Knysna: A Coastal Paradise
Tourism In The Town Of Knysna
Located in South Africa's Western Cape Province, Knysna is a beautiful town built on the shores of an estuary that is fed by the Knysna River. The town itself is surrounded by rainforest and hilly terrain, and to the north the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains can be seen in the distance. It is a popular tourist destination, making it easy to find a Knysna hotel on the waterfront with spectacular views. Knysna also enjoys year round warm weather which has helped to create a large community of expatriates from England and Europe.
Because of the large community of expatriates, Knysna is home to a number of full sized, well maintained gold courses- some of them being world famous. A few of the golf courses actually maintain five star hotels right on the property. As mentioned, Knysna is located on the banks of an estuary, but part of that is more commonly referred to as the Knysna Lagoon. The Lagoon is a large, beautiful, deep body of warm, calm water. It is available for fishing and swimming. There are also tour companies that provide cruises around the Lagoon, showing off the two huge sandstone cliffs that form what is called 'The Heads' which mark the exit to the ocean.
The town is also famous for the Knysna Forest Elephants, a dozen of which live in the Elephant Park just outside of the city. The park offers an up close and personal experience with the elephants, even providing a hotel on the premises for visitors to stay in overnight near the animals. There is also a range of tours available. On these tours, tourists will be taken on "tuk-tuks" around the town, to The Heads to view the scenery from high above, and then down through Leisure Island. Some of the tours offer stops at cafes and restaurants along the way.
The Featherbed Nature Reserve is for visitors who would like to experience the majesty of an untouched, preserved area of Africa. Mainly run by a private company, the Reserve offers cruises on the Lagoon, a hotel and restaurant, as well as guided tours through the Reserve along the Western Head. Access is strictly controlled and limited, so only a certain number of visitors are allowed in and only when accompanied by a guide.
Just a short drive outside of Knysna are the Cango Caves. These caves stretch for miles underneath of the Swartberg Mountains. At over twenty million years old, they contain an amazing series of naturally formed wonders. Multilingual guides take visitors on tours that can run from one to two hours in length.
For those who want to get away from their Knysna hotel rooms for a while, Noetzie offers a change of pace. This is an area of pure natural beauty that is speckled with ancient looking castles. The castles are simply eccentric summer homes, but the rest of the area is a picture of beauty. It contains a beach and offers the opportunity for quiet bird watching.
Knysna is a warm, welcoming town with a host of activities. They even hold events every year, like the Oyster picking festival. It is a living community that still respects the natural beauty of Africa. It is easy to find a hotel room on the water, and small enough to be able to reach most of the major attractions quickly and easily. For those wishing to stay at a scenic hotel, Knysna is the place to be!
Knysna has many hotel options available to accommodate everyone. Some hotels options are situated near the Knysna Lagoon, while other are in the spectacular forest nearby. If you are looking for a scenic guest house or hotel Knysna is the place to look. Visit: Hotel Knysna [http://www.hotelknysna.co.za] for a complete listing of hotels in Knysna.
Located in South Africa's Western Cape Province, Knysna is a beautiful town built on the shores of an estuary that is fed by the Knysna River. The town itself is surrounded by rainforest and hilly terrain, and to the north the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains can be seen in the distance. It is a popular tourist destination, making it easy to find a Knysna hotel on the waterfront with spectacular views. Knysna also enjoys year round warm weather which has helped to create a large community of expatriates from England and Europe.
Because of the large community of expatriates, Knysna is home to a number of full sized, well maintained gold courses- some of them being world famous. A few of the golf courses actually maintain five star hotels right on the property. As mentioned, Knysna is located on the banks of an estuary, but part of that is more commonly referred to as the Knysna Lagoon. The Lagoon is a large, beautiful, deep body of warm, calm water. It is available for fishing and swimming. There are also tour companies that provide cruises around the Lagoon, showing off the two huge sandstone cliffs that form what is called 'The Heads' which mark the exit to the ocean.
The town is also famous for the Knysna Forest Elephants, a dozen of which live in the Elephant Park just outside of the city. The park offers an up close and personal experience with the elephants, even providing a hotel on the premises for visitors to stay in overnight near the animals. There is also a range of tours available. On these tours, tourists will be taken on "tuk-tuks" around the town, to The Heads to view the scenery from high above, and then down through Leisure Island. Some of the tours offer stops at cafes and restaurants along the way.
The Featherbed Nature Reserve is for visitors who would like to experience the majesty of an untouched, preserved area of Africa. Mainly run by a private company, the Reserve offers cruises on the Lagoon, a hotel and restaurant, as well as guided tours through the Reserve along the Western Head. Access is strictly controlled and limited, so only a certain number of visitors are allowed in and only when accompanied by a guide.
Just a short drive outside of Knysna are the Cango Caves. These caves stretch for miles underneath of the Swartberg Mountains. At over twenty million years old, they contain an amazing series of naturally formed wonders. Multilingual guides take visitors on tours that can run from one to two hours in length.
For those who want to get away from their Knysna hotel rooms for a while, Noetzie offers a change of pace. This is an area of pure natural beauty that is speckled with ancient looking castles. The castles are simply eccentric summer homes, but the rest of the area is a picture of beauty. It contains a beach and offers the opportunity for quiet bird watching.
Knysna is a warm, welcoming town with a host of activities. They even hold events every year, like the Oyster picking festival. It is a living community that still respects the natural beauty of Africa. It is easy to find a hotel room on the water, and small enough to be able to reach most of the major attractions quickly and easily. For those wishing to stay at a scenic hotel, Knysna is the place to be!
Knysna has many hotel options available to accommodate everyone. Some hotels options are situated near the Knysna Lagoon, while other are in the spectacular forest nearby. If you are looking for a scenic guest house or hotel Knysna is the place to look. Visit: Hotel Knysna [http://www.hotelknysna.co.za] for a complete listing of hotels in Knysna.
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