Knysna

Knysna is the largest base on the Garden Route and has the widest spread of places to stay of any town along it. It is built around a lagoon that meets the sea through the Heads, with forest behind it and the N2 running through the middle, and that geography is what divides the accommodation.

There are broadly three choices. The waterfront and Thesen Islands put you within walking distance of restaurants and the boats, which is the easiest arrangement if you want to leave the car parked. The Heads and Leisure Isle give you the water and the views, at a premium and usually with a drive to dinner. The hills above the town hold guesthouses and self-catering with the wider outlook over the lagoon, and forest lodges sit further out towards the woods.

The practical points are seasonal rather than geographic. The town books out completely over the December holidays and during the Oyster Festival week, so fixed dates in those periods need booking well ahead. Outside them Knysna is the most flexible base on the route, and its central position means Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness and the forest drives are all short trips rather than relocations.