The wind never lets up at the viewpoint on the eastern head. Below you the water boils between the quartzite cliffs. The Knysna Heads are the picture that made the town famous: a lagoon, warm and shallow, with one narrow opening to the sea. Knysna lies around 107 kilometres east of Mossel Bay on the northern shore of that lagoon and lives off oysters, timber and visitors. In June 2017 fires destroyed large parts of the town. Much has been rebuilt since. From late June into early July, Knysna holds its Oyster Festival, the oldest event in town.
- east of Mossel Bay, about 90 minutes
- 107 km
- two quartzite cliffs at the lagoon mouth
- The Heads
- Knysna Elephant Park, daily (August 2026)
- 9am to 4pm
- Oyster Festival
- June/July
On the western head lies the Featherbed Nature Reserve, reachable only by boat: a lagoon crossing, a vehicle up the hill, then a guided walk of a good two kilometres with a view out through the Heads, with or without lunch, price on the operator’s website. East of town sits the Knysna Elephant Park, open since 1994, daily from 9am to 4pm (August 2026), with early morning and late afternoon programmes by reservation only. The wild elephants of the Knysna forest do still exist. You will not see them; what is left is a tiny remnant population.
- Time needed
- a full day
- Cost
- Heads free, Featherbed and elephant park at operator rates
- When
- all year, Oyster Festival in late June
- From Mossel Bay
- 107 km, 90 minutes
Our tipKnysna takes a whole day, and you drive through Wilderness and Sedgefield to get there. Book the Featherbed trip in advance. And eat your oysters at the waterfront, not in the car.
Knysna: frequently asked questions
How far is it from Mossel Bay to Knysna?
Around 107 kilometres on the N2, about an hour and a half of driving, through George, Wilderness and Sedgefield. It works as a day trip from Mossel Bay if you start early.
What are the Knysna Heads?
Two quartzite headlands with the Knysna lagoon meeting the sea between them. The passage has a bad reputation. From the viewpoint on the eastern head you look straight into the gap; the western head is reachable only by boat into the Featherbed Nature Reserve.
When is the Knysna Elephant Park open?
Daily from 9am to 4pm, 365 days a year (August 2026). Early and late programmes at 8am and 4pm run by reservation only. The park lies east of Knysna on the N2, around two hours from Mossel Bay, with prices on the park’s website.