Picturesque Knysna, in the heart of the popular Garden Route, is nestled in between mountains and the ocean and sits serenely on a beautiful lagoon. An hour’s drive from the George Airport in your rented car, will put you in the middle of Knysna where there are endless opportunities for leisure and outdoor activities.

How often can you say that you’ve ridden an elephant? At the Knysna Elephant Park you get to touch, feed or ride one of the world’s most southern elephants. The park offers a rare opportunity to interact with an African elephant and you get to learn all about their sad and mystical story. You can choose your level of participation but are warned to wear old clothes, as you’ll get covered in elephant spit!

The Knysna Heads are such a striking feature along the Garden Route and for first-time visitors it’s a prerequisite to venture up for a view. The two sentinels flank a deep channel where the sea pours in creating the lagoon on which Knysna is nestled. The Western Head is a privately owned nature reserve called Featherbed and reached via ferry. The Eastern Head has houses with spectacular views of the lagoon, and a steep road taking you to a secluded cove called Coney Glen, which is ideal for picnics.

See Knysna from the water by booking from a range of cruises on offer. Watch the sun set over this beautiful town, while eating an oyster and sipping a cocktail.

Oysters and Knysna are synonymous. The famous local oyster is well known for its fresh, nutty taste and there are more than 200 000 devoured during the annual Knysna Oyster Festival in July. Served naked or dressed – this is an oyster lover’s dream.

What is a holiday without a bit of retail therapy? With a centralised shopping area, this is a shopper’s paradise. Pack the kids into your hired car and head to the Friday Market, where you will find any food from pizzas to pancakes. Expect live entertainment, bonfires, jumping castles and body paint artists.