The heart of the breathtaking Garden Route, Knysna is set on a large lagoon surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes including lakes, rivers, mountains, beaches and forests. This beautiful town is a holiday playground for families who visit to enjoy adventure activities along the glorious coastline.
With its numerous shops, coffee bars, restaurants and choice of accommodation, Knysna’s waterfront is just as exciting, with a lively nightlife and various shops to explore. Knysna is also an ideal base from which to explore nearby nature reserves and renowned Garden Route golf courses.
Why we love Knysna holidays
- The surrounding landscapes are diverse and play host to a variety of adventure sports.
- Explore the endless lakes, rivers and estuaries in the Garden Route National Park.
- View wildlife, including elephants in several nearby reserves and parks.
- Discover the Knysna Heads, a geological wonder made up of two vast, colourful cliffs at the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon.
- Attend the annual Knysna Oyster Festival and sample some of the town’s famous oysters.
Families love coming to Knysna on holiday, as do couples looking for a relaxing romantic getaway. Friends come to enjoy a variety of adventure sports, including kite surfing, mountain biking, sandboarding, scuba diving, paragliding and skydiving. Enjoy the best of the Garden Route on a Thompsons Holidays Knysna travel package in 2025. Book today.
Explore South Africa's other sleepy coastal towns with Thompsons Holidays. We've got Plettenberg Bay holiday packages, Hermanus holiday packages, Jeffreys Bay holiday packages and Paternoster holiday packages.
Families love coming to Knysna on holiday, as do couples looking for a relaxing romantic break. Friends come to enjoy a variety of adventure sports, including kite surfing, mountain biking, sandboarding, scuba diving, paragliding and skydiving. Enjoy the best of the Garden Route on a holiday package.
Knysna is a great place for a holiday. It’s a unique town that nestles on the banks of the magnificent Knysna Lagoon and offers so many things to do for the whole family, from adventure activities to water sports, exploring on a hike, by scooter or mountain bike, going on safari to see a wide selection of wild animals, swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. No wonder Knysna is such a popular holiday destination.
Things to do in Knysna
- Enjoy snorkelling along the coast.
- Go scuba diving at Knysna Heads.
- Enjoy canoeing, waterskiing, stand up paddling and numerous other water sports.
- Go on safari in Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, in nearby The Crags.
- Go mountain biking through the fynbos.
- Cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve.
- Enjoy canoe water polo in the Knysna estuary.
- Go whale watching past the Heads.
- Cruise on the lagoon to see dolphins frolicking in the waves.
- Sample delicious Knysna oysters.
- Visit the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary.
- Take a trip on a RIB (rigid-inflatable boat) on the Knysna Lagoon.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Knysna in the Garden Route. Book your activities ahead or find things to do while you’re there. Enjoy it all on a Knysna holiday package.
When is the best time to visit?   Â
- Knysna is a year-round destination. It’s popular during school holidays and can be crowded.
- If you are interested in whale watching, the best time to visit Knysna is between July and December.
- The annual 10-day Knysna Oyster Festival takes place in the winter.
Getting there & getting around   Â
- Knysna is in the heart of the Garden Route, which is a fantastic self-drive route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (or vice versa).
- Alternatively, you can fly to George Airport and hire a car from there. Flight duration from Johannesburg to George: 1 hour, 50 minutes. From Cape Town: 50 minutes.
- Non-stop drive duration from Cape Town to Knysna: 6 hours (488km) via N2.
- Knysna town is easy to get around on foot, bicycle or by taxi. You will need a vehicle to explore further afield.
- Wherever possible, buy local food and souvenirs and support local artisans.
- Avoid single-use plastic; instead, take fabric shopping bags with you.
- Be safety conscious: don’t display cash or valuables.
- Leave expensive jewellery and watches at home.
- Contact the Thompsons Holidays 24-hour care line to assist.
- With Knysna's moderately hot summers and mild to chilly winters, dress accordingly and remember that the evenings are much cooler.
- Comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses are essential in summer.
- Binoculars.
- Wherever possible, buy local food and souvenirs and support local artisans.
- Avoid single-use plastic; rather take fabric shopping bags with you and use refillable water bottles (when local drinking water is available).
