Or derived from the Hottentot word Xthuys Xna, which means the place where the wood is. It was a description of the Knysna River that meanders through the thick indigenous forest and through deep and often inaccessible gorges before it finally flows into the lagoon.

The Knysna Heads flank a deep but potentially treacherous channel through which the sea pours in to flood the wide and beautiful lagoon at the mouth of the Knysna River.

In the year 1804, the rumoured illegitimate son of King George the III set up home in Knysna. He purchased the estate known as Melkhoutkraal on the shores of the lagoon and moved his entire family and considerable entourage down to Knysna to settle. This is when the European history of Knysna began; the official founding of the settlement of Knysna took place in 1825. In 1851 Knysna was declared a municipality and in 1881 a town.

However one look at the lagoon and it is not difficult to imagine sailors taking refuge here over the centuries, to escape storms, and refit their ships, with the trees from the Knysna forest making excellent replacement timber and masts.

The Knysna forest was home to elephants especially adapted for living in forest conditions, human expansion into the forest, the reduction of its habitat, and hunting had a major effect on the elephant population. By the end of the 1980s the Knysna forest elephant were almost extinct, there was rumoured to one female left. However recent evidence suggests that there may be up to 12 elephants living in the forest. The Knysna forest is now protected.

The famous Choo Choo steam train no longer runs from George to Knysna, as a result of mud slides in July 2006, however if you want to ride this train, you can ride from George to Mossel Bay.

Alluvial gold was found here in 1885, which caused a rush to the area, Jubilee Creek,(Mill wood Gold Mines)  the exact spot where gold was found, provides a tranquil and beautiful picnic area, with many enjoyable forest walks in the area.

Knysna continued to develop over the years and became South Africa's favourite town of the year for a few years in a row, it has now received international recognition for the gem it is - it was named as one of the Top 100 Destinations in the World and one of the Top 25 in Africa by the Trip Advisor, 2008 Travellers' Choice Destinations Awards. With a rich history, gourmet restaurants and a variety of art & craft rambles to add, this is also the ideal base for exploring the rest of the Garden Route.