# Knysna Municipality, Eden District, Western Cape Province

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/knysna/

Local municipality · Eden District 

# Knysna

Knysna is a local municipality of South Africa in Eden District, Western Cape Province. It had an estimated **82,951 people** in 2020 on 1,109 km² (about 75 per km²). 56 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 475 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 82,951people (2020)
- 1,109km²
- 475mapped services
- 205 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Knysna?

Knysna had an estimated **82,951 people** in 2020 — 12.3% of Eden District, 118th of 190 local municipalities. There are 981 women for every 1,000 men (below the Eden District figure of 1,003). Spread over 1,109 km², that is about **75 people per km²**, 50th of 190 local municipalities.

23.5% of people are children under 15 and 9.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 32 across Eden District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 50 children and older people.

0–4 ****6,725**

5–9 ****6,459**

10–14 ****6,348**

15–19 ****5,353**

20–24 ****5,560**

25–29 ****7,019**

30–34 ****8,236**

35–39 ****7,486**

40–44 ****6,184**

45–49 ****4,550**

50–54 ****3,852**

55–59 ****3,542**

60–64 ****3,599**

65–69 ****3,244**

70–74 ****2,467**

75–79 ****1,365**

80+ ****962**

Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Where is Knysna?

Knysna lies in [Eden District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/), [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 2 other local municipalities: [Bitou](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/bitou/) and [George](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/george/). By area it is the 201st largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 4.8% of [Eden District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/eden/). The centre of Knysna is about 1,041 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 47 km from George, the main town of Eden District. The centre point is at 33.9471° S, 22.9762° E. Local names: WC048 .

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf).

## Things to see in and around Knysna

OpenStreetMap lists 45 named sights in Knysna: 13 nature reserves; 13 attractions; 11 viewpoints; 2 memorials; 2 beachs; 1 monument; 1 waterfall; 1 museum; 1 gallery.

- The Motorcycle Room · museum
- Maelstrom Falls · waterfall
- Brenton Blue Butterfly Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Buffalo Valley Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Eastford Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Featherbed Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Garden Route National Park · nature reserve
- Goukamma Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Lelievlei Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Pledge Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Roots Nursery · nature reserve
- Skuilte Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- The Lakes Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Westford Bridge Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Ysternek Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Knysna Beach · beach
- Moonlight Beach · beach
- 1st Beach · viewpoint
- 2nd beach · viewpoint
- 3rd Beach · viewpoint
- Benton on Sea View point · viewpoint
- Bird Hide · viewpoint
- Eastern Heads Views · viewpoint
- Heads Lookout · viewpoint
- Knysna Beach Lookout · viewpoint
- Margaret's Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Sedgeview · viewpoint
- Spitskop · viewpoint
- Belvidere Manor Houseroad · attraction
- Bendigo Mines · attraction

…and 15 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Knysna

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- CurrencyRand (ZAR)
- Country calling code+27
- LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug typesType C, D · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- George Airport (GRJ) · George55 km
- Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) · Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)244 km

### Nearest railway station

Keytersnek (Knysna), about 10 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.4 hours, sunrise around 05:11) and shortest in Jun (about 9.9 hours, sunrise around 07:30, sunset around 17:25).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Knysna

Open gazetteers list **56 villages, towns and localities** in Knysna. The largest with a recorded population: Knysna (68,659), Sedgefield (10,069) and Rheenendal (4,715). Settlements here lie between about 6 m and 570 m above sea level (median 205 m).

- Barrington
- Belvedere Estate
- Belvidere
- Bibby’s Hoek
- Bracken Hill
- Brenton
- Brenton-on-Sea
- Buffel's Bay
- Buffelsbaai
- Costa Sarda
- Die Hoek
- Diepwalle
- Farleigh
- Fisher Haven
- Fisher's Haven
- Flenter
- Fraaisig
- Garden Route
- Goukamma
- Gouna
- Green Pastures
- Heuwelkruin
- Highland Home
- Hornlee
- Hunter's Village
- Hunters Home
- Karatara
- Karatara Settlement
- Kingfisher Creek
- Kleinrivier
- Knysna
- Knysna Heights
- Knysna Industrial
- Kruisvallei
- Leeuwbosch
- Leisure Isle
- Lower Central Town
- Lower Old Place
- Nekkies
- Noetsie
- Noetzie
- Pezulu Private Estate
- Phantom Acres
- Rexford
- Rheenendal
- Rykmanshoogte
- Sedgefield
- Sonskyn
- Sparrebosch
- Sunridge
- The Heads
- Upper Central Town
- Upper Old Place
- Westford Bridge
- Westhill
- Xolweni

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Knysna

Named natural and historic features inside Knysna, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

21 rivers and streams; 3 lakes.

- Dieprivier
- Dwarsrivier
- Forest Creek
- Goukamma
- Gounarivier
- Groenvlei
- Homtinirivier
- Hoëkraalrivier
- Karatararivier
- Knysnarivier
- Kruisrivier
- Lawnwood River
- Millwood Creek
- Noetsierivier
- Oubosrivier
- Petrus Brandrivier
- Plaatrivier
- Platbosrivier
- Rondebosrivier
- Rondevlei
- Rooielsrivier
- Rooirivier
- Steenbrasrivier
- Swartvlei

### Coast and islands

10 headlands; 2 islands; 2 lagoons; 1 beach.

- Black Point
- East Cape
- Fountain Point
- Green Point
- Inner Obelisk Point
- Knysna Lagoon
- Leisure Island
- Monkey Point
- Needles Point
- Outer Obelisk Point
- Rowwehoek
- Sedgefield Lagoon
- Swartvleistrand
- Thesen's Island
- Walker Point

### Hills and mountains

23 hills; 9 mountains; 1 mountain pass; 1 valley.

- Spitskop High site · 1,433 m
- Taitsberg · 1,155 m
- Kagiesberg · 1,143 m
- Taitskop · 1,024 m
- Barkhuizenberg · 1,019 m
- Spitskop · 975 m
- Platboshoogte · 955 m
- Spitskop · 923 m
- Dubbelberg · 908 m
- Spitskop · 892 m
- Skoonberg · 885 m
- Jonkersberg · 855 m
- Klein-Spitskop · 782 m
- Middelberg · 755 m
- Platboskop · 727 m
- Boskop · 721 m
- Perdekop · 718 m
- Portland Height · 707 m
- Dal van Varings · 690 m
- Ratelkop · 667 m
- Maraiskop · 636 m
- Zeeliesrug · 622 m
- Keurkop · 600 m
- Nols se Kop · 582 m

…and 10 more.

### Forests and nature

21 forests; 1 forest reserve; 1 nature reserve.

- Bendigo Bush
- Bloubos
- Bracken Hill Forest
- Concordia Forest Reserve
- Goudveldbos
- Goukamma Nature Reserve
- Gounabos
- Groot-Grysbos
- Klein-Gounabos
- Klein-Grysbos
- Kleinbos
- Klesbos
- Kom se Bos
- Kransbos
- Laer Streepbos
- Lawnwood Forest
- Lielievleibos
- Main Forest
- Mill Wood Forest
- Platbos
- Quar Forest
- Skuinsbos
- Sour Plats Forest

### Getting around

1 airport; 1 airfield; 1 harbour.

- Knysna 5
- Knysna Harbour
- Knysna N.W.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Knysna and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Eden District, the warmest month is Feb (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (14 °C). About 480 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (52 mm) and the driest May (31 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to December**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 21 34 

Feb 21 35 

Mar 20 49 

Apr 18 40 

May 16 31 

Jun 14 38 

Jul 14 38 

Aug 14 52 

Sep 15 35 

Oct 17 43 

Nov 18 51 

Dec 20 34 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Knysna

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Knysna Provincial Hospital · Knysna 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03691&mlon=23.05845#map=17/-34.03691/23.05845) 

Bank Nedbank · Knysna 11 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03683&mlon=23.02829#map=17/-34.03683/23.02829) 

ATM Capitec Bank ATM · Knysna 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03547&mlon=23.04388#map=17/-34.03547/23.04388) 

Petrol pump TotalEnergies · Knysna 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03610&mlon=23.04070#map=17/-34.03610/23.04070) 

Hotel Timber Cabin · Knysna 2.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.92959&mlon=22.97495#map=17/-33.92959/22.97495) 

Mall Milkwood Square · Knysna 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03471&mlon=23.04402#map=17/-34.03471/23.04402) 

School Debbie's Daycare · Knysna 3.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.94724&mlon=22.93668#map=17/-33.94724/22.93668) 

Police station Knysna Police Station · Knysna 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-34.03598&mlon=23.05158#map=17/-34.03598/23.05158) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Knysna

Places mapped inside Knysna in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals6
- Banks12
- ATMs8
- Petrol pumps23
- Hotels153
- Shopping malls13
- Schools76
- Pharmacies14
- Restaurants162
- Police stations3
- Dental clinics5

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other local municipalities in Eden District

- Bitou
- George
- Hessequa
- Kannaland
- Mossel Bay
- Oudtshoorn

## Quick answers

- Where is Knysna?In Eden District, Western Cape Province, South Africa
- What is the population of Knysna?82,951 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Knysna?About 32 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Knysna?About 75 people per km²
- What borders Knysna?Bitou and George
- What is there to see in Knysna?1st Beach, 2nd beach, 3rd Beach, Belvidere Manor Houseroad
- What time zone is Knysna in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Knysna?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Knysna?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Knysna?56 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Knysna?Settlements lie between 6 m and 570 m
- What is the highest point in Knysna?Spitskop High site (1,433 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Knysna?January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Knysna?Knysna Provincial Hospital, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Knysna?Nedbank, about 11 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Knysna?Capitec Bank ATM, about 12 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Knysna?TotalEnergies, about 12 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Knysna?6 mapped
- How many banks are in Knysna?12 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Knysna?8 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Knysna?23 mapped
- What is the P-code of Knysna?ZA1048 (OCHA common operational dataset)