{"id":4007,"date":"2026-04-08T10:42:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/explore-south-africa\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:15:35","slug":"explore-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/explore-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The beautiful thing about a holiday is having the time to discover new things. Over the past few years, we have gotten to know many places and activities around Knysna and further afield in South Africa that made our trips extra special. <\/p>

On this page, we share a selection of those favorites: walks through the indigenous forest, viewpoints along the coast, lovely lunch spots, and day trips a bit further away. It is not a complete guide, but a personal collection of experiences that have stayed with us and that we believe are worth experiencing for yourself. <\/p>

See this overview primarily as a source of inspiration. Let yourself be surprised, choose what suits you, and use our tips as a starting point to make your own discoveries. Around Knysna \u2013 and in the rest of South Africa \u2013 so many other beautiful places are waiting. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Nature<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Knysna is located in the middle of a very diverse piece of nature: between the Indian Ocean, the lagoon, and the ancient indigenous Knysna Forest. Along the Knysna Lagoon<\/strong>, you can go sailing, kayaking, or take a boat trip and spot birds, dolphins, and sometimes even seals along the way. <\/p>

In the Knysna Forest, you can walk and cycle under centuries-old yellowwood trees, past streams and waterfalls, with a chance to see bushbuck, monkeys, and many different bird species. Well-known spots such as Jubilee Creek, Drupkelders<\/strong>, and the Garden of Eden<\/strong> are all within a short drive and truly feel like a green fairytale forest. <\/p>

On the coast, you will find wide beaches like Buffalo Bay<\/strong> and Brenton-on-Sea<\/strong>, where you can swim, surf, or take long beach walks with views of the sometimes rugged ocean. A little further along, near Plettenberg Bay, lies Robberg Nature Reserve<\/strong>: a narrow peninsula with spectacular rocks, fynbos, seabirds, and a large seal colony, where you can look out over the ocean along beautiful hiking trails. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Animals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Around Knysna and along the Garden Route, elephants are never far away. In the green hills between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, a small, shy population of indigenous forest elephants still lives: you rarely see them, but their presence makes the area extra special. In various nearby reserves and parks, you can view these (and other) impressive animals. <\/p>

About a forty-five-minute drive from Knysna, near Plettenberg Bay, is the Elephant Sanctuary<\/strong>, where you can learn more about care and conservation during a guided visit and experience elephants from very close by. These elephants are temporarily sheltered here to be relocated.

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve<\/strong> near George is well worth a visit to spot the Big 5. During guided game drives, you can see the animals up close in a beautiful hilly landscape. The rangers share a lot about the behavior, habitat, and protection of these animals along the way, making it feel like a truly compact safari experience. <\/p>

Addo Elephant National Park<\/strong>, about a three-hour drive from Knysna, is one of the best places in South Africa to see large herds of elephants in complete freedom. Hundreds of elephants live here together with buffalo and antelope, among others, and you can drive your own car past watering holes and open plains where entire families can often be seen at once. <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Food & Drink<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In and around Knysna, there are plenty of cozy places to settle down for coffee, lunch, or a glass of wine. From Leisure Isle, our favorites are all within easy reach \u2013 plus one extra gem a bit further into the mountains. <\/p>

On the edge of the lagoon, East Head Caf\u00e9<\/strong> is one of our regular spots: here you sit almost with your feet in the water, overlooking the impressive Heads and the boats sailing in and out of the lagoon. For a relaxed lunch with a sea view, Butterfly Blu<\/strong> is highly recommended; perched on the cliff, you can enjoy the sound of the waves and the vast coastline. <\/p>

Close to home, on Leisure Isle itself, we love to drink coffee at Coffee Craft<\/strong>, a small, friendly place where you can just pull up a chair after a morning walk along the lagoon. In the center of Knysna, Salt & Petal<\/strong> and Coffee Caf\u00e9<\/strong> are great stops for good coffee, a treat on the side, and a bit of local atmosphere among the shops and the marina. <\/p>

About an hour’s drive from Knysna lies Braemons,<\/strong> tucked away among the vines. Here, you share various small dishes at large tables around lunchtime, with views over the vineyards. It feels a bit like picnicking in a vineyard, but with beautiful plates, good wine, and all the time in the world to enjoy. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Garden Route<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

From our Villa, the entire Garden Route is literally at your feet. Every direction you drive takes you past new landscapes: from rugged coasts and quiet lagoons to vineyards, mountain passes, and the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo. <\/p>

If you drive east, you’ll soon be in Plettenberg Bay and Nature\u2019s Valley, with long beaches, the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve, and opportunities to spot dolphins, seals, or even whales in season. A little further are Tsitsikamma and Storms River, where suspension bridges, cliffs, and green forests invite you to beautiful walks and adventurous activities. <\/p>

If you go west, you’ll pass Wilderness with its lakes, rivers, long beach, and wonderful hiking and kayaking routes through the Garden Route National Park. If you drive inland over the Outeniqua Pass, a completely different landscape awaits at Oudtshoorn with ostrich farms and the impressive Cango Caves, a massive cave system full of rock formations. <\/p>

This way, you can choose a relaxed day trip or a mini-road trip from Knysna: discover a new place in the morning, stop somewhere for a walk or wine tasting in the afternoon, and come back home to Leisure Isle in the evening.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The beautiful thing about a holiday is having the time to discover new things. Over the past few years, we have gotten to know many places and activities around Knysna and further afield in South Africa that made our trips extra special. On this page, we share a selection of those favorites: walks through the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4007","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"depicter-thumbnail":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"ned273@gmail.com","author_link":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/author\/ned273gmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The beautiful thing about a holiday is having the time to discover new things. Over the past few years, we have gotten to know many places and activities around Knysna and further afield in South Africa that made our trips extra special. On this page, we share a selection of those favorites: walks through the…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4007"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4014,"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4007\/revisions\/4014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vakantie-villa-knysna.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}