Knysna
Knysna, with its majestic Heads separating the Knysna estuary (or ‘lagoon’ as we prefer to call it) from the Indian Ocean, its picturesque town center with its different shopping areas, the lively Waterfront or Knysna Quays with the small harbor and many options to go explore the lagoon, the evergreen indigenous forest in its backyard with ample possibilities for forest hikes, some of the country’s most spectacular mountain biking trails and of course its three golf courses…. Who would NOT want to be in Knysna?!
History of Knysna
The first white farmers and traders settled in the neigbourhood of the Knysna River lagoon in the latter half of the 18th century. Attracted by the timber, the fishing and grazing, and the sheer beauty of the place, one of the first farms to be granted was Melkhoutkraal (‘milkwood corral’) in 1770, which included the lagoon and the area known today as Knysna. In 1804, the allegedly illegitimate son of King George VI, George Rex was granted this beautiful piece of land, and that’s when Knysna started to develop. In those early days the topography of the land made the transport of timber and other products by ox-wagon and impossible nightmare. The answer, George Rex believed, was a harbor on the shores of the lagoon, inside The Heads. On 11th of February 1817 the 188-ton Royal Navy brig Emu made the first attempt to enter the lagoon. She got no further than The Heads, where she struck a submerged rock. Badly damaged, she was beached just inside the entrance. A few months later he Podargus came to its rescue, found a safe way through The Heads and paved the road for many ships to follow.
1928, when the railway was extended from George to Knysna, saw the beginning of the end for the maritime industry, and in 1954 the harbor was finally de-proclaimed.
Another name associated with the development of Knysna is that of the family Thesen, who settled in Knysna in 1869. They were on their way from Norway to New Zealand but their schooner Albatros stranded in Table Bay. It was during one of the charters trips to Knysna that some of the senior members of the family decided Knysna would become their final destination and they would settle here. They built a prosperous timber –processing and shipbuilding enterprise on what is now called Thesen Island. Part of the original timber factory is proclaimed a national monument and its chimneys can still be seen from most of the surrounding areas.
The village of Knysna dates from 1825, when earlier mentioned George Rex presented then governor of the Cape Lord Charles Somerset with 16ha of land on the sore of the lagoon as nucleus for a new village, which was named Melville at the time. Knysna was formally founded in 1882 when Melville was amalgamated with Newhaven (1846), another hamlet on the lagoon.
It is not clear how Knysna got its name. Being of Khoe origin, one source suggests it is a corruption of two words meaning ‘straight down’, a reference to The Heads, while others believe is derived from a word meaning ‘ferns’, ‘place of woods’ or even ‘place where the water meets the woods.’
Then again, some of us think this is what George Rex must have said as he came down to this part of the world: this is ‘nice-na!’
Welcome to our beautiful town!
Freely interpreted but based on and thanks to the ‘On Route in South Africa’, 2004
The surrounding areas
The Greater Knysna area consists of Sedgefield, Brenton on Sea, Buffalo Bay, Noetzie, and Rheenendal.
Sedgefield
An ideal family destination to relax and enjoy the great outdoors, this little village nestles in the heart of the Lakes district. With its surrounding lakes, lagoon and five splendid beaches, it is no wonder Sedgefield offers more than the average range of outdoor activities.
This picturesque village is a nature lover’s paradise with a pleasant, temperate climate, an abundance of natural forests, fynbos and wild flowers and a rich and varied bird life, including marine, estuarine and evergreen forest species.
Five spectacularly unspoilt beaches and lakes present a variety of water tricks – from simply splashing around, to excellent bass fishing, sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, rock & surf fishing, and sailing. Gericke’s Point on Swartvlei beach is the ideal spot for snorkelling, spearfishing, etc. with beautiful rock formations and pools. With good offshore winds, Sedgefield is undeniably a veritable paragliding hotspot, with no shortage of sites perfect for this activity along the adjacent coast.
Bordering the Goukamma Nature Reserve, it boasts an abundance of fascinating fauna & flora hidden in a water network and indigenous forest. If you are a keen birder then you have just discovered paradise! Boasting a few marine protected areas and nature reserves it is undeniably a hotspot for bird lovers.
Life in Sedgefield happens at its own pace and you can meander around quaint coffee shops, follow the Tortoise Craft Meander or join in on the village’s national hobby – the art of mosaic. Saturday is market day and you can buy organic produce from local farmers at the Wild Oats Farmers Market, or arts and crafts from the numerous artists that settled in the area, next door at the Scarab Craft Market. Other activities on offer include hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, moonlight meanders on the beach and mashie golf.
Come and explore Sedgefield, its friendly people and the exquisite countryside around it. It is bound to have a few pleasant surprises in store for you!
Brenton on Sea
Home of the famous Brenton Blue butterfly, Brenton on Sea nestles between the Indian Ocean and the hills of Knysna’s Western Head. The golden sands of its pristine beach are perfect for walking, sunbathing and fishing. From the cliff top paths, schools of dolphins and whales may be easily spotted. Paragliding is a popular sport in the area and quad bikers are catered for on the ridge of the Western Head. Brenton on Lake offers jetties for boat or canoe launches and there are several restaurants within the Brenton / Belvidere area.
Rheenendal
The beautiful Rheenendal country district, ten kilometres west of Knysna is home to many prominent artists and crafters. Take time to explore the attractions along the Rheenendal Ramble, where you will come across ceramicists, painters, woodcarvers, bowl turners, screen printers, plant nurseries, tea gardens and restaurants. Explore the wonders of the indigenous forests or hike the many historical trails in the area – you might even catch a glimpse of the elusive Knysna forest elephants! A visit to the old goldmine at Millwood to discover the history around the area’s gold rush, and have some refreshments at the Millwood Coffee Shop in between the memories of a time gone by.
Buffalo Bay
Buffalo Bay, a delightful holiday hamlet, is situated midway between Sedgefield and Knysna. With fine, sandy beaches stretching all the way to Brenton on Sea, it offers beautiful views and breathtaking sunsets.
It boasts a fantastic family beach with safe swimming and excellent surfing conditions perfect for long walks, beach fishing, whale and dolphin spotting and includes a “wild side” for brave surfers. The more adventurous can saddle up for an exhilarating horse ride through the surf.
Noetzie
Between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay in a pristine cove, is Noetzie, a small sheltered bay bordering on the Sinclair Nature Reserve. Otters, bushbuck, whales, dolphins and numerous bird species inhabit the area. The unspoilt estuary provides wonderful swimming, fishing and the more adventurous can canoe up the river and look for fish eagles or the Knysna Turaco. Noetzie also has a number of unique castles complete with turrets and battlements, which are private homes or guest houses. All of them have spectacular views of the Noetzie River, the Sinclair Nature reserve and the Indian Ocean.
Courtesy Knysna Tourism – www.visitknysna.co.za
