The channel
Waves between lagoon and ocean.
robertsharp — CC BY 2.0 · Dietmar Rabich — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as long as you credit its author, Ad Meskens. Example: © Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons If you use this work outside of the Wikimedia projec — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Knysna Heads are two sandstone cliffs guarding the narrow channel between Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean, on South Africa's Garden Route. They are the best known sight of this coastal town, and visitors come to watch waves break on the rocks, with a calm lagoon on one side and open sea on the other. Knysna's history is tied to this channel. The town's founding is credited to the British entrepreneur George Rex, who settled on the lagoon's eastern shore. The brig Emu was the first European vessel to enter the Heads. She struck the rock now named after her, and her crew ran her ashore to stop her sinking. Crossing here is still hard for boats because of the currents. You can drive to the eastern head, which has houses, viewing platforms, coloured rocks and a small white beacon on the rocks. Blue water lies ahead, and opposite stands the green cliff of the western head, home to the private Featherbed reserve, reached by ferry across the lagoon. From the top of the cliff you see the whole scene, including yachts heading into the lagoon. It is 4.7 km in a straight line from central Knysna, a short drive. Wear non-slip shoes on the rocks and keep back from the edge when the swell is high, as this is no place for swimming. The light is best in the morning, when the sun falls on the western cliff. Robberg is 31 km away in a straight line, so both fit in one day.
Waves between lagoon and ocean.
On the eastern head.
Green above the blue water.
Mouth of Knysna Lagoon, Garden Route, Western Cape
The channel is not suitable because of waves and currents, so stay on the viewpoints.
Ferries cross the lagoon to the private Featherbed reserve, which needs booking.