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Cape Town was the stage on which the world focused. Any visit to South Africa should include a visit to Cape Town, especially now, and especially for the Dutch. And then, after exploring all the natural beauty and surroundings Cape Town has to offer the logical next stop will be the Garden Route. You got it, that’s where the Orange Lion Guest Suite comes in!
Looking forward to hearing from all the Dutch fans! Cape Town may be the Mother City, but Knysna is the place to be!
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
