Knysna
Municipality
Municipality: Knysna Local Municipality
Knysna Tourism Bureau
40 Main Str
Knysna
Phone number: 044-382-5510
Fax number: 044-382-1646
Email:
Email inquiry
Web:
See the website
Knysna is derived from the Khoi-Khoi word Xthuys Xna, which means
Place of Wood, which was given to the river flowing into the lagoon
Attractions
Also see the neighbouring
towns
Swimming, fishing and boating is possible on Knysna Lagoon.
Regular ferries take scenic trips from the harbor to The Heads. One of these
goes to the Featurebed Nature Reserve where seahorses can be viewed. Knysna
museum is housed in Millwood House which was reassembled here after the gold
rush in 1886 to Millwood stopped and the settlement abandoned. The Outeniqua
Choo-Tjoe steam train offers a scenic ride to George where passengers disembark
to have lunch, and return by train to Knysna. There is an oyster farm in Knysna
Lagoon, and an annual Oyster Festival held in July. The Forest Marathon is
also held annualy in July. The Township Trail leads through the old town and
includes a visit to the local sangoma (i.e. shaman, or witch doctor).
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History
Not much is known about the Khoi-Khoi who were settled here, but
in the 1700s Dutch settlers began farming in the area. In 1804 George Rex
bought the farm Melkhoutkraal, originally granted to Stephanus Terblans in
1770. In 1817 a ship building company was established at the lagoon, and called
Melville. The village was established in 1825 by Lord Charles Somerset, Governor
of the Cape and became a municipality in 1881. In 1929 a causeway was built
to Leisure Island by George Cairn who spend 10 years trying to drain the island
and another 10 years to turn it into a superb residential area.
Climate
Today's Weather Report
Things to do
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