Knysna
A lagoon town on South Africa's Garden Route, Knysna suits slow trips built around water, forest walks and seafood.
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Knysna is a coastal town in South Africa's Western Cape province, on the Garden Route east of Cape Town. Its center is a large saltwater lagoon that opens to the Indian Ocean through a narrow channel between two sandstone cliffs, the Knysna Heads. Boats, kayaks and the lagoon shore set the daily pace, and forest walks start a short drive from town.
People come for the oysters, the forest walks and easy access to the Garden Route's beaches and lookouts. The town suits a relaxed trip of two to four nights, longer if you combine it with other stops along the coast. February to April and October to November are the easiest months for boat trips and beach time. Plan on a car or a tour to reach the forests and nearby coast, since the town itself is small.
Knysna in five
- Get an eSIM before the Garden Route drivesMobile signal can be patchy on rural stretches between George and Knysna, so download offline maps before you leave George. An eSIM bought before you fly means you arrive with data already set up.Phones and eSIM
- Hire a car at George airportPublic transport around Knysna is thin, and the lagoon sights, Brenton and the Featherbed boat are spread out. George is the nearest airport, under an hour's drive away.Getting around
- Carry rand cash as well as a cardCards work at most restaurants and shops, but small stalls, parking attendants and tips often need cash. Power cuts can stop card machines, so keep a small cash float.Money and costs
- Check the load-shedding schedule for your stayScheduled power cuts, known as load-shedding, follow a block timetable that changes. Check the EskomSePush app for your area and ask your host about backup power and water.
- Keep out of the water at the Knysna HeadsThe two sandstone cliffs at the lagoon mouth mark a channel where swell and tidal currents run hard. Watch from the viewpoints and stay out of the water near the entrance.
Things to do in Knysna
See all attractions in Knysna
Need to know
- Currency
- Rand (ZAR)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check DHA before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 10111 police, 10177 ambulance, 112 from a mobile
- Tipping
- 10 to 15% in restaurants if no service charge is added
- Time
- UTC+2, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Summer holidaysJanuaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer holidays
- FebruaryClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Warm, easyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easy
- MarchClear9 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Warm, calmMarchClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Mild, dryAprilClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- MayClear6 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Cooler, quieterMayClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooler, quieter
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Wet, coolJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cool
- JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Wet, coldJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cold
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Rain, stormsAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, storms
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Spring, bloomingSeptemberClear
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, blooming
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, fewer crowdsOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fewer crowds
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, windyNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, windy
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Holiday crowdsDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holiday crowds
Average daily high and low in Knysna, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Knysna
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 39%
Knysna
10:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°14°39%Monday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Tue22°13°4%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed26°13°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu22°17°22%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Fri21°15°24%Friday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Sat18°12°63%Saturday: Rain. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Sun20°12°59%Sunday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 59%.
Updated 07:03 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 16.69 ZAR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Plettenberg Bayabout 1 hour by carCoastal beaches and walks on the Robberg Peninsula.Read the guide
- Oudtshoorna long day by carOstrich farms and the Cango Caves, inland over the mountains.Read the guide
- Georgeabout 45 min by carThe Garden Route's airport town and the Outeniqua Transport Museum.Read the guide
Before you go to Knysna
Rules for Knysna, checked
- Check entry rules with the Department of Home Affairs (dha.gov.za) before you fly; visa-free stays depend on your passport.Source
- Children travelling without both parents may need an unabridged birth certificate and a consent letter; check DHA before you fly.
- Drink-driving limits in South Africa are strict, so do not drink before you drive.
Plan around Knysna
Town, Thesen Island and Brenton compared
Read the guideGetting aroundCar hire, taxis and tours on the Garden Route
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, rand cash and typical prices
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa-free stays and what to check first
Read the guideTours and ticketsFeatherbed boat trips and Garden Route day tours
Read the guideAll of South AfricaCities, parks and the Garden Route
Read the guideKnysna FAQ
Is Knysna worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a lagoon town with seafood, forest walks and boat trips to Featherbed Nature Reserve. It is a weak choice if you want a big city with nightlife.
How do you get to Knysna?
Fly into George Airport and drive under an hour, or drive the Garden Route from Cape Town, which is a long day on the N2.
Can you visit Knysna without a car?
You can stay in town and walk the Quays, but the lagoon sights and Brenton are spread out. Book tours or taxis for the rest.
How many days do you need in Knysna?
Two or three nights covers the town, a boat trip and a drive along the coast. Add a day for Plettenberg Bay or Oudtshoorn.
What is the best time to visit Knysna?
March, April, October and November give mild weather and fewer crowds. December and January bring holiday crowds, and June to August is wet and cool.
Does Knysna have load-shedding?
It can. Check the schedule for your area in EskomSePush before you book, and ask your host about backup power.