Knysna | |
|---|---|
 .jpg)     From top: Aerial view of Knysna and its waterfront area, with the lagoon visible in the background to the right. Left: Knysna viewed from the West. Right: The Royal Hotel. Left:Holy Trinity Church. Right:Tsitsikamma Forests. Bottom:Knysna Heads | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Concilio et Prudentia (Latin:With Co-operation and Prudence) | |
  Knysna  Knysna  Knysna | |
| Coordinates:34°02′08″S23°02′56″E / 34.03556°S 23.04889°E /-34.03556; 23.04889 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Garden Route |
| Municipality | Knysna |
| Established | 1871[1] |
| Government | |
| • Councillor | Peter Bester (Ward 10) (DA)[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 108.77 km2 (42.00 sq mi) |
| Population (2019)[4] | |
• Total | 76,150 |
| • Density | 700.1/km2 (1,813/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 42.8% |
| • Coloured | 36.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
| • White | 18.3% |
| • Other | 1.6% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 45.6% |
| • Xhosa | 34.4% |
| • English | 14.7% |
| • Other | 5.3% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6570 |
| PO box | 6570 |
| Area code | 044 |
| Website | http://www.knysna.gov.za/ |
Knysna (/ˈnaɪznə/;Afrikaans pronunciation:[ˈnəisna]) is a coastaltown with 76,150 inhabitants (as of 2019) in theWestern Cape province ofSouth Africa. It is one of the destinations in the lushGarden Route region.
Knysna is situated 60 kilometres east of the city ofGeorge, and 33 kilometres west ofPlettenberg Bay, on theN2 freeway.
A number of explanations exist for the origins of the name "Knysna" – includingxthys xna, purportedly from aKhoekhoe language term that might have meant "place of timber", "place of ferns", or even "straight down"[5][6] (referring to the cliffs at The Heads).
However, it is also likely that the name is related to, or a derivative of, similar place names that do or have existed in other parts of Africa.[speculation?] In colonial timesLake Malawi was known as Lake Nyasa (very similar to "Knysna"), whileWebster's Universal Unabridged Dictionary[7] defines the word "nyanza" as a noun: "(African): An expanse of water, as a lake or wide river".[citation needed]
Forty fossilised hominid footprints, dating to about 90,000 years ago, along with various other archaeological discoveries suggest that humans have lived in Knysna for well over 300,000 years. The first of these were variousSanHunter-gatherer peoples who inhabited most ofSouthern Africa inPaleolithic. The San were gradually displaced and absorbed by south migratingKhoekhoe peoples.[8][9]
The indigenous inhabitants of the Knysna area are a southernKhoekhoe people called theHoutunqua orOuteniqua. Their name means "The People Who Bear Honey".[10][11] From theKhoekhoegowab words/hao, 'honey',tun'(teni), 'to carry (verb)', andkhoe rendered asqua, meaningpeople.[12]
Little is known about Houtunqua society prior toEuropean contact. What little historical sources exist are not elaborate. It is suspected that at the height of the Houtunqua's society, their territory stretched from the mouth of theKrom River in the east, along theOuteniqua Mountains which bear their name, up until the mouth of theGrootbrak River in the west.[13]
The Houtunqua seem to have remained autonomous from theInqua (Hamcumqua) expansion in the north with smaller Khoekhoe tribes such as the Gamtobaqua[14] coming into the fold of the Houtunqua to seek protection from the ever expanding Inqua to the north east. The Houtunqua were connected to trades routes with theAttaqua andHessequa to the west.[15]
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Houtunqua kept livestock and practisedNomadic Pastoralism but made extensive use of the resources inmountain forests. Excavations in the region have unearthed many caves showing signs of pre-colonial occupation.The discovery ofshell middens at Knoetzie beach confirms the idea that like other Khoekhoe peoples, the Houtuniqua made use of the ocean for its resources.[16][17]
Oral tradition among the Houtunqua tells how the Houtunqua held specific superstitions about Europeans and believed them to be "baleful spirits". Thus the Houtunqua went out of their way to avoid contact with Europeans. Where other Khoekhoe tribes established formal relations and trade with Europeans, the Houtunqua receded deeper and deeper into the mountain forests.[18] As a result, the Houtunqua disappeared from the historical record for some time with some Houtunqua eventually assimilating into colonial society of the time.Chief Dikkop, who died in 1816, was the last recorded Chief of the Houtunqua.[19][20]
The first Europeans arrived in the area in 1760, and the farmMelkhoutkraal (literally translating fromAfrikaans as "milk wood pen") was established on the eastern shore of the Knysna Lagoon. Stephanus Terblans, the first European farmer to settle in the area, was given a loan permit to farm here in 1770.
Upon moving to KnysnaGeorge Rex, a British-born entrepreneur credited as being the founder of Knysna, acquired the loan rights to Melkhoutkraal in 1804 and later, in 1816, to the farmWelbedacht, which he renamedEastford.[21] He gave 80 acres (32 ha) of Eastford to theColonial Government, on which theRoyal Navy established the township of Melville. Rex's properties were sold when he died in 1839.
In April 1817, the transport brigEmu, belonging to the Cape Town Dockyard, was the first European vessel to enter the Knysna Heads. She struck a rock, now known as Emu Rock, and was holed.[22] Her crew ranEmu ashore to prevent her sinking. In late AprilHMS Podargus arrived to render assistance.[23] After surveying the area,Podargus sailed safely into the Knysna and retrievedEmu's cargo.[22]
The next major settler in Knysna was Captain Thomas Henry Duthie, who married Caroline, George Rex's daughter, and bought a portion of the Uitzigt farm from his father-in-law which Rex had namedBelvidere.[24] The construction of a smallNorman-style church was commissioned by Duthie on his property, and was consecrated in 1855. The settlement's population grew slowly, and Englishmen such as Henry Barrington and Lt. Col. John Sutherland, who established the settlement of Newhaven on a portion of purchased land, settled in the area. At the time, Knysna was afield cornetcy ofPlettenberg Bay within the Magisterial Division ofGeorge. In 1858, Knysna became a separate Magisterial Division, new stores and accommodation facilities were opened, and Knysna became the new commercial centre of the region.
On their way toNew Zealand, the Thesen family who were travelling fromNorway fancied the little hamlet of Knysna so much that they decided to stay, bringing with them their knowledge ofcommerce andsailing. Soon,timber was being exported to theCape from the vast areas of forest surrounding Knysna, and a steamsawmill and smallshipyard were established. Later, these were relocated to Paarden Island, later known as Thesen's Island.
In 1878, an important discovery was made in the area. A gold nugget was found in the Karatara River, nearRuigtevlei. Soon fortune hunters from all over the world arrived at theMillwood Forest in search of gold, and Millwood grew into a bustling town. Millwood was declared agold field, the first in South Africa. However, soon not enough gold was being recovered to sustain a growing town, and the mining industry in the area collapsed. Some miners relocated to Knysna, bringing their little homes with them. One of the houses, known as "Millwood House", now functions as amuseum.
By 1880 over 1000 people had settled in Knysna.[25] In 1882, the settlements of Newhaven, Melville and the "wedge" of land between the two villages wereamalgamated to form themunicipality of "The Knysna", named after theKnysna River.
Knysna's timber industry peaked whenGeorge Parkes arrived fromBritain and saw the opportunity to use thehardwoods of theKnysna Forest for export to elsewhere in the country, and even overseas. He established the Knysna Forest Company, later renamed Geo. Parkes and Sons Ltd., which is still trading to this day.
On 7 June 2017, fuelled by strong winds from a severe storm -the Cape Storm of 2017- coming in from the west, a fire swept through the town and surrounding areas. Killing nine as a direct result of the fires and another two indirectly and displacing around 10,000 people from all walks of life.[26][27] Initially reported asarson,[28] the cause of the fire was later revealed to have been lightning.[29]
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The town is primarily built on the northern shore of a large warm-waterestuary, known as the Knysna Lagoon, which is fed by the Knysna River. The estuary opens to the ocean after passing between two largeheadlands made up of Peninsula Formation quartzites.[30] These are popularly known as "The Heads", and have become infamous due to the loss of boats and fishermen passing through their treacherous and unpredictable waters. ThePaquita, a German vessel, sank on the eastern side of the Knysna Heads in 1903. Near them are geological formations, known locally as "The Map Stones". To the north of Knysna,Afro-Montane or temperate rainforest covers the hilly terrain for 20 km until changing tofynbos ormacchia high in theOuteniqua Mountains. The eastern head is heavily developed, while the western head is partially protected by a private nature reserve,Featherbed Nature Reserve, developed and formerly owned by teacher and television presenterWilliam Smith on land he inherited from his father, famed ichthyologistJ. L. B. Smith.[31]
Knysna has anoceanic climate (Cfb in theKöppen climate classification). Summers are warm and winters mild. During the summer, the average maximum temperature reaches about 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely goes above 30 °C (86 °F). The average maximum temperature during the winter months ranges in the area of 17 °C (63 °F) to 18 °C (64 °F). Knysna has one of the richest rainfall percentages in South Africa with the wettest time of year being from October to November. Knysna stays green in all seasons, and its temperate climate makes it a tourist destination all year round.[32]
| Climate data for Knysna | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.6 (74.5) | 22.7 (72.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 19.6 (67.3) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.3 (63.1) | 17.5 (63.5) | 18.1 (64.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 20.4 (68.7) | 22.3 (72.1) | 20.3 (68.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.4 (63.3) | 16.3 (61.3) | 14.2 (57.6) | 12.5 (54.5) | 10.3 (50.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 10.1 (50.2) | 10.9 (51.6) | 12.6 (54.7) | 13.9 (57.0) | 15.9 (60.6) | 13.4 (56.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 62.4 (2.46) | 55.2 (2.17) | 81 (3.2) | 60.2 (2.37) | 38.5 (1.52) | 31.7 (1.25) | 35.9 (1.41) | 67.5 (2.66) | 44.2 (1.74) | 86.5 (3.41) | 93.7 (3.69) | 62.5 (2.46) | 719.3 (28.34) |
| Average rainy days | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 145 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Source 1: Climate-Data.org[33] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Holiday Weather.com[34] | |||||||||||||
The town is a popular destination for both tourists and senior citizens entering retirement, especially among theBritish and former expatriates due to the year-round warm climate. Recently, the town has also become a preferred destination among golfers, as the town boasts several world classgolf courses, including Pezula Golf Course, Simola Golf Course and the well established Knysna Golf Course situated on the lagoon. It is near the towns of Plettenberg Bay and George, where there are airports. Knysna is also home toMitchell's Brewery although the company no longer brews beers in the town. The forest, rivers, estuary, and ocean surrounding the town are dotted with hiking trails and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Hikers, runners, kayakers, swimmers, and fishermen are known to be particularly fond of Knysna.
Knysna hosts a variety of annual events, which draw local and international visitors alike. Such events include the Knysna Oyster Festival in late June and/or early July; thePink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival at the end of April and/or beginning of May; the Knysna Speed Festival takes place in the first week of May, the highlight of the week being the Simola Hillclimb. TheRastafarian Earth Festival takes place at the end of July, celebrating Rastafarian religion, culture and lifestyle.
The Knysna Oyster Festival, held annually in late June/early July, is the town's oldest event. The duration of the festival is ten days. It was first held in 1983. Approximately 200,000oysters are consumed over the 10-day period. Many sporting activities take place, such as rugby, golf, bowls, squash, cycling andmarathons. The Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon, as well as the Rotary Cycle Tour, draw many sporting enthusiasts to the town.[35] TheCOVID-19 pandemic deferred the 2020 festival to 2021.
The best-known hillclimb event inSouth Africa is held annually in early May during the Knysna Speed Festival, currently known asThe Simola Hillclimb.[36] It is a four-day event, starting with a four day Fan Fest starting on the Thursday prior to the event, before track action starts with Classic Car Friday reserved for cars built prior to 1990 and restricted to 65 entries. The King of the Hill Challenge (limited to 84 entries), for unrestricted cars in various classes, takes place over the weekend. The Saturday is for practice and pre-qualifying, while Sunday features the "hot" cars taking on final qualifying and the final runs. The course length is 1.9 km (1.2 mi) up Simola Hill. It is very fast with the 2022 winning average speed being 200.228 km/h (124.416 mph).[citation needed]. 2024 will be the fourteenth running of the event, which was founded in 2009. There was no event in 2013 nor 2020 due to COVID-19. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it ran without spectators in 2021, with limited spectators in 2022 before returning to an unrestricted event in 2023. Former World Rally, and two-time World Rallycross, Champion Petter Solberg, former Formula One driver, and Le Mans winner, Mika Salo and five-time Finnish Rally champion Henning Solberg competed in the 2023 event.
The Knysna municipality assumed a coat of arms in 1959, and registered them with the Cape Provincial Administration on 24 June 1960.[37]
The arms, which were designed byIvan Mitford-Barberton, are:Quarterly, I Or a white horse's head couped at the neck proper; II Azure a fern frond in bend sinister Argent; III Azure a yellowwood tree Or; IV Or an elephant's head caboshed proper (in layman's terms: the shield is quartered, 1 a white horse's head on a gold background, 2 a silver fern frond on a blue background, 3 a yellowwood tree on a blue background and 4 an elephant's head on a gold background). The crest is a sailing ship, and the mottoConcilio et prudentia.
The Knysna divisional council (the local authority for the rural areas outside the town) assumed a coat of arms in 1961 and registered them with the provincial administration on 28 July 1961.[38]
The arms, designed by Schalk Pienaar, were:Per saltire, I Or on a mount Vert a stinkwood tree proper; II & III Argent three bars wavy Azure; IV Vert the brig Knysna proper the sails charged with two lions rampant Gules and pennants flotant Azure. In layman's terms: the shield is divided into four sections by two diagonal lines, the top section displays a stinkwood tree on a golden background, the left and right sections display three wavy blue stripes against a silver background, and the bottom section displays a brig named 'Knysna' with red lions on the sails and a blue pennant flying from the mast. The motto wasPulchra terra Dei donum.
Municipalities and communities ofGarden Route District Municipality,Western Cape | ||
|---|---|---|
District seat:George | ||
| Bitou | .svg) | |
| George | ||
| Hessequa | ||
| Kannaland | ||
| Knysna | ||
| Mossel Bay | ||
| Oudtshoorn | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
