Follow the call of the elusive Loerie or walk in the footsteps of the elephants of old; the ancient Knysna-Amatole montane forest is one of the last of its kind. Dalene Matthee’s Circles in a Forest comes alive with the sweeping of the forest ferns, the rustling leaves of the Cape Holly and the looming shadow of the Outeniqua Mountains. Lose yourself in a world of wonder and enchantment when embarking on one of the many exciting Knysna hiking trails.
Three Elephant Hiking Trails
More than 1000 elephants once roamed the among the ancient vegetation of the Knysna Forest. The famous Knysna inhabitant unfortunately no longer roams the forest. Due to exhaustive hunting in the 20th century and human settlement expansion, the Knysna elephant is no more. The Three Elephant Hiking trails is a commemoration of these great beasts. Take a walk in their footsteps to truly experience the wonders of nature. The trails are made up of The White Elephant trail that includes a lovely rock pool and picnic area, the Black Elephant Trail that passes through the Ysterhoutrug and King Edward VII picnic spots and the Red Elephant Trail which passes through a magnificent little stream that is ideal for a lovely afternoon stroll. In order to access these trails, one needs to acquire a permit from the Diepwalle Forestry Station. Permits are R19p/person.
Mysteries of Millwood Mine
If you’re in the mood for a bit of mystery and adventure, then the Millwood Mine Walk is perfect for you. The Millwood Mine started out much like most mines do, an oblivious passer-by going about his day, stumbles upon a rock that just doesn’t look quite like the others. In an instant, the Millwood town was formed. And just as quickly, once prospectors discovered that there was more hype than gold, the town was deserted. Discover the lost treasures of the Millwood Mine, as you embark on the 5.6km walk through this abandoned town. Tucked away under the green canopy of the mysterious, not only does this walk allow you to travel back in time but it allows you to wonder at the beauty of nature at the same time.
Kick it Up a Gear on the Outeniqua Hiking Trail
This bad boy is not for the faint-hearted. The Outeniqua Hiking Trail is a 108km, 7-day hiking trail. Although the terrain is an easy to slightly difficult walk, a certain level of fitness is required in order to complete the hike. Each day you’ll hike an average of 15km as the hike is separated by evening rest stops. Should you not want to hike for the full 7 days, there are 2 and 3-day hikes available as well. Bookings are made through the Knysna SAN Parks office
If you’re looking for luxury accommodation to rest up before or after you take on one of these amazing hikes, The Turbine Hotel and Spa is the perfect resort for any adventurer. To book your stay, email our friendly reservations team on reservations@turbinehotel.co.za or call +27 44 302 5746.
