The Knysna Estuary

Because the Knysna River’s entrance to the sea is never closed, the body of water referred to as the “Knysna Lagoon” is technically an estuary. It is not difficult to see why the Knysna Estuary is considered by many as the jewel of the Garden Route and it is certainly the very heart of Knysna itself.

The Heads

The most dramatic feature of the estuary is unarguably its opening to the ocean at The Heads.

The Estuary

Several viewpoints offer Instagram-worthy vistas: East Head, West Head, and Margaret’s.

Leisure

The geographic arrangement of the informal settlements and the alarming rate at which they have grown over the years coupled with ageing (or no) infrastructure to deal with sewerage has resulted in human effluent being flushed into the estuary at several locations.

Swimming

The best swimming is to be had at Bollard Bay and the NSRI Station near the East Head.

Boating

All vessels must have a valid SANParks vessel permit, you need a valid skipper’s licence, and your boat needs to be appropriately registered and equipped.

The boating community is more than adequately represented by the Knysna Yacht Club and the Leisure Isle Boat Club.

Knysna Angling & Diving Association

Slipways

There is a public slipway at the old Crab’s Creek site.

Fishing

Valid permits (obtainable from the Post Office) are required for fishing and bait collecting.

Flora & fauna

The estuary is home to fish and an array of mud-loving crawlies, as well as the odd dolphin and shark. At least one seal appears to be a resident and is known to have nibbled occasionally on the local swimming group members.

I have been told the sea horse population is healthy in the protected canals of the Thesen Islands Marina.

Development

I first lived in Knysna from 1997 to 1999. I moved as part of a team opening a restaurant in the new Knysna Waterfront, arriving months before the completion of the development. I remember the overwhelming sentiment of the townsfolk was against the new waterfront and indeed against any further development in the area, specifically if it involved the area’s natural assets in any way. Many will remember the opposition against rerouting the N2 through the Knysna Forest north of Knysna.

Oyster farming

Knysna was famous for its cultivated oysters. The temperature of the water is now too warm, the water quality too poor and the industry shut down. The old oyster beds are still visible as they are slowly reclaimed by nature.

Knysna Waterfront & Small Craft Harbour

The Knysna waterfront development was completed in 1997. It includes restaurants, shops and a yacht basin.

Knysna Quays Marina

At the same time the Knysna Waterfront was being built, construction of the Knysna Quays Marina began.

Thesens Islands Marina

Read about the development of the Thesen Islands in the Thesen Islands and Thesen Islands Heritage Walk posts.

While development is inevitable, it can be done in a conservation-friendly manner. The only complaint I have is that I believe the causeway with its single small bridge is insufficient for the water flowing through the Ashmead Channel.

Bridges

The N2 has always needed a bridge across the estuary. Perhaps it would have been better to have constructed the bridge as a single span at the location of the old Concrete Bridge, or the Red Bridge.

I wonder if they would be allowed to construct the current White Bridge in this day and age; the causeway is built on salt marshes preventing any changes to the course of the river that may have occurred naturally over the years.

Read Bridges of Knysna for more information.