Things to Do in Buffels Bay

Locals claim that one of the most wonderful beaches in the world lies right on the other side of the Knysna Western Heads, in Brenton-on-Sea. There are rocks to clamber on, little pools to cool off in and a long bay for beach walks and shell seeking. Hot Tip: walk to Buffels Bay, have lunch or an icecream, take a shower, and stroll back.

If you’re looking for a great family friendly beach to soak up the solar rays look no further than Knysna. Of all the Garden Route beaches, sandy Bollard Bay Beach on Leisure Isle is the perfect spot to chill with your tot. This safe swimming beach has no crashing dumpers and plenty of shallow water for little folk to splash around in. So settle down on your sandy spot and take in the magnificent views of Knysna Heads with no fear of your pipsqueak being swept off to Antartica. And it's not just for small fry! The main beach on Leisure Island, Bollard Bay beach offers plenty to do for young and old. When the tide is high you can swim, fish, canoe or sail. At low tide, pump for prawns to use as bait or walk across the sand as far as The Heads.

Only accessible by ferry, Featherbed Nature Reserve is a privately-owned unspoiled headland at the Western Head of the Knysna Lagoon. Visitors young and old will thoroughly enjoy embarking on a spectacular four-hour eco-experience to this exquisite little corner of the Garden Route. This outdoor experience includes a return ferry trip, nature drive, guided walk and a lavish buffet lunch at the Food Forest Restaurant. Access to the reserve is strictly controlled and visits are only permitted in the company of the Featherbed Nature Reserve's specialist guides.Starting with a 25-minute ferry cruise, your local guide will share intriguing tales about the Knysna Lagoon, early shipping industry and Knysna’s oyster cultivation.The cruise is followed by a 4x4 drive to the top of the Western Head where supreme views of the lagoon, mountains and Knysna can be seen. After the drive, you have the option of walking a 2.2 kilometre downhill guided nature trail. This fun family outing ends with with a blowout buffet lunch at the popular Knysna restaurant under the milkwood trees.The four-hour excursion departs daily from Knysna Waterfront. Bookings are essential.

A trip to Knysna Heads is a prerequisite for first time visitors to Knynsa. Two dramatic sea cliffs guard the entrance to the lagoon from the surging ocean.The Eastern Head has a lookout with spectacular views of the lagoon, Leisure Isle and Knysna. The Western Head is primarily a privately owned nature reserve reached only by ferry – Featherbed Nature Reserve. Four-hour excursions depart daily from the Knysna Waterfront.An onboard excursion to Knysna Heads is a thrilling experience and there are various options available. The ultimate cruise is aboard a catamaran such as the Zakat, which cruises through the Heads while serving oysters and champagne. The perfect way to end a day!

One of South Africa's best golfing destinations, Simola boasts overwhelming views and an outstanding Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Breathtaking vistas of the Knysna Heads on one side and the Knysna River on the other make it difficult to focus on the game. But in the midst of all this beauty, the course offers challenging and rewarding golf amidst spectacular scenery. Simola was one of the first Jack Nicklaus designs on the Garden Route, reflecting the maestro's philosophy of adjusting the layout and design to the natural features of the landscape. Fairways flow along the rising and falling natural landscape and every hole offers superlative views of the Knysna Lagoon all the way to the Heads or across the pretty meandering Knysna River and valley below.

Meandering through the tidal pools and between towering indigenous trees, Knysna Golf Course offers an incredible golf experience on the Knysna Lagoon. This 18-hole course commands wonderful views of The Heads and features an attractive parkland layout with some of the finest bent grass greens in the Southern Cape. The course provides a first-rate challenge to players of all levels and is also an affordable and essential golfing option on Garden Route itineraries. The signature hole is the par-five ninth, known to be the most daunting in Knysna. Channelling through the estuary with reeds flanking both sides of the fairway, it presents a stiff challenge to the most experienced player. The course is also home to abundant ocean and freshwater birds as well as forest-dwelling birds and the Knysna loerie. After a demanding round of golf, relax in the friendly atmosphere of the clubhouse. Bookings are essential +27 (0) 44 384 1150.

Knysnarians know about good watering holes and you'll certainly find plenty of them at the vibey Bosun's Pub and Grill, lips curled around a frosty or tucking into a hearty meal. This old style English pub serves locally brewed ale and value-for-money scrumptious pub grub! You'll find all the local Mitchell‘s Brewery products here – on tap and bottled, ranging from Bosun‘s Bitter, Foresters and the new Mitchell‘s Gold. So get down there and sluk a pint or two in this comfy, cosy pub and be warmed by the great atmosphere and friendly people.

Get on your bike for an awesome 19-kilometre trip through Knysna’s Goudveld Forest. Starting at the Goudveld Forest Station, the circular Homtini Trail weaves along fairly relaxed contours in the indigenous forest and plantation. With only one steep four-kilometre climb to make you gasp for breath it is considered a moderate ride. Starting and ending at Krisjan-se-nek picnic spot, the route offers some lovely exhilarating single-track slip-paths, shady jeep tracks and sweeping elevated views of the mountainous landscape and distant Knysna Heads. Permits can be obtained at the Goudveld boom before the Krisjan-se-nek picnic site.

Rated amongst the best and most scenic golf courses around the globe, Pezula Championship Course is a prerequisite on any Garden Route golfing itinerary. Pezula offers terrific international-standard golfing with superlative views of Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean from the cliff tops. Knysna Golf Club and Simola is a short drive away. Extensive rolling fairways, eyebrow bunkers and pristine fynbos contribute to this unique and challenging 18-hole course designed by David Dale and Ronald Fream of GolfPlan USA. The award-winning course offers five different tee options on every hole to cater for all skill levels. Three breathtaking signature holes are built on the cliff top overlooking the ocean – the par-five 13th, par-four 14th and the par-three 15th. The elegant clubhouse features a gourmet restaurant, bar, luxurious private lounge with library, and a boutique pro shop. A heated swimming pool, game practice area, tennis and leisure facilities are also available.

This magnificent indigenous forest trail leads down to enormous rock pools. Pack your rucksack with a picnic and swimming costume. Amble through the forest and learn its secrets. You will be blown away once the forest canopy opens to reveal the beautiful pools sparkling in the sunlight. It is roughly a 40-minute walk there. The last 10 minutes are rather steep but manageable for most people. Suitable for kids who are able to swim.Need to know? Since this is an ecologically sensitive area, permits from SANParks (South African National Parks) are needed. Only 12 persons per day are permitted. It is patrolled and fines are issued where appropriate. Pre-book your chosen date in advance directly with Cathy at Sanparks (044 302 5606). Permits can also be obtained from the permit hut at the entrance to Goudveld Forest, or enquire at Forest Edge Nature Lovers’ Retreat reception.Source: Forest Edge Nature Lovers’ Retreat

Cola Beach is one of Sedgefield’s five beautiful beaches, all running into each other starting at Swartvlei Beach in the west to Platbank in the east. It never gets crowded, even in peak season. At low tide, it’s easy to walk the 6 km stretch. Access to Cola Beach is via a long boardwalk with a decent viewpoint and bench at the top. Rock and surf fishing is a popular activity, with a number of good spots at rocky points towards Platbank and Groenvlei.

A top spot for families, Jubilee Creek is probably the most beautiful picnic spot in the indigenous Knysna forest. Situated alongside a stream in two forest clearings, this site is very popular with young families. The stream is perfect for playing, exploring and walks along the river. Hidden in the forest, you might even sight a rare Knysna elephant - one of the Knysna elephants was actually seen here in March 2007!

One of the Garden Route’s best-kept secrets, the golden sandy beach at Myoli has much to offer. The beach itself is conveniently situated near a restaurant, beach bar, parking and a good selection of holiday accommodation. Myoli Beach is one of the top wave-riding beaches along this coast, drawing surfers, kite surfers, wake boarders and stand-up paddlers. It’s also a great place to chill out, sip on cocktails at the PiliPili Beach Bar, spot dolphins or watch whales from the observation platform.

Sedgefield Beach is an easy stroll down a boardwalk from the parking area. This family-friendly beach offers great swimming in the lagoon mouth and has spectacular views. Also known as Kingfisher Creek, the lagoon is a fun spot for little kids to paddle about. Picnic alongside the estuary – there is shelter from prevailing wind and you can easily spend the entire day here. Ablution and shower facilities are easily accessible.

Following an old mining path along the Forest Creek, the Circles in a Forest Hiking Trail beckons hikers to explore the loveliness of the Goudveld Forest. This genuine forest experience is suitable for families and people of all ages, offering two trail options starting at Krisjan-se-Nek. Feel dwarfed as you pass the towering 600-year old Outeniqua Yellowwood trees. You can almost hear them whisper Oupoot, the name of the long lost heroine and matriarch elephant made famous by Dalene Matthee. This is truly the heart of the Knysna indigenous forest typified by giant Yellowwood trees, three-metre high tree ferns, Red-billed Wood-hoopoe, babbling streams, ancient ironwood trees, arum lilies, colourful mushroom and bracket fungi. Evidence of baboon, bush pig, porcupine and bushbuck can be seen everywhere. Keep glancing up to the treetops and you might spot a Knysna loerie. Formerly called the Woodcutters Trail, this route is named after one of Dalene Matthee’s famous novels. The three and nine kilometre trails range from easy to moderate and are manageable for anyone over the age of five.

Swartvlei Beach is an amazing sandy beach for walking or horse riding – make sure you go all the way to Gericke’s Point. The walk to the point offers great opportunities for whale and dolphin watching. Look out for pods of common, bottlenose and humpback dolphins surfing the waves. Southern Right whales can be seen from July to October. This spectacular beach is also the breeding ground for the rare African Black Oyster Catcher. There are some lovely safe swimming spots but exercise caution – there can be riptides and dangerous currents.

Every Saturday morning this authentic farmers' and producers market is brimming with the Garden Route's choicest locally produced foods, both the take-home and breakfast variety. Wild Oats Community Farmers Market is situated on the outskirts of the tiny coastal village of Sedgefield adjacent to the beautiful Swartvlei Lagoon. Earning numerous awards, the small and rustic market continues to attract enthusiastic proud locals and discerning travelers who come to grab a hearty breakfast, and purchase local produce, food, art and curios. This vibrant initiative draws people from diverse backgrounds together for an unusual festive gathering with an emphasis on important educational experiences – local food sources, nutrition, environmental awareness and agricultural issues. Open every Saturday 07:30 – 11:30 in summer, 08:00 – 11:30 in winter.

Popular with locals and nature lovers, Gericke’s Point is one of the Garden Route’s best-kept secrets. You can easily spend an entire day in this stunning and fascinating place. This rocky landmark resembles a lion’s head and the top offers a great vantage point to watch Southern Right whales during their calving season. You might even see the resident pod of Humpback dolphins that frequent the Swartvlei bay. Shy of boats, they avoid harbour areas and that is probably why they keep returning to this lovely quiet bay. Gericke’s Point has impressive weathered sandstone cliffs that are actually fossilised dunes – some of the highest dunes in South Africa are right here. Colonies of Cape and White Breasted Cormorants nest on the cliffs. Seagulls, herons and oystercatchers can often be seen from the shore. At low tide the exposed rock pools are fascinating to explore – take along the excellent Two Oceans - field guide to South Africa's marine life. The deeper pools are great for snorkeling and swimming. Keen for a nocturnal beach adventure? Do a guided ‘Moonlight Meander’ from Swartvlei Beach to Gericke’s Point with local expert, Judy Dixon and witness the nocturnal antics of rocky coastline creatures. Moonlight Meander & Starlight Stroll – contact Judy Dixon +27 (0) 44 883 1015

The starting point for this stunning trail is Diepwalle Forest Station, situated 23 km north of Knysna along the Uniondale road. If you don't have time to walk the entire trail, the route can be done in three sections. Each is colour coded for easy identification, with the shortest route of 6.5 km, Elephant Walk III, marked with red elephant motifs and black on yellow arrows. Prepare to be seduced by big trees, fungi, tree ferns, lichens, pretty tumbling streams and forest birds! Diepwalle is an awesome rainforest and is the refuge of a tiny remnant of the famous and highly secretive Knysna elephants. It was thought that only a solitary elderly cow remained but recent research has found that there may be seven or more. The circular red route is fairly easy and follows a short section of the Outeniqua Hiking Trail and passes two gigantic Outeniqua Yellowwood trees that are over 600 years. Elephant Walk I (black) is 9 km and Elephant Walk II (white) is 8 km. Along with 30 m high yellowwoods, other trees to spot are stinkwood, ironwood, white pear, and Cape holly. Birds to look out for are the Narina trogon, red-billed wood hoopoe, olive woodpecker, black-headed oriole and the Knysna turaco (loerie). Vervet monkeys can often be seen clambering in the tree tops. Permits are obtained at the Diepwalle Forest Station office. Grab a map and tree identification list (various trees are numbered). There is a lovely tea room here – the scones go down well after tripping through the woods.

One of the top two-day trails in the country, this magnificent trail is fondly nicknamed the ‘mini Otter’ for its similarities with South Africa’s most popular multi-day hike. More lovely than the Otter Trail? Some consider it more stunning but anyone suffering from a fear of heights will find it a tough challenge. Hiking the Harkerville Trail is a dream come true for seasoned hikers. The route starts at Harkerville Hut, an old forestry dwelling close to the Garden of Eden picnic site between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. The first day treks for 11 kilometres through lush indigenous forest decorated with an assortment of fascinating fungi and ferns. The calls of Knysna turaco and other forest birds ring through the forest canopy. After tripping through the forest hikers are greeted by dazzling views of the coastline. Chains, bridges, and ladders have been fixed into steep rock faces to aid hikers in tricky sections. The overnight spot is at the comfy Sinclair Hut – beds, a fireplace and wood are provided but you’ll need to backpack with everything else. The second day treats hikers to 12 kilometres of even more spectacular coastal scenery and incredible indigenous forest before reaching the start at the Harkerville Hut.