Knysna

Knysna is the jewel of the Garden Route, set on a calm lagoon framed by The Heads and ancient forests. Founded in the early 1800s by George Rex—rumoured to be an exiled royal—it later saw South Africa’s first gold rush. Today, it’s a haven for nature lovers, with rare species like the Knysna seahorse and forests alive with the call of the Knysna turaco. Shipwrecks, legends, and the elusive forest elephant add mystery to a town where beauty, history, and wilderness meet.