Top South African Lifestyle Blog
The Majestic Garden Route and East Coast are one of our favourite local destinations in South Africa. The trip from Cape Town to Knysna is approximately six hours by road. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit, and you are in complete awe of the beauty that surrounds you. It also allows me to indulge my passion for photography!
The Milkwood tree, which is synonymous with the area, has a distinct smell. I associate this smell with that ‘holiday feeling’; it lets you know you are away from it all. The resort Under Milkwood, on Knysna Heads, takes its name from these majestic trees.
We have enjoyed many memorable holidays in Knysna and after a break of two years returned, this year, for our Easter break. Our choice of area to stay, in Knysna, is Leisure Isle. If you are lucky enough, you can rent a home directly on the Knysna Lagoon. It offers the tranquility of island style living, with the most fantastic views and the town is a mere 10 min car trip away. The area is ideal for families; children can happily bike ride around the island.
Walking across the Lagoon at low tide is something you have to do, it is a somewhat surreal experience.
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| Looking across the Lagoon towards the Heads |
The Knysna Heads is also a popular area, also with fantastic views from a slightly different perspective, looking down on to Knysna and the Lagoon. The area boasts a handful of restaurants, which as you can imagine, have the most spectacular views.
Thesen Island is a Martha’s Vineyard style development, is a more recent addition to the area and is a very popular choice for holiday rental. We have stayed there in the past but still, prefer the peace and tranquillity of Leisure Isle. The marina on Thesen Island sports many shops and restaurants and a boutique Hotel, catering to holiday makers every need.
Knysna is a skipper’s paradise, with all sorts of vessels on display and plenty of boating shops in the area. There are a variety of boat trips on offer, for those of us who do not own our own boat. These scenic adventures depart from the Knysna Waterfront and provide the seafaring traveller a variety of options; from simple sightseeing to a luxurious trip including a meal and drinks.
If it’s the outdoors that you enjoy, the walks and trails in the area are fantastic. The enchanting Knysna forest is wonderful for children of all ages. It is the largest indigenous forest in South Africa and was once home to vast herds of the Knysna elephant. If you would like to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures, then a visit to Knysna Elephant Park is a must.
Other interesting things to do with children while in the area, other than visiting the beautiful beaches; you can pay a visit to Monkeyland, a primate sanctuary or Birds of Eden, a bird sanctuary. They are both in the Plettenberg Bay direction, heading out of Knysna going East. Both of these venues will keep you and your family enthralled for hours.
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| Lookout Beach Plettenberg Bay |
Although the weather was rather inclement during our trip, this Easter, we still managed to enjoy the sights and do all the touristy things. We were even treated to a trip across the Knysna Lagoon, on a beautiful catamaran, which was a definite highlight of the holiday. Knysna is a place for relaxing and getting away from city life, and we always enjoy it immensely. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful country!
“There is no deformity but in monstrosity; wherein, notwithstanding, there is a kind of beauty; nature so ingeniously contriving the irregular part, as they become sometimes more remarkable than the principal fabrick. To speak yet more narrowly, there was never any thing ugly or misshapen, but the chaos; wherein, notwithstanding, to speak strictly, there was no deformity, because no form; nor was it yet impregnant by the voice of God. Now nature is not at variance with art, nor art with nature; they being both the servants of his providence. Art is the perfection of nature. Were the world now as it was the sixth day, there was yet a chaos. Nature hath made one world, and art another. In brief, all things are artificial; for nature is the art of God.”
From God with Love
~Author Unknown~
Children are a blessing sent from God above
For us to care and nurture and most of all to love.
God calls us to be parents and gives us all the tools
And when we feel like giving up, our strength He will renew.
Children are a gift from God that He so freely lends
To make it through the childhood years, on Him we must depend.
He must have a presence, you see it must take three
The parents, child and Christ at the center to be a family.
From childhood days to a child full grown
Their joys and hurts are a parent’s own.
Times of joy and laughter and those times of tears
The times spent raising a child are surely the best of years.
There comes that time in life when a child will leave the nest
We must send them off with love and a prayer and leave to God the rest.
We’ve have shared the Word of God, we’ve taught them right from wrong.
Now it’s time to let them go and let them write their song.
The faith instilled, the examples lived, and the lessons taught
All gifts that we’ve given our child, which will never be forgotten.
There are many paths a child can take, right or wrong will remain unknown
But rest assured that in the end, they all lead back to home.
