Knysna in the News

On Wednesday June 7th, fires devastated the Knysna area; burning for a further 2 weeks and extending over a 300km area from Great Brak to Port Elizabeth. The fires started in the Elandskraal area and spread rapidly (up to 1km in 10 minutes) due to the prolonged drought conditions and 100kph berg winds. This resulted in the evacuation of over 10,000 Knysna residents and the biggest disaster mobilisation in South Africa's history (over 1,200 firefighters, 350 vehicles, 8 helicopters and 2 fixed wing bombers). The fires claimed the lives of 8 people, completely destroyed over 1,000 properties, and damaged another 400. Other casualties included Featherbed Nature Reserve, Pledge Nature Reserve and Timber Village.

Read all the Knysna-Plett Herald fire news ...
Garden Route Fire Watch Facebook page - originally Knysna Fires 7th June

Mila’s Meals: The Beginning & The Basics by Knysna local Catherine Barnhoorn has been awarded the prestigious Best in the World Gourmand World Cookbook Award in the First Book category at the glamorous ceremony held in China on May 28. The Gourmand awards have been celebrating the best food and wine books in the world for the last 22 years. In his letter to Barnhoorn, president of the awards jury Edouard Cointreau wrote, “This massive book is a mother-daughter teamwork. It shares much nutrition information and tips, plus one hundred recipes. The photography is delightful. This is an excellent book.”

Knysna-Plett Herald article
Mila's Meals website   -   Mila's Meals Facebook page

A team of specialist contractors has moved into Knysna to repair the George-Knysna railway line in preparation for the opening of a new tourist train service. The line has been out of commission since 2006, when flood damage forced the closure of the popular Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train between Knysna and George. Now, however, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has appointed Knysna-based Classic Rail as its preferred branch line concessionaire for a period of twenty years.

Read the full Classic Rail media release ...
(New) Outeniqua Choo Tjoe website   -   Classic Rail Facebook page

Picture sourced from the internet

Knysna Yacht Club members William and Lucinda Edwards were crowned world champions at the Prosail World Cat Championships sailed at the German island of Sylt from August 13 to 16.
Earlier, South African and especially Knysna Yacht Club sailors made an exceptional impression at the 2015 Hobie MultiWorlds and Hobie 16 Championships held at Lake Garda Italy between July 23 and August 1. South Africans took three podium finishes, two of them by Knysna sailors!

Read the full Knysna-Plett Herald article ...

Picture courtesy Knynsa-Plett Herald

Two Hiking trails in the Knysna forest also part of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) recently received Green Flag status. Perdekop (9, 5 kilometer nature walk) and Olifants (in Diepwalle) hiking trails were accredited by the Hiking Organisation of Southern Africa (HOSA) on the 14 May 2015. This is a global benchmark for hiking trails and includes the following criteria: Conservation status, health and safety measures, cleanliness and maintenance, sustainability, management and others.

Read full SANParks media release ...
Find out more about Green Flag Trails ...

A romantic comedy set in Knysna.
Written by Emile Hager, directed by Andre Velts, and starring Neels van Jaarsveld and Marguerite Wheatley.

View the YouTube trailer ...
Facebook page
IMDb information

Picture: filming in June 2014 at the Waterfront

Knysna is officially a place of hope for marine life as it was declared a Hope Spot by Dr Sylvia Earle, global marine biologist and diver. Speaking at a launch cocktail function, Earle said the Southern Cape coastline is beautiful and worth conserving. Through her initiative called the Sylvia Earle Alliance she has linked up with the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) in South Africa whose mission is to conserve marine life. Tony Ribbink, CEO of SST said the Hope Spot in Knysna is unique because it is the first estuarine one to be declared in the world. It includes two separate estuaries: the Knysna Estuary, and the Goukamma Lagoon.

Knysna Hope Spot website   -   Facebook page   -   YouTube video
Mission Blue   -   Sustainable Seas Trust   -   Dr. Syvlia Earle

Not quite Knysna, but part of the local tourism ... Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani.

This year the judges wanted to recognise two very different category winners. The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) for demonstrating that animal attractions can liberate previously captive wildlife and, without petting or exploitation, be commercially successful. ... Both winners demonstrate that it is possible to address the rights agenda, to swim against the tide, and be commercially successful.

World Responsible Toursm Awards 2014 ...
Find out more about the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance ...

At the national Blue Flag launch at Thesen Islands Knysna heard that the area will be the proud host of five Blue Flags during this year’s season.
Knysna’s Executive Mayor said they are extremely happy with the results. “Buffalo Bay and Brenton-on-Sea beaches once again received Blue Flag status. Swartvlei beach in the Sedgefield area received pilot status, and Thesen Islands Marina full Blue Flag status. I also want to congratulate Ocean Odyssey, a local Lagoon and Ocean charter boat company, for receiving their Blue Flag status.”

Find out more about Blue Flag South Africa ...

Visionary artist and passionate environmentalist, Charl Frank, knew the moment he saw Knysna's lagoon that this was the place he would be coming back to in order to create the largest underwater sculpture ...
The Knysna attempt to create the world's largest underwater sculpture was successfully completed on Monday, October 13, when professional divers, a team of SANParks rangers and willing volunteers lifted the 312kg, 1,21m by 1,63m sculpture of a Knysna seahorse out of the Turbine Hotel's swimming pool.

Read the full Knysna-Plett Herald article ...
Watch the YouTube video ...

It is official. Knysna has the best tasting honey in the world!
Beekeeper Eddie Hart (67) of Belvidere Heights has won the award for the World's Best Tasting Honey at the 2013 Black Jar Honey Contest, hosted by the Center for Honeybee Research in Asheville, North Carolina, USA on Wednesday, November 13.

Read the full Knysna-Plett Herald article ...
Find out more about the Cape Honey Bee ...