmerised by the setting sun, you can also enjoy an authentic South African braai prepared on board.  Nothing like a good meal in a stunning setting to remind you that yes, you are indeed living your best life!

Read the full review of my experience, here:

Sailing (and Braaing) Through the Knysna Heads with Ocean Sailing Charters

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Hike in the Knysna Forest (and go in search of the mythical Knysna elephant/herd)

Known for its dense shrubbery, the Knysna Forest is a biome unlike anything else in South Africa. If you enjoy hiking or trail running, the uniqueness of this landscape makes for quite the change in scenery. The shade also makes it a very pleasant place to really push your step count for the day.    

One of the reasons why the Knysna Forest is steeped in so much mystery and legend is due to the tales of the elusive Knysna elephant/s. Sightings are so rare they (or it) have become the stuff of legend. 

So if exploring the ancient indigenous trees and lush undergrowth isn’t enough adventure in itself, you can go in search of South Africa’s equivalent of the Loch Ness monster. 

Read more about my quest to find "Nelly" here: (I think it's name is actually "Oupoot")  

Hiking in the Knysna Forest in Search of the Legendary Elephants

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Explore the Thesen Harbour Town

On the Thesen Islands along the main street and around the village square, there’s an array of interesting boutiques and vibey restaurants to explore, as well as a children's play area. Here you’ll stumble upon interesting shops where you’ll pretend you’re just window shopping —but let’s be honest, you're leaving with something! 

Once you’ve shopped up an appetite, the local restaurants are buzzing with energy and flavours. All of this together with the lagoon’s picturesque views remind you why you came here in the first place. And for parents, there’s even a play area to park the kids while you admire the stunning lagoon views and consider moving here permanently.

Enjoy the Knysna Waterfront

The Knysna Waterfront is where scenic beauty meets retail therapy—because nothing says "relaxing holiday" like buying things you didn’t know you needed while staring at boats you can’t afford. Together with restaurants serving up seafood so fresh it’s practically still swimming and a front-row seat to the lagoon, it’s the perfect spot to indulge in some people-watching, seagull-dodging, and daydreaming about that yacht lifestyle. 

Here I did some shopping and more Instagram husbandry with the influencer in my group. (That’s probably not the correct use of the word "husbandry" but I’m sure you get what I’m referring to in context.) If nothing else, it's a great place to go for an ice cream or to watch the sunset ...or eat an ice cream while watching the sunset.

Win-win!

Take in the Views 

Whether you're gazing at the canal beyond the infinity pool from your hotel room at the Turbine Hotel & Spa or views of the lagoon from a number of different places that are equally breathtaking, in general, Knysna is just so scenic, and taking time to appreciate it is a very enjoyable activity. 

Pamper Yourself

Nothing completes a weekend away quite like some time at a spa. I had a back and neck massage at the Turbine Spa and it was heavenly. Apart from massages, they also offer a range of treatments such as facials, manicures and pedicures.  A visit to the Turbine Hotel will also give you the opportunity to check out this remarkable upcycled power station if you aren't already staying there. 

Other things to do in Knysna:

Okay, full confession, I didn't get to see everything I wanted to see. Here are some of the things I would like to do when I get to visit again: 

• See the seahorses at the seahorse aquarium. Apparently, there's one on the Thesen Islands but I was so busy having fun in other ways that I never made it there.
• You can go cycling or kayaking. There are both bicycles and kayaks to rent on the Thesen Islands.
• The Knysna Oyster Festival. To someone like me with texture issues who never got the occupational therapy she needed as a child, it doesn’t really sound that appealing. However, this event is a big deal, not just for the oysters but also because of all the entertainment, sporting events, festivities and the Knysna Forest Marathon. It happens in July each year and draws people from all over the country and beyond.

Getting to Knysna

The best way to get around Knysna is by car.  If you are travelling from further afield, the closest airport is the George Airport (approximately a 50-minute drive away from Knysna). Rental car services are available here.  

My Knysna travel group was driven to and around Knysna (from Cape Town) by Ford. As far as I’m concerned, the vacation begins when you get in the car and from the moment I climbed into the Ford Everest 3.0 V6 Platinum, I felt like I was on an adventure. The seats were so comfortable, the 12-inch touchscreen for our GPS ensured we never got lost, being a 7-seater it had plenty of space for five ladies and their stuff and it handled rough terrain like a boss. It was also equipped with USB chargers to keep these content creators creating content, it had a fantastic sound system for our road trip playlist and it had cup holders in all the right places. Cup holders!! What more could you ask for?

The garden route is so scenic. There are plenty of beautiful towns and some quirky roadside attractions where you can stop along the way. Watching them pass from inside your car is an underrated experience in its own right (especially one as comfortable and as well built for adventure as this one). 

Knysna is only 1 hour 40 minutes from Oudtshoorn if you want to extend your adventure (more on that to follow soon). 

The Best Time to Visit

I’ve only been to Knysna in July, so I can’t vouch for the rest of the year, but honestly, it doesn’t seem like there’s ever a bad time to visit. Winter is a bit cool with temperatures between 9 and 22°C (or 50 and 72°F for my Fahrenheit friends). July’s the chilliest month, but you're unlikely to freeze anything off. On the flip side, February is the hottest month with temperatures ranging from 18 to 29°C (65 to 85°F), perfect for beach days or lounging at a scenic hotel infinity pool.

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As someone who likes offbeat adventures and quirky experiences, Knysna wasn’t really high on my list of local destinations, but after experiencing it and some of what it has to offer, I don’t know what took me so long. Whether you're looking for a conventional holiday break or something a little different, there's something for everyone in this charming coastal town.