Knysna Heads

The mouth of the Knysna Estuary is a narrow channel, which is difficult to navigate for those not familiar with it. Provided that an experienced skipper is at the helm, the channel is however easily handled by small and medium-sized craft - including sailing boats. The channel is often dramatically depicted framed by two rocky promontories, known as The Heads or The Knysna Heads.

The eastern head is overrun by suburban development. An addition to the eastern head is a golf course, which has been developed at the top of the ridge line and slightly east from the channel. It provides glorious ocean views and is very highly rated.

The western head falls within the privately owned Featherbed Nature Reserve. It is covered with indigenous vegetation and conserved by the proprietors. The Nature Reserve gets its name from the safe anchorage it provided to 18th century wooden sailing ships.The ships had to navigate the treacherous channel to enter the Estuary. The small sheltered cove, featuring a sandy bottom, just past the channel and at the inland side of the western head, was viewed as a 'feather bed' on which the battered ships could safely come to rest.

Tours that include Knysna Heads

Knysna Heads attractions

Knysna

The town of Knysna is at the heart of the popular Garden Route. There are a host of activities to engage in and attractions to explore. In our opinion the top ones are exploring the surrounding forests and embarking on an excursion to the Featherbed Nature Reserve.

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

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.

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.

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".

Robberg Nature Reserve

The Robberg Peninsula, which forms the western shoreline of Plettenberg Bay, is managed as a small nature reserve. The northern shore of the Peninsula consists mainly of steep mountain slopes and cliffs, below which a large seal colony resides. On the southern side it is easier to get close to sea level and to two pristine sandy beaches that can be found here.