The History of Knysna
Knysna is 22.6km from Rheenedal, where Forest Edge Nature Lover’s Retreat Accommodation is situated and our closest large town. You may have visited our area a few times, for its beauty but the whole Garden Route is rich in history and here might be a few things you did not know?
Knysna derives its name from the Khoisan meaning place of wood or fern leaves. The early inhabitants were the Khoi Khoi and travelled all the way from Botswana to make this their home over 2000 years ago.
In 1878 a gold nugget was discovered in the Karatara River, near Ruitegevlei, in the Millwood forest, and this was declared a goldfield, the first in South Africa, BUT there was not enough gold and the mining industry collapsed after many people rushed to find gold, as a result, many of the miners relocated to Knysna.
Did you know the Geo. Parks and Sons LTD, the hardwood timber company, which is still trading today was established in 1882?
The Knysna Lagoon is a warm-water estuary and is fed by the Knysna River. The Estuary is home to several tree species including, the Ironwood, Stinkwood, Outeniqua Yellowwood, Reall Yellowwood, Cape Holly, White Pear, Cape beech, Bastard Saffron, Cape Plane, Assegai Tree, Kamassi, White Alder and Red Alder. There is nothing as special as wondering amongst these giants and listing to the rustle of their leaves and the fresh smell of the damp environment.
The Knysna Estuary is the most bio-diverse in all of South Africa and has two rare species that call it their home, the Knysna Seahorse, who has survived 40 million years, and the Knysna Goby, a fish species.
Knysna still has one African Elephant and leopards, along with Bushbuck, Blue Duikers, Bushpigs and many small little aminals, not to mention the reptiles, insects and amphibians and of course our abundance of Birdlife, including the Knysna Loerie, Knysna woodpecker and of course the Nerina Trogan.
There is so much to explore along the Garden Route and is why our visitors make our destination one of their favourite one, and many return yearly to visit Forest Edge Nature Lover’s retreat in, Rheenendal, Knysna.
Forest Greetings
(Photo Credit: Andrew Aveley)





