Page 247 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE GARDEN ROUTE T O GR AHA MST OWN  245

that range from 12 km (7 miles)
to 23 km (14 miles), and emerge
from the forest to reveal some
dramatic coastal scenery.
Although walking is permitted
along these trails, the nearby
Kranshoek Trail, is surely a
contender for South Africa’s
loveliest coastal day hike. Only 9
km (6 miles) long, this circular trail
passes through an exceptional
variety of habitats, including
Young wild African elephants playing in Knysna Elephant Park indigenous forest, rocky seashore
and patches of Protea-studded
4 Featherbed Co. and a wealth of forest birds such coastal fynbos. On the north side
Knysna Quays, Water front Drive. as the green-and-scarlet Knysna of the N2, shortly after it exits
Tel 044 382 1693. &
∑ knysnafeatherbed.com turaco, Knysna wood-pecker and Harkerville Forest, lies Knysna
Knysna scrub warbler. Elephant Park; a refuge and
4 Knysna Charters Northwest of town, Goldfields rehabilitation centre for
Long St, Thesen Island. Tel 082 892 Drive leads to a picnic site at unwanted elephants – orphans,
0469. ∑ knysnacharters.com Jubilee Creek lined with gold- individuals rescued from culls,
Mitchell’s Brewery panning relics, then on to the old former circus animals. Several of
New St. Tel 044 382 4685. mineshafts and machinery of the 40-plus elephants that have
8 12:30pm & 2.30pm Mon-Fri. Millwood, a former gold-mining passed through the facility since
∑ mitchellsbrewery.com settlement. A scenic drive north it started in 1994 have been
of Knysna leads to the Diep- relocated to other reserves, while
O Pledge Nature Reserve walle Forest Station, the start others remain as part of a small
Bond St. Tel 044 382 3712. point of a cycling route and the permanent herd. The park is a hit
Open summer: 7am–6pm daily; circular Elephant Walk. The with children, who take delight in
winter: 8am–5pm daily. Diepwalle Forest is also touching, feeding or walking
∑ pledgenaturereserve.org home to the King with these relaxed animals.
Edward Tree, a
Y Knysna’s Forests gigantic Outeniqua O Diepwalle Forest Station
Knysna is surrounded by yellowwood that R339, 20 km (12 miles) N of Knysna.
some of South Africa’s stands 39 m (128 ft) Tel 044 382 9762. Open 6am–6pm
most magnificent tall, has a circum- daily. ∑ sanparks.org
indigenous forests. These ference of 7 m (23 ft), and
were protected in a patch- is around 650 years old. O Harkerville Forestry Station
work of state forest reserves, On the north side of the N2, east N2, 15 km (9 miles) east of Knysna.
including Diepwalle and of Knysna, the “Garden of Tel 044 532 7770. Open 6am–6pm
Harkerville, prior to 2009, Watsonia Eden” is a patch of forest daily. ∑ sanparks.org
when 600 km (373 miles) of flower that can be explored along
forest around Knysna was a few short circular trails O Knysna Elephant Park
amalgamated into the newly where many trees are labelled. N2, 20 km (12 miles) east of Knysna.
created Garden Route National On the opposite side of the N2, Tel 044 532 7732. Open 8:30am–
Park. This can be explored along Harkerville Forest is traversed 4pm daily. ∑ knysnaelephant
many walking trails, scenic drives, by a set of mountain-biking trails park.co.za
cycling routes and picnic sites.
Despite past logging, the cool
evergreen forests around Knysna
support many impressively old
Outeniqua yellowwood, iron-
wood and stinkwood trees, while
the lichen-draped bark, lush ferns
and twisted lianas create a fairy-
tale atmosphere. Plenty of wild-
life inhabits the forest. The
famously elusive Knysna
elephants represent the last free-
ranging population in South
Africa, with only half a dozen
individuals surviving. More likely
to be seen are blue duiker, bush-
buck, vervet monkey, bushpig Hiker backpacking along the scenic Harkerville Coast

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