From Storm’s River we continue along the Garden route, first stopping at Plettenberg Bay. It is a wide arc of sand next to the Keurboom river estuary, with a series of incoming waves stretching far out into the bay. The town is rather built- up, and there is little direct access to the beach, but it’s bustling and colorful, with lots of attractive cafes lining the main drag. It’s fabulous weather, and we enjoy a light lunch in the sunshine before continuing on to the Knysna area.
Knysna is a smallish town which lies in the heart of the country’s old lumber territory. The Knysna River flows into a large lagoon, which then narrows between two massive headlands as it meets the sea. The lagoon draws lots of watersport enthusiasts in the summer, and the Heads, as they are known, command beautiful views of the area and the ocean. The East Head is residential, while the West Head is in a private reserve called the Featherbeds.
We stay in the cottages at Brenton on Sea—once again rejoining my parents--, a collection of mostly summer homes that sit on the cliff overlooking the open ocean just adjacent to the Featherbed Reserve. Below lies a wide crescent of empty beach rimmed on one end by a huge rock, and about 7 km further on by the hamlet of Buffalo Bay. The beach offers spectacular walking at all times of day, and we indulge frequently.
On one of the days we go on the only possible excursion for visiting the Featherbed Reserve, a combo of boat across the lagoon with ride up the mountain, and then a pleasant hike back down to the dock. The views are lovely, and the trail visits sea caves, and skirts the lagoon where a lone seal is frolicking. After three nights we’re ready to move just down the road to George.
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