Africa Deluxe Tours Knysna Estuary & western Knysna Head

Knysna

Knysna (pronounced "Nize-na") on South Africa's popular Garden Route, used to be a remote logging town in the middle of a vast forest. The estuary, which looks like a lake, provided ocean access to sailing ships through a treacherous channel framed by two rocky promontories known as the Knysna Heads. Huge logging operations by 18th century European settlers caused widespread deforestation before a stop was put to the madness. While vast sections of the forests are lost, beautiful indigenous forests are still found in the vicinity of Knysna.

There are a host of activities to engage in, and attractions to explore, in and around Knysna. In our opinion the top ones are exploring the surrounding forests and embarking on an excursion to the Featherbed Nature Reserve.

The Knysna Waterfront is located on the shore of the Knysna Estuary and doubles as a small harbour for ferries, which operate in the Estuary and offer trips. The smallish Waterfront offers restaurants and bars. Other tenants include local tour operators and fashion boutiques.

Golfers have the opportunity to play on some of the most spectacular golf courses you will find anywhere. Of these, the Pezula Championship Golf course is probably the best. .

Tours that include Knysna

Table Mountain and The Twelve Apostles

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Private guided tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R63,000 per person sharing - for group between 2 and 2. (±US$ 4,542 )
R40,800 per person sharing - for group between 4 and 6. (±US$ 2,941 )
R33,500 per person sharing - for group between 7 and 14. (±US$ 2,415 )
R15,500 single supplement (±US$ 1,117 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


Discover the main things to do, see and experience in South Africa, including beautiful winelands, majestic mountain ranges, rolling wheat and sugarcane fields, caves, beaches and rocky shorelines, forests and pristine wilderness areas. Explore by game drive vehicle, hike in beautiful environs and enjoy our beloved country’s rich cultural diversity.

Highlights: Cape Town , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Oudtshoorn , Route 62 , Garden Route , Knysna , Oudtshoorn ostrich farms , Cango Caves , Sunshine Coast , Wild Coast , Transkei , KwaZulu-Natal , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , St. Lucia , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Panorama Route .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Private guided tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R57,500 per person sharing - for group between 2 and 2. (±US$ 4,146 )
R38,500 per person sharing - for group between 4 and 6. (±US$ 2,776 )
R30,700 per person sharing - for group between 7 and 14. (±US$ 2,213 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This private guided tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Knysna attractions

The Knysna Estuary and Heads.

Knysna Estuary

The Knysna Estuary is often referred to as the Knysna Lake. It is however an estuary and not a lake - even though it resembles a lake in appearance. Most tourists explore the estuary by ferry. A number of these rides are on offer. The most popular is the outing to the Featherbed Nature Reserve

The Heads Explorer sailboat between the Knysna Heads, in the mouth of the Knysna Estaury.

Knysna Heads

The mouth of the Knysna Estuary is a narrow channel leading to the Indian Ocean. The channel is often dramatically depicted framed by two huge rocky promontories, known as The Knysna Heads. The Eastern Head is covered by residential development and the Western Head belongs to the Featherbed Nature Reserve.

At the Featherbed Nature Reserve in Knysna visitors get to hike from the top of the Western Head down to, and along, the beautiful Knysna Estuary.

Featherbed Nature Reserve

The mouth of the Knysna Estuary is a narrow channel, which is difficult to navigate for those not familiar with it. The channel is often dramatically depicted framed by two huge rocky promontories, known as The Knysna Heads. The Featherbed Nature Reserve is situated on the Western Head.

On of three pedestrian suspension bridges at Storms River Mouth on South Africa's Garden Route.

Garden Route

The Garden Route is a tourism paradise combining excellent infrastructure with scenic natural attractions. It comprises the narrow coastal belt on South Africa's south coast, stretching from the Tsitsikamma Forest in the east ±200 km to Mossel Bay in the west. It is named after the region's lush vegetation and mountainous scenery.

A tourist glides along a zip-line through the Tsitsikamma forest canopy.

Tsitsikamma

The Tsitsikamma National Park is a section of the broader Garden Route National Park, a coastal Nature Reserve that stretches eastwards for 80 kilometers from Natures valley. It is known for its indigenous forests, mountains and rugged coastline. The Park offers a number of accommodation facilities, walking trails and a diversity of adventure activities.

Part of the Keurbooms River, near to the river mouth at Plettenberg Bay.

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay is situated on the shore of an impressive bay of the same name. The town is located ±33 km east of Knysna on South Africa's Garden Route. The Portuguese explorers who first set eyes on the bay named it "Bahia Formosa", the "Beautiful Bay".