ACTIVITIES

Tonquani is a 5 Star luxury establishment providing a tranquil environment of lush gardens complete with a Health & Vitality Studio. Our specialised & exclusive Health Retreats are designed to revitalise you, optimise well-being & support a healthier way of living. Tonquani will always ensure that you can spoil your parents on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or for their birthdays with specially designed voucher specials at our Spa, as well as very affordable accommodation specials. Perfect to show your appreciation for all they have done for you, or even just to spoil them with a few days well deserved break.

Activities in & around Knysna:

Knysna has become known as the Adventure centre of the Garden Route and South Africa for that matter. There are many adrenalin pumping activities such as abseiling, bungee jumping, quad biking, scuba diving, creeking and paragliding, as well as paintballing for those that would love to “settle a score”. Sailing, from sailboards to large ocean going yachts, is another popular activity and sea kayaking through the Heads into the open sea presents a good challenge to the more adventurous. Visitors can hire boats, kayaks and canoes from various local boating companies. Knysna Lagoon is actually an estuary, providing valuable nutrients to the ecology of the coastline. Fishing, both estuarine and deep sea, is very popular. Fishing licenses are required and are easily obtainable at the local post office.

The Featherbed Company

The Featherbed Company gives visitors to the Garden Route 'an unforgettable experience on the Knysna Lagoon'. The Lagoon, more accurately defined as an estuary, has five fresh water rivers flowing in from the surrounding Outeniqua Mountains meeting with the surge of sea water from the Indian Ocean through the mighty headlands – known as the 'Knysna Heads' - the grand sandstone cliffs towering above the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon. The Featherbed Nature Reserve is situated on the Western Head in Knysna, and is the premier eco-experience on the Garden Route. Take a ferry trip to the Featherbed private Nature Reserve, do a spectacular tractor trip up the Western Heads and walk back through the caves and along a beach to the restaurant for a delicious lunch under the Milkwood trees. A definite must experience while visiting Knysna.

Monkeyland

Monkeyland is the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary, and one of it aims is to create awareness about the plight of primates, and to show that with a greater understanding of our primate cousins, that we can all live in harmony. Monkeyland has captured the hearts of visitors in its efforts to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. On the guided safaris you can expect to see a variety of primates, ranging from the Gibbons of Asia to the Lemurs of Madagascar. The knowledgeable rangers will tell you all about these fascinating mammals as you encounter them roaming free in the forest. They also point out, identify and explain the many wonders of life in the forest, from the rich diversity of bird life to the intricate workings of the forest itself. Monkeyland has a restaurant with a variety of light meals to choose from.

Knysna Elephant Park

The Knysna Elephant Park aims to provide the best home possible to elephants in need of one. They have created a free-range controlled environment, which means that the elephants get to walk and browse in the fields as they would do in the wild. Your experience of the elephants will therefore be as natural as possible. The Daily Tour provides a shorter experience of meeting, feeding and interacting with the gentle giants. For longer experiences,they offer Elephant Back Rides or Walks, while the Exclusive Sunrise/Sunset Safari and Sundowners provide more private and intimate encounters. The Restaurant operates independently, and is open to Breakfast, Lunch & Tea.

Restaurants

Knysna's restaurants range from the informal Old Goal, a former jail, to the upmarket Phantom Forest, nominated as one of South Africa's top 100 restaurants by the Food and Wine Society of South Africa in 2001. For a delectable lunch try 34 degrees South Restaurant and Delicatessen on the waterfront in Knysna for fresh oysters, sushi, and just about anything you care to eat or buy. If you are looking for an unusual setting, there is also a luxury floating restaurant in Knysna. Wine and dine your way through a formidable array of fine restaurants, seafood taverns, pubs, coffee shops and eateries.

Millwood House Museum

The Millwood House Museum is a trim little house which was built from yellow wood and originally stood in the nearby settlement of Millwood where gold was discovered in 1876. This house was taken down and re-erected in Knysna, and is now a national monument, a treasure trove of artifacts which comprise of belongings of George Rex the town’s founder, and to the gold mining operations in Millwood. There are also paintings, print material and photographs pertaining to the history of the township of Knysna.

History

A tit-bit of History The earliest maps call the area Noetziekamma.(Khoi-san word for dark water possibly referring to the tannins leaching into the river from indigenous forested banks ). The oldest castle, at the western end of the main beach, was built as a holiday house by Herbert Stephen Henderson in 1932 out of the natural stone found at Noetzie. The story goes that he had no intention of building a "castle", but had simply used the local stone for practical reasons, when Rex Metelerkamp, who was watching the building process, jokingly said to him: “All you need to do is to add a few turrets and you’ll have a castle”. And he did. That set the trend. Noetzie beach and lagoon has been an annual holiday site for the locals for a very long time, offering spectacular scenery, a variety of great activities such as hiking, fishing, whale watching, forest picnics, walking trails and swimming in fantastic surroundings. Otters, bushbuck, whales, dolphins and numerous bird species inhabit the area.

The John Benn

The John Benn, one of the best floating restaurants in Knysna, is a double-decker floating restaurant which offers daily Lagoon cruises to the Knysna Heads, a memorable family activity on the Knysna Lagoon. Sundownder cruises with fresh Knysna oysters and local beer or sparkling wine are on offer. There are two full bars on the upper and lower decks. The catamaran yacht, 'Heads Explorer', is for the adventurous and romantic, creating another unforgettable experience, sailing on the Knysna Lagoon to the Heads and beyond (ocean conditions permitting). View dolphins, seals, birds and in season, whales. Sunset cruises are accompanied by a delicious sundowner / anti-pasta platter and a choice of wine. Optional extra oysters available on request – cash bar available. The Paddle Cruiser is South Africa's only paddle-driven vessel, offering a unique and unforgettable experience on the Knysna Lagoon. Enjoy a fine dining experience in their 4 star restaurant.

Whale watching & unspoiled beaches

During winter and spring, one can expect to have whales and dolphins for company whilst walking on the beaches. You are within easy reach of beautiful, unspoiled beaches, where the fishing is great, the scenery often spectacular and the walking ideal with miles of unbroken sand rock pools, rugged cliffs and headlands. Inland the mountains bordering the coastal plain offer a multitude of scenic and impressive drives. Swimming beaches include Brenton-on-Sea, Leisure Isle (side facing the Heads), Buffalo Bay and Noetzie.

Golf Courses

The Garden Route offers a superb range of popular Golf Courses situated between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay to choose from. GOOSE VALLEY GOLF COURSE - PLETTENBERG BAY 25 min drive PLETTENBERG BAY COUNTRY CLUB 25 min drive KNYSNA GOLF CLUB 2 min drive PEZULA CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE - KNYSNA 10 min drive SIMOLA GOLF COURSE - KNYSNA 15 min drive FANCOURT - BRAMBLE HILL GOLF COURSE - GEORGE 1hr 15 min drive FANCOURT - LINKS GOLF COURSE - GEORGE 1hr 15 Min drive MOSSEL BAY GOLF COURSE 1hr 30 min drive SPARREBOSCH GOLF COURSE - KNYSNA 10 min drive

Knysna Lagoon

Knysna Lagoon is a protected Marine Reserve, a 17 square kilometer expanse of water fed by river and sea. Guarding the entrance to the lagoon are two large sandstone cliffs called The Heads, where the sea enters the lagoon. Fishing, boating, bait collecting and watersport activities are regulated by National Parks Board and help to protect and create a sanctuary for the endangered Seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) which breeds in the estuary, as well as the rare Pansy shell found along the flat sand banks. The Lagoon is ideal for swimming and there are many excellent Scuba-diving and snorkeling spots.

Indigenous Timber Furniture

Knysna is famous for its indigenous timber furniture, and for something different in wood, take a short drive to Timber Village in Welbedacht Lane. Woodmill Lane has well known shops such as Knysna Forest Furniture, Fechters and Kluyts. Some interesting information on the Kluyts history, is that Kluyts and Co started in 1962, and their trademark is to use age-old techniques of cabinet making, with each piece individually hand assembled and finished ensuring production of quality crafted furniture. “Continuing the exacting trade, all cabinet makers undergo an apprenticeship program, including in-house training under the watchful eye of Mr Kluyts himself”!

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