General Introduction

Knysna nestles on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the ‘Garden Route’.  It is surrounded by a natural paradise of lush indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches, making it a real natural wonderland. 

A moderate climate and a fine selection of accommodation, restaurants and enjoyable activities make Knysna the perfect holiday destination. Visit the Knysna Activities pages for more information.

Economy

Knysna is experiencing an intense growth phase.  New developments are under way, a new yacht harbour has been completed, and work has commenced on a championship golf course, hotel and residential development.  The population is set to increase substantially.  Tourism and the timber industry form the cornerstones of Knysna’s economy.

• Regarding tourism,   a large variety of guest houses and ‘bed & breakfasts’, restaurants, eco-adventure operators, arts and outdoor festivals,  cater for the annual avalanche of holiday-makers that enjoy this wonderful destination.

• Timber is harvested from pine and gum plantations and, in controlled amounts, from indigenous forests in the area.  This is used to manufacture cable drums, plyboard and other building timbers.  Wooden houses are exported to the Indian Ocean Islands, Singapore and Australia.  The furniture industry  uses indigenous timbers like stinkwood and yellowwood, while modern furniture lines are increasingly being exported. 

Carved wooden birds and fishes are now also produced from fine wood.

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History

Knysna’s history originates from woodcutters, sea-farers, gold-diggers and timber merchants that moved into the area.  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.

Khoisan people inhabited the Garden Route from the Stone Age onwards, feeding on the riches of land and sea.  They were displaced only after the first Dutch settlers arrived in the area during the seventeenth century.

Knysna’s history does not begin properly until 1804, when the farm Melkhoutkraal was purchased by George Rex, a timber merchant.  He owned virtually all the land surrounding the lagoon. Knysna became  a port with naval and commercial ships  bringing supplies in and taking timber out from the   settlements of Melville and Newhaven, which eventually united to form the town of Knysna.

In February 1869, a devastating fire destroyed thousands of acres of forest, veld and farmland.  In December of that year, a Norwegian sea-faring family, the Thesens,  settled in Knysna.  They set up a coastal shipping business  and became important timber merchants and shipbuilders.

In the 1880's, gold was discovered in the forest, and the mining village of Millwood sprang up.  This was short-lived, however, as the gold yields were small and soon ran out.

The harbour no longer functions as a port.  But the town holds fond memories, and The Heads still guard the restless passage through which many a trading vessel sailed to the wide ocean beyond.

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