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The Knysna Lagoon facilitates a multitude of watersports and activities including waterskiing, tubing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing and swimming, as well as Yacht & Boat cruises. Go canoeing or learn how to ski, jetski, surf, bodysurf, windsurf, kitesurf, wakeboard, snorkel, scuba dive – you name it, Knysna has it!
On Leisure Isle itself, walking, running and cycling are very popular, especially in the early mornings and evenings and at low tide, when walking on the lagoon sand is an enjoyable and therapeutic experience. Romantic couples can take a sunset cruise while enjoying champagne & local oysters and the unbelievable beauty of Knysna. There are a number of cruises to choose from ranging from speed boat cruises, to the John Benn and other Ferries, Catamaran trips with Springtide Charters or on the Heads Explorer, or cruise in style on the Knysna Estuary on South Africa’s only paddle driven vessel, which also offers sumptuous Mediterranean cuisine with five star service to match. In the “heart of the Garden Route” Knysna is ideally situated to take advantage of the numerous other attractions for the Adventure Tourist, with varying degrees of adrenalin and bravery required. For the tamer adventurer air flips & horseriding are among the activities offered.
Scenic Flights Aerial whale and dolphin spotting is becoming increasingly popular. You could also do a low-level coastal flight from Plettenberg ay, entering the Knysna estuary through the Heads. Having traversed the estuary, you fly inland to explore huge tracts of indigenous forest. Paragliding For fun and excitement, paragliding takes some beating. It is easy to learn, with tutoring available from professionals for first timers, or you can opt for a tandem ride. Skydiving Tandem skydive over one of the most scenic drop zones in Africa, if not the world. Few experiences beat the thrill and adrenaline rush of human flight, especially during the 35 seconds of free fall!
Bridge jumping Experience the thrill of plummeting from a bridge and swinging with a rope attached to the structure of another, parallel bridge, like a pendulum. You are strapped into a harness and stringent safety regulations apply, so you can relax and enjoy the adrenaline rush. Bungy jumping For the even more adventurous, there is bungy jumping at Gouritz River Bridge and at the highest bungy jump in the world, the 216m-high Bloukrans Bridge which spans a gaping gorge. This activity is not for the faint-hearted, although the operators boast a 100% safety record! Abseiling The Knysna Heads on the Featherbed Nature Reserve is reputably one of the highest abseiling sites (121m) in the world or you could abseil the serene Kaaimans Gorge next to a magnificent waterfall. Not for the faint hearted, although no experience necessary. Qualified guides ensure high safety standards, enabling you to have exhilarating fun with a range of sites to jump from.
Shark Cage Diving More action for the adrenalin junkies! Shark cage diving is at Gansbaai or at Mosselbay, just 120km from Knysna, where you will be taken out on a 15 metre sailing catamaran, which provides an ideal work platform for the four man cages used to view the sharks. Canopy Tours This concept originated in Costa Rica in order to research the undiscovered forest canopy ecosystem. Now a breathtaking form of eco-tourism, the canopy tour involves traversing from one platform to another, mostly located in giant yellowwood trees, along a steel cable suspended up to 30m above the forest floor allowing people to experience a previously inaccessible natural environment. The scenery and bird life is spectatcular, and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology. Kloofing For a truly adventurous experience, Wilderness offers breathtaking trails which include swimming through a stunning gorge, abseiling through waterfalls, walking, swimming, boulder hopping and optional cliff – jumping Canoeing In addition to the Knysna, Goukamma, Swartvlei and Keurbooms Rivers, there are magnificent canoe trails through indigenous forests and the Lakes at Wilderness and Sedgfield, not to mention the numerous other trails on some of the other off the beaten track rivers. Many waterways in the area are restricted to non -motorized craft, which ensures peaceful paddling conditions Sea kayaking Kayak with an experienced guide who will introduce you to the wonderful marine life in the Bay. This amazing experience allows you to encounter dolphins, often right next to you, kayak with the seals at the seal colony at Robberg Nature Reserve, and view the whales from your kayak. Private tours available.
Hiking & Mountainbiking in Knysna Knysna offers various magnificent hiking & biking trails. National Parks, Nature Reserves, multiple day hikes and smaller one day walks are all available in awe-inspiring natural beauty, with mountains, forests, streams and beaches. If you seek adrenalin or just the tranquility of the surroundings, then thre is no better place to be than the “Garden of Eden” as the region is known. Walks range from strolls to treks (1km – 21km) There are Forest Walks at Harkerville, halfway between Knysna & Plett, and at nearby Rheenendal , as well as Gouna & Diep Walle, the mecca of the Knysna Forests. Choose from any of these magnificent walks, hikes & mountain bike trails:
The forests are home to the once great herds of Knysna Elephants, believed at one time to be extinct. However recent sightings and tests have proved that there are in fact at least five of these elephants still around today Mountain biking The Harkerville Cycle Routes, situated between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay offer four distinctly colour coded routes (12km, 14km, 15km & 24km) and have been laid through indigenous forest, tree plantations and coastal fynbos. Petrus-se-brand cycle route from Diepwalle to the Garden of Eden is 24 km, riding beneath the cool depths of the forest canopy, and bright sunshine. The Homtini Cycle Route named after the Khoi word meaning ‘difficult passage’ is a 19km circular route through high forest and rapid descents, offering a tough challenge, but rewarding with spectacular views. The longer distance Knysna Oyster Route is a 35km ride through private tree plantations and SAFCOL owned land.
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