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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Africa
- South Africa
- Knysna
Knysna
The town of Knysna, clustered around a vast tidal lagoon which
opens to the sea through a narrow inlet guarded by two sandstone
cliffs known as 'The Heads', is the holiday hub of the Garden
Route, drawing more visitors than it can cope with, particularly
during the peak summer holiday season.
The town has an interesting history, having started as a point
of export for timber cut from the surrounding dense forests (which
have been badly denuded as a result). In the early 19th century the
town was almost solely owned by the enigmatic character George Rex,
who was believed to be the illegitimate son of King George III of
England. Rex fathered 13 children and is a legend in the Knysna
area.
The town features some quaint Victorian houses, a modern
commercial waterfront development, a lovely sandy beach at Leisure
Isle on the east side of the lagoon, and some good shopping for
local arts and crafts in the crowded town centre. There are some
lovely scenic drives through the remaining indigenous forests in
the area, and sampling Knysna oysters and locally-brewed Mitchell's
beer while on holiday here is highly recommended. The best time to
visit Knysna is during its annual Oyster Festival, held every July,
which includes music, food, sporting events, and of course
oysters!
Information & Facts
Language
South Africa has 11 official languages, including
Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely
spoken.
Money
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into
100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and
the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily
limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards
are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is
required. Visitors should be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs,
as con artists are known to operate there. Travellers cheques and
some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops,
but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will
exchange them.
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