Found along South Africa’s favourite coastal stretch, the Garden Route – Knysna is a popular town for holidaying, adventures and seaside escapes.
This beautiful place – and its surrounding towns and villages – is also hugely family-friendly, with a host of outdoor attractions, child-friendly restaurants and fun holiday ideas to savour.
Here are our top ten things to do near Knysna with kids:
#1 Explore the Knysna Elephant Park
For those seeking a humbling and educational experience – which teaches both the importance of conservation and respecting wildlife – the Knysna Elephant Park makes for a wonderful family outing.
Visitors can enjoy everything from nature walks to meeting the herd and much more.
Additionally, the park also has an on-site restaurant and curio shop and elephant lodge rooms to enjoy.
Contact: (044) 532 7732, info@knysnaelephantpark.co.za
Website: knysnaelephantpark.co.za
Address: Off the N2 between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay
#2 Visit the Garden Route National Park
For nature lovers, the Garden Route National Park is an unmissable attraction near Knysna.
With everything from lodge-style accommodation to MTB trails, forest excursions, hikes and a variety of water-based activities (like kayaking and river tubing, to name a few), it is ideal for outdoorsy families.
Note: The park is divided into different sections: Wilderness, Knysna Lakes, Tsitsikamma and Nature’s Valley.
Contact: +27 (044) 302 5600, grace.valela@sanparks.org
Website: www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/tourism/activities/water_activities.php
Address: Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa.
#3 Enjoy the Wild Oats Community Farmers’ Market
Although the market is located nearby in Sedgefield, it warrants being on any Garden Route-based travel list.
Held every Saturday morning, this popular, family-friendly farmers’ market offers an excellent range of local farm- and homemade-food products. This means guests can shop for and taste the finest food and produce in the region.
Pets are welcome, however, they must be kept on a leash at all times and should be well-socialised and controlled. Also, please clean up after your pets as needed.
Contact: +27 (082) 376 5020, info@wildoatsmarket.co.za
Website: www.wildoatsmarket.co.za
Address: Sedgefield, Western Cape, South Africa.
#4 Savour Beautiful Buffalo Bay Beach
For those craving a fun beach day, Buffalo Bay Beach is an excellent, gorgeous Garden Route beach to enjoy.
This 14-kilometre stretch of sandy, tranquil beach paradise offers everything from seasonal whale watching to surfing.
It is highly popular among families and outdoor lovers, making it ideal for all ages to enjoy.
Contact: N/A
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Address: Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa.
#5 Go Ziplining in the Forest with Knysna Ziplines
With Knysna Ziplines (found just outside of Knysna on the way to Plettenberg Bay), thrill seekers can enjoy gliding over treetops, with the forests and surrounding natural beauty within easy sight.
This is one of the longest, highest multi-cable tours in Africa- so bring your courage with for the ride!
Children can zipline too but age restrictions may apply; please confirm with the company directly. (Also, it is probably advisable to only take tweens or teens with for this one because it is a bit ‘scarier’ than most local ziplines.)
For rates and other booking information, please contact them directly.
Contact: (074) 492 5603, knysna@saforestadventures.co.za
Website: knysnaziplines.co.za
Address: Sasol Harkerville – at the Yellow Office next to N2, Plettenberg Bay, Harkerville, Western Cape, South Africa.
#6 Discover the Garden of Eden
It might not be a place of biblical proportions but the Garden of Eden, an amazing walking route near Knysna, is a beautiful local spot for families to explore.
Here, you can walk the one-kilometre wooden boardwalk through the Knysna Forest and soak up the region’s rich natural beauty and local flora and fauna.
The main attraction is the forest itself but the little trails (either 500 metre divided into two smaller trails or one-kilometre as one big loop) and boardwalk here make the Garden of Eden a truly enchanting place to visit.
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Address: Harkerville Forest, between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.
#7 Enjoy Bollard Bay Beach
Another excellent, family-friendly Garden Route beach is Bollard Bay Beach.
As the waves are small, it’s ideal for young children to play and splash in and everyone gets to enjoy the tranquil beauty and surrounding scenery that this hidden gem on Leisure Island offers visitors.
Note: There are no life guards here, so you do need to keep an extra close watch on children.
Contact: N/A
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Address: Bollards Bay Beach, 97 Bayswater Road, Leisure Island, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa.
#8 Explore Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary
Located near Plettenberg Bay but close enough to Knysna to deserve a place on this list is Monkeyland. This incredible free roaming primate sanctuary is a must-visit for anyone in the Garden Route.
Here, multiple species of primates enjoy life in a beautiful, free roaming environment.
Visit this amazing sanctuary and enjoy an educational outing for the whole family.
Contact: (044) 534 8906, info@monkeyland.co.za
Website: www.monkeyland.co.za
Address: The Crags, near Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa.
#9 Experience Birds of Eden
Another amazing sanctuary near Monkeyland is Birds of Eden. Again, this is another unmissable Garden Route attraction that both educates and astounds visitors.
This wonderful, free flight sanctuary provides a haven for over 3 500 birds, with some 220 species residing here.
It is an absolutely incredible experience and an outing that provides vital education and nature-loving fun in one!
Contact: (044) 534 8906, info@birdsofeden.co.za
Website: www.birdsofeden.co.za
Address: The Crags, near Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa.
#10 Explore with Knysna Scootours
Last but far from least we have the amazingly family-friendly, ultra-fun Knysna Scootours. These tours are a unique way to explore the area, as you get to ride downhill through the forest on a Monster Mountain scooter.
The non-motorised scooters are also eco-friendly and tours are conducted by professional, qualified guides – so you simply have to enjoy your fun and soak up your surroundings in this memorable outdoor activity.
For more information on rates, availability and booking procedures, please contact them directly.
Contact: +27 (079) 148 3751, knysna@scootours.co.za
Website: scootours.co.za/knysna-forest
Address: Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa.
These are just some of the best things to do with kids near Knysna.