“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.” Never were truer words uttered than by Jonathan Swift because, lets face it: it’s not the most appealing-looking food out there. But if it’s oysters you want then look no further than Knysna and one of the most popular festivals in the country.

This beautiful town gets an influx of 65 000 during the 10 days of the festival – marketed as the “Best 10 Days of Your Winter”. It’s a quick hour from the George Airport, so jump into your hired car, strap in your appetite and head to Knysna.

With over 200 000 oysters being shucked and consumed – the star of the show is undoubtedly the sumptuous mollusc. Best known for its apparent aphrodisiac power, this fresh nutty local oyster is served naked, cooked or garnished. Find the oyster hotspots and indulge. There is an Oyster and Wine Mardi Gras and for the more adventurous, shucking and eating competitions.

But if you grimace while you wash down your oyster with a slug of Mitchell’s beer, don’t worry, this festival is a celebration of all the good things in life. There are more than 100 activities to keep you busy, from markets and music; to games and art; food, wine and whiskey tasting; to cycling, running and adventure racing. The two major sporting events are the forest marathon and the cycle tour, both giving participants the chance to run and cycle through beautiful lush indigenous forest.

One of the great spectacles of the festival is the South African Navy making an impressive entrance through the Knysna Heads in their massive minesweepers. They have an internationally successful band, which will entertain everyone with a street parade and a live concert. Kids are certainly not forgotten as the programme includes youth theatre, puppet shows, art workshops and cooking courses.

The festival is perfect for the family, food and wine lovers, and for sport enthusiasts. So, don’t let winter get you down, head to the Knysna Oyster Festival and on the count of three - slurp down that oyster!