DAY TOUR
Best of Knysna Guided Tour
KNYSNA | BRENTON-ON-SEA | BELVIDERE
5 Departure Points
Depart from any of the following locations:
George, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay
All Entrance Fees and Lunch Included.
Our prices on this tour include all entrance fees to any excursion within the tour itinerary as well as a lunch.
Courteous Drivers and Guides
Spacious vehicles with qualified, competent and legal guides and drivers. View our fleet page for more info on our vehicle assets.
Knysna
Welcome to the most popular town in the Garden Route. Knysna is primarily built on the northern shore of a large warm-water estuary, known as the Knysna Lagoon, which is fed by the Knysna River. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between two large headlands. These are popularly known as “The Heads”, and have become infamous due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through their treacherous and unpredictable waters.
The origin of the name isn’t clear: various writers have suggested that it might have come from the Khoekhoe language term ‘xthys xna’ – which the writers believe could mean ‘place of timber’, ‘place of ferns’, or even ‘straight down’ (referring to the cliffs at The Heads).
Secure, peaceful and beautiful, Leisure Isle combines a fun day at the beach; go canoeing, kayaking, hire a speed boat or go fishing.
VIEW TOUR MAP DEPARTING FROM:
GEORGE | KNYSNA | MOSSEL BAY | OUDTSHOORN
DAY TOUR LOCATIONS
AT A GLANCE
FEATHERBED ECO EXPERIENCE
The Featherbed Nature Reserve, situated on the Western Head in Knysna, is the premier eco-experience on the Garden Route.
SEAHORSE AQUARIUM & THESEN ISLAND
The Knysna seahorse is truly a national treasure. It is South Africa’s country’s only endemic seahorse and is one of only two Endangered seahorse species in the world.
First Excursion:
Featherbed Eco Experience
The Knysna Heads are a pair of sandstone cliffs that separate the Knysna Lagoon from the sea beyond; a famous landmark along the renowned Garden Route. The eastern head is easily accessible by car and has many spectacular viewpoints overlooking the channel, Indian Ocean, the Knysna Lagoon and estuary, and the Outeniqua Mountains.
“Wow, what a superb experience! With a nature reserve guide with us throughout our visit, this was one of the highlights of our tour. Taken by boat to the reserve, we then had great fun travelling by trailer to the top of the hill, followed by a fairly easy walk back down. The views were breathtaking and the guides were very helpful and knowledgeable – they obviously love the place, and quite rightly so!”
Featherbed Eco Excursion
- Return ferry trip on the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head.
- 4×4 vehicle & trailer drive up the headland onto the Reserve, stopping at spectacular viewpoints.
- Specialist guide giving information on history, fauna & flora.
- Optional guided 2.2km walk through coastal forest and fynbos into ancient sea caves.
- World renowned buffet lunch at an outdoor restaurant setting under a canopy of Milkwood trees.
Second Excursion:
Seahorse Aquarium & Thesen Island
The Knysna seahorse or Cape seahorse is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is endemic to the south coast of South Africa, where it has been found in only three brackish water habitats: the estuary of the Keurbooms River in Plettenberg Bay, the Knysna Lagoon, and the estuarine portion of the Swartvlei system in Sedgefield. The limited range of this seahorse puts it at great risk of extinction.
World class shopping, arguably one of the most popular leisure and shopping destinations in the region, boasting a superior marina, a base for luxury yachts and Knysna’s gateway for cruises and luxury charters voyaging onto the pristine lagoon. Both the Waterfront and Thesen Island will have you overwhelmed for choice of bars and restaurants. Enjoy a sundowner and reflect on a day well spent in magical Knysna.
Final Excursion:
Belvidere Estate & Brenton-On-Sea
BELVIDERE
Real estate agents describe Belvidere as a suburb of Knysna. In reality it is something of a quintessential English village on the west shores of the Knysna lagoon; a far cry from the modern Thesen Island that lies on the opposite bank.
The hamlet of Belvidere centres around the quaint Holy Trinity Church built by Thomas Duthie who settled on his farm Belvidere during his retirement in the mid 1800s. The incredibly pretty church is modelled on the Norman churches of the 11th and 12th centuries, built from local sandstone and timber, and consecrated in 1855 for Duthie’s wife, Caroline. It has but five rows of pews to each side, a little nave, and still holds weekly services. Across from the church is the village green, where Boxing Day cricket is a tradition.
BRENTON-ON-SEA
Lying on the other side of Knysna’s Western Head, nestled on the shores of the Indian Ocean in a quiet, lazy bay, residents describe Brenton on Sea’s beauty as the coast that Knysna doesn’t have, and in reality, Knysna lies on a lagoon, the rough seas making itself heard only at the Heads. The endangered Brenton Blue butterfly is responsible for large sects of land in the Brenton area remaining undeveloped.
The little community derives its name from the fragile free-flying butterfly, the Brenton blue, occurring only on the south-facing slopes of coastal fynbos at Brenton on Sea. Human disturbance in nearby Natures Valley led to the final disappearance of this beautiful specimen during the 1980s, only to re-emerge in 1991 in Brenton on Sea where the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve has been proclaimed.
Final Excursion:
Belvidere Estate & Brenton-On-Sea
BELVIDERE
Real estate agents describe Belvidere as a suburb of Knysna. In reality it is something of a quintessential English village on the west shores of the Knysna lagoon; a far cry from the modern Thesen Island that lies on the opposite bank.
The hamlet of Belvidere centres around the quaint Holy Trinity Church built by Thomas Duthie who settled on his farm Belvidere during his retirement in the mid 1800s. The incredibly pretty church is modelled on the Norman churches of the 11th and 12th centuries, built from local sandstone and timber, and consecrated in 1855 for Duthie’s wife, Caroline. It has but five rows of pews to each side, a little nave, and still holds weekly services. Across from the church is the village green, where Boxing Day cricket is a tradition.
BRENTON-ON-SEA
Lying on the other side of Knysna’s Western Head, nestled on the shores of the Indian Ocean in a quiet, lazy bay, residents describe Brenton on Sea’s beauty as the coast that Knysna doesn’t have, and in reality, Knysna lies on a lagoon, the rough seas making itself heard only at the Heads. The endangered Brenton Blue butterfly is responsible for large sects of land in the Brenton area remaining undeveloped.
The little community derives its name from the fragile free-flying butterfly, the Brenton blue, occurring only on the south-facing slopes of coastal fynbos at Brenton on Sea. Human disturbance in nearby Natures Valley led to the final disappearance of this beautiful specimen during the 1980s, only to re-emerge in 1991 in Brenton on Sea where the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve has been proclaimed.
Tour Additional Info
VALIDITY
- Rates are subject to availability on confirmation and are valid until 30 September 2020.
- Rates are subject to change due to activity operator price adjustments and volatile fuel price changes.
- Advertised vehicles are subject to availability.
RATES INCLUDE
- All toll fees included where applicable.
- Luggage trailers included upon request.
RATES EXCLUDE
- Porterage & Gratuity are not included in any fare.
- Waters are not included but can be supplied at an additional cost of
R12 per 330ml unit or R15 per 500ml unit. - Driver overnight fee may apply for long distance transfers. This will either be
for the client’s account or will be charged for separately. - Bar bill during lunch
ADDITIONAL
- A waiting fee will be raised at R 250 per hour/part thereof for deviation
from agreed departure time. This does not apply to delayed flights. - It is by law a requirement that all vehicles with guests on board have a
name list and detailed itinerary. - Full Day tours are strictly from 08:00 to 17:00 or 09:00 to 18:00.
- Half Day tours are strictly 5 hours – AM or PM.
Micele Febbraio
Tour Co-ordinator
Our dedicated consultant is ready to answer any questions or book this tour for you.
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