Knysna Self-Drive

8 Days / 7 Nights

From $747 per person sharing plus tax. See below for pricing details.

Day 1

Scheduled flight from New York to George via Johannesburg (not included)

Day 2

Upon arrival you will be met by a representative who will assist you with your car rental.

Pick up Avis Rent a Car Group D Volkswagen Polo (or similar) for 8 days inclusive of tax, unlimited mileage, and insurance.

Graywood Hotel
Cnr Trotter and Grey Streets
Knysna 6570

Accommodation in a standard room for 7 nights, inclusive of breakfast.

A small town with a big presence, Knysna has earned an international reputation as the Garden Route's vacation hot spot. It remains a characterful village set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, yet offers an astonishing array of activities and attractions.

In fact, choosing how to spend your time may just be the hardest part of an unforgettable vacation. The seemingly endless options include world class arts and crafts, thrilling adventure sports, gourmet restaurants and food markets, unusual shopping, captivating history and exciting festivals. Additionally you'll be floored by Knysna's famed lagoon and estuary, framed by the Outeniqua mountains and surrounding indigenous forests.

Explore at your leisure and relax at the three star Graywood hotel. Centrally situated, this intimate and stylish property lies within walking distance from the vibrant town center and Knysna Waterfront. 49 en suite rooms offer comfortable and convenient accommodation ideal for holiday makers, be it single travelers, honeymooners, or families. For added convenience, the hotel has a full bar, swimming pool, full breakfast buffet, and secure parking.

Days 3 - 8 (B)

All of these attractions are included in your trip. Enjoy them at your leisure:

Featherbed Nature Reserve (half day, lunch included) Take a ferry ride across Knysna's magnificent estuary to a secluded nature reserve, home to the Knysna loerie and blue duiker and variety of bird life.
•Short ferry ride across Knysna Lagoon.
•4x4 trailer ride to the summit for a spectacular panorama of the Knysna basin and sea.
•Stroll through the milkwood forest and along the coastline.
•Tasty buffet lunch under milkwood trees.

Monkeyland and Birds of Eden (Full Day)
A scenic drive travelling from Knysna to Plettenberg Bay, and back to Knysna. Stop along the way, as well as an opportunity to spot dolphins.
•Visit the beautiful 'Garden of Eden'.
•Tour of 'Birds of Eden' - the largest free flight walk through aviary in the world.
•Monkeyland Tour - sanctuary and home to numerous species of monkeys from all around the world.

Whale or Dolphin Encounter (Half Day)
Our Ecological adventure leaves from Central Beach with an exciting beach launch and heads east past the bird sanctuary and Keurbooms beach to Arch Rock. Here we usually encounter Bottlenose and the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins as well as some shark species. From Arch Rock we head into the middle of the Bay where pelagic seabirds are normally to be found some 7km from the shore. Out there our resident Bryde's whales may be seen, as well as Common Dolphins or Southern Right and Humpback whales during their season. We then traverse the Bay to the point of Robberg Peninsula and out to the Wild side, often seeing groups of whales and pods of dolphins. Cruising back along the inside of Robberg, we see the unique geology from this unusual viewpoint and can observe our growing Cape Fur Seal Colony. Finally we head back along the Robberg beach, while a brief rundown on the history of the area is given. After passing the Beacon Island Hotel, built on the site of an original Whaling Station, we end the experienced with an exhilarating landing, again on Central Beach.

Sea Kayaking (Half Day)
Kayak with an experienced guide from Central Beach to Robberg Nature Reserve. This is an amazing experience and often you will kayak with dolphins right next to you. When you reach Robberg Nature Reserve you will kayak amongst the seals at the seal colony. Your guide will introduce you to Robberg Nature Reserve and our wonderful marine life in the bay. In whale season you will encounter these majestic mammals on your tour. All equipment is provided and beginners are welcome.

Scheduled Tours Knysna Elephant Park (Half Day)
Daily tours leave on the half hour every day from 8.30 to 16.30 from our informative visitor's centre and video viewing room to the elephants. Guests are transported to the elephants on our tractor & trailer where they will have the opportunity to touch, feed and photograph our gentle giants. Elephants love eating so don’t forget your bucket elephant feed. There are no barriers or fences to spoil the close encounter. Guests are then transported back to unique elephant curios shop and Askaris restaurant.

Cheetah Encounter (Half Day)
Welcome to the Cango Wildlife Ranch and Valley of Ancients, endangered species breeding facility extraordinaire. The oldest and biggest cheetah contact centre worldwide offers visitors the rare opportunity of interacting with our hand reared cheetahs and getting actively involved in saving this species and others from extinction.
Our Natural Encounters programme along with our new Experience Department offer visitors both young and old the chance of interacting with our ambassadors in the following encounters:

Safari Ostrich Farm (Full Day, lunch included)
Safari Ostrich Show Farm is an operating farm where visitors will see large flocks of ostriches at different stages of development in the surrounding fields. Visitors are assured of personal attention and upon their arrival are greeted by one of our multi-lingual guides who will, during the course of the tour explain every aspect of ostrich farming, from breeding to rearing.

Enjoy dinner at these world renowned restaurants from a set menu.

Sirocco, situated on the water’s edge of Knysna’s trendy Thesen Harbour Town, is evocatively named after the warm wind that blows across the Mediterranean.Sirocco is a vibey lunch and dinner time venue, a meeting place for those who appreciate relaxed sophistication, cutting edge design, friendly service and great food. The romantic ambience is created by clever lighting and plush seating, set in a variety of green hues from lime to olive.

Lush is lavish and extravagantly opulent with richly embellished interiors celebrated in ruby hues, velvet textures and dramatic objects d’arts. Mirrors, mosaics, crystal chandeliers, giant candelabra, leather studded walls, suede and vinyl finishes and fibre-optic lights create a seductive background for the exciting menu. Dishes at Lush are creative without being pretentious and are typically fusion-inspired, incorporating fresh seafood, the finest quality beef and decadent desserts. The menu is designed to create an exquisite dining experience. Food is thoughtfully presented - an immersive theatrical experience!

Drydock - This lagoonside restaurant is situated on the original site of the first dry dock built by Per Larsen in 1896. We offer a mouth-watering array of the freshest seafood, tempting salads, fusion cuisine and sinful deserts. Complementing this, you'll find a range of the finest local and imported wines, beers and spirits.
Take your time over a cocktail as you watch the sun sink slowly over Knysna's tranquil lagoon.

34 Degrees South is not exactly a restaurant... not exactly a bar... definitely not a deli... well, not exactly a deli... it’s an eating place, a drinking place and definitely a meeting place. And it’s a gift shop, a clothing emporium, a food store, a fish monger and a bakery, too. And the finest wine shop this side of the grape curtain. And it’s always on one, single line of latitude - the 34th parallel.

Day 9 (B)

Self drive to George Airport and drop off your rental car.

Scheduled flight from George to New York via Johannesburg (not included)

Day 10

Arrive New York

END OF ARRANGEMENTS