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Beaches There are a number of beaches in the area, not all suitable for swimming. It is therefore advisable to seek advice in this regard before entering these waters. Knysna The Knysna Heads are ideal for snorkeling, but due to tidal currents it is dangerous to swim out into the channel between the Heads. Coney Glen on the Eastern Head is a popular picnic and fishing spot, while Bollard Bay, on Leisure Isle, is a perfect family beach with safe swimming and shallow waters. The Castles on the Beach at Noetzie are also a popular attraction, and although you have to negotiate roughly 100 stairs to get to the surf (and back) and swimming is not suitable, this is a stunning secluded beach Brenton on Sea Suitable for walking and sunbathing and a popular spot for paragliders Buffalo Bay Approximately 25km from Knysna, offers safe swimming and excellent surfing conditions. This is a magnificent beach, also ideal for walking & fishing. Goukamma Situated between Buffalo Bay & Sedgefield, Goukamma offers wonderful beaches, epic sand dunes, flowing river mouths and unspoilt coastal forests.
Sedgefield An outdoor paradise offering many activities in the shelter of it’s gigantic dunes – some of the tallest vegetated dunes in the world!. There are several excellent beaches: the river mouth, Myoli and Cola, Platbank (bordering Goukamma Nature Reserve) and Swartvlei, which curves towards the rocky promontory, Gericke’s Point, another beautiful beach to walk and a good surfing spot. Plettenberg Bay Experience the magic of Plettenberg Bay (35km from Knysna) famous for it’s world-renowned blue flag beach, and widely recognized as an outstanding whale and dolphin viewing area in South Africa. While the best time to spot Humpback & Southern Right Whales is between June and October, Brydes Whales, seals & dolphins are resident in the bay all year round. Ocean Safaris and Ocean Blue are two highly recommended operators ………… and as always, we can either make reservations for you, plan your day, or take you on the day trip The Wedge & Lookout Beaches in Plettenberg Bay are also good surfing spots Visit Robberg Nature Reserve and enjoy an easy walk, or a more adventurous climb to The Point – whatever suits your mood and energy levels, taking in the awesome views of Plettenberg Bay and the Indian Ocean as well as shore based whale (in season), seal & dolphin watching.
Wildlife Game Reserves There are a number of well stocked private Game Reserves along the Garden Route, offering an alternative to the full traditional South African Game Reserve experience such as the world renowned Kruger National Park. Get up close with a knowledgeable guide on a 2 hour game drive or horse safari through one of the game reserves with over 30 species of game, 150 species of birds and more than 800 animals on view. 1, 2 or 3 day portered trails on foot, horseback or by mountain bike also available. Knysna Elephant Park This is home to the world’s Southernmost elephants. The Knysna elephants live in a controlled but free range environment. Not to be compared to the experiences of the Game Parks, this is an up close & personal experience with these gentle giants, who without such intervention, would not have survived. Aside from the experience with the animals themselves when visiting the Elephant Park, there is a fascinating and moving presentation, well worth attending. Well informed guides and caretakers of the elephants give you an insight into the sad and mystical history, as well as the Matriarchal way of life of these close families. The Elephant Sanctuary at Plettenberg Bay offers similar, yet different experiences with the Elephants Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve Situated on the south facing slopes of coastal fynbos at Brenton on Sea, this is home to the world-famous, very rare Brenton Blue Butterflies, which can be seen from late October to December, and then again from February to March. Monkeyland A popular outing for children, although certainly not limited as such. Monkeyland is the world’s first free–roaming, multi species primate sanctuary, providing ex-captive primates with a healthier, more natural life. Around 400 apes, monkeys and lemurs live at Monkeyland, including gibbons, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, a howler monkey, miniature monkeys, vervets, spectacled langurs and three species lemur. Birds of Eden This sanctuary is the largest free – flight aviary in the world. The aviary’s highest point is about 50m since the terrain includes a deep gorge with a waterfall, thus allowing ample flying space for it’s winged inhabitants. It is home to over 2000 birds of around 150 species. Also living at Birds of Eden are some of the miniature primates who are too small for it’s sister sanctuary Monkeyland
Birding This area has a wealth of bird life, and is home to some of the rarest and most beautiful birds you will ever see. Visit bird watching hotspots such Pledge Nature Reserve in Knysna and Goukamma Nature Reserve at Buffalo Bay which region is a good place to see waterbirds, the commoner ones being the Egyptian goose, yellowbill duck, black-backed gull, blacksmith & crowned plovers and Cape & water dikkops as well as three species of kingfisher (pied, giant & brown hooded) and the black Cape raven. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded, with greater double-collared sunbirds, red-winged starlings & Cape canaries to be seen in the bush. Wooded urban areas attract many fruit eaters such as the elusive Knysna Loerie, the Knysna warbler and Knysna Woodpecker as well as migrants such as cuckoos (including the emerald cuckoo & piet-my-vrou) The famous indigenous Afro-montane Knysna forests, such as those at Gouna or the Garden of Eden are good areas to visit in search of other species such as the Nerina Trogon . Steenbok Park on Leisure Isle is a regular “nursery” for Spotted Eagle Owls who return annually to nest and breed in the big trees, as are many urban gardens for birds such as wagtails, bull bulls, sunbirds and many more. The Knysna Lagoon is the largest estuary of it’s kind in the Southern Cape and is a rich source of food for a great number of different species. The varying nature of its habitats and of those on it’s shores provide year round opportunities for excellent birding. The African Fish Eagle – an icon of the Raptor Kingdom – is frequently seen in areas of the Knysna Lagoon, as well as gymnogenes, black shouldered kites Salt marshes are the “pantry of the seas” and are a favorite hunting ground for many of our waders and sea birds and even attract some species, such as the Egyptian Goosse, which are usually associated with fresh water. One of the best places for birding on the Lagoon is at the Woodbourne Marsh next to George Rex Drive and just opposite the causeway to Leisure Isle where you are likely to see sandpipers, stilts, avocets, spoonbills and herons amongst others, and possibly even a Malachite or half collared kingfisher who nest in the embankments on the west side of the marsh. Rare visitors to the Knysna lagoon include flamingoes. The African Black Oystercatcher, endangered and protected, is the rarest of the birds that breed on the Southern Cape Coast, and the Knysna Lagoon is one of it’s favorite habitats.
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