Khoisan people inhabited the Garden Route from the Stone Age, only being displaced in the 17th Century after the arrival of Dutch settlers.
 
Hottentots named a local river in the area by a word that sounded like "Knysna" to the early Europeans. Scholars offer several tranlations of the Hottentot term - place of wood, fern leaves, or simply straight down, referring to the steep sandstone cliffs, called The Heads.

Knysna's rich and colourful history spans the days of sailing ships, timber extraction and even a brief period of gold discovery. The vast, indigenous forests just outside Knysna became an invaluable source of timber for buildings, ships and wagons. The town's streets and quaint, old buildings show its commercial past, while the rocky coast and deep, silent forests reflect the history of men with bows and arrows, ancient hunters, gatherers and nomads.
 
- 1804: George Rex (a timber merchant and the founder of Knysna) purchased the farm Melkhoutkraal, effectively taking ownership of all the land surrounding the lagoon.
- 1817: Knysna became a port for naval and commercial ships bringing supplies into the area, and later, for transporting shipments of timber out of the area.

 

- 1870: Arnt Leonard Thesen and his family moved from Norway to Knysna and set up the first trading store and counting house.

- 1876: A gold nugget weighing 17 penny-weight was found by James Hooper in a river bed on his farm Ruigtevlei. The find was significant enough for the authorities to make a grant of 100 pounds for further prospecting (a sizeable sum in those days).

- 1881: The settlements of Melville and Newhaven united to form the town of Knysna.

 

- 1880's: George Parkes, an industrialist from Birmingham, England purchased over 3,400 ha of Knysna forest to provide a source of wood for his factory which was producing edge tools. He established the first primitive sawmill in the forest and a mill conveniently situated in the centre of Knysna.

- 1885: The search for gold recommenced in the Karatara River after years of postponement and proved to be a successful venture. Many fortune seekers descended on the Millwood area over the next 10 years, until it ceased to be a lucrative operation.

- 1904: Charles Wilhelm Thesen bought Paarden Island (part of the Melkhoutkraal Estate) and began processing timber on the island (now Thesen Island) in 1922.

 

A natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches adorns South Africa’s unspoilt southern coast. Nestling on the banks of a shimmering lagoon in the heart of this ‘Garden Route’ is the picturesque town of Knysna. Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafe’s beckon with small-town charm and hospitality.

 

In accounts of its earliest history there is no reference per se to the town of Knysna. The "Knysna” as early travelers, surveyors, and settlers called it, referred to the river, which opens onto the large tidal estuary before exchanging its water with the sea through the narrow gap between two rocky promontories known as "The Heads”. Knysna is a Khoi word: scholars are uncertain of its exact meaning, but it probably symbolizes water.

 

What makes Knysna unique, is the fact that not only does it nestle on the banks of an estuary, in the heart of the "Garden Route”, it is also surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland.

Knysna is a vibrant town abuzz with creativity & energy, a paradise for shoppers, where art & crafts abound. A visit to the local fine furniture manufacturers showroom where beautifully, handcrafted pieces from indigenous timber are show cased, is a must.

 

Knysna is synonymous with fine indigenous timbers, and famed for the craftsmanship of its furniture and timber products. The area is a veritable Garden of Eden: home to the only forest elephant in South Africa, the unique Knysna seahorse and the Pansy shell, the brilliantly coloured Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.

 

Famous also for delectable home grown oysters, (washed down by the local brew), quaint pubs & restaurants, leisurely lagoon cruises, as well as the many adrenaline packed adventure sports.

 

The indigenous forests constitute the largest complex of closed-canopy forest in southern Africa, whilst the remarkable richness of the Fynbos vegetation contributes over 8000 plant species to the Cape floral kingdom. A temperate climate and a fine selection of accommodation, restaurants and enjoyable activities make Knysna the perfect holiday destination