Knysna has done it again – the Buffel’s Bay and Brenton-on-sea beaches have once more claimed the prestigious status as official Blue Flag beaches, and Thesen Islands was awarded Blue Flag Marina status for the December 2013/January 2014 season.
While South Africa has participated in the Blue Flag initiative since 2001, the beaches at Buffel’s Bay and Brenton-on-sea were awarded Blue Flag status for the 2012/2013 season, while Thesen Islands was granted Pilot Blue Flag Marina status in 2012.
And it is no surprise to know that our beautiful beaches meet and even exceed Blue Flag’s strict criteria in terms of safety, water quality, clean ablution facilities and attendance of life guards. If you haven’t made arrangements for your December break yet, I suggest you hurry to www.exploreknysna.com to secure your last minute booking – and spend summer at one of Knysna’s Blue Flag beaches!
These are however not the only stunning beaches in the greater Knysna area, and miles of unspoilt sands await you all along our beautiful coastline. Our coastline offers some of the best fishing, surfing, swimming and boating waters, while our beaches provide kilometres for soul-searching-strolling (you could, in fact, walk from one of our Blue Flag beaches to the other!) or sunbathing.
With our whales playing along our coastline until late summer, the greater Knysna area also offers amazing land based whale watching opportunities, or take to the ocean with our Knysna-based, licensed close encounter whale watching operator.
Dogs will be allowed to enjoy our beautiful beaches with their owners between certain times and within certain areas – please keep an eye on the local press or be on the lookout for information boards at the beaches. So no matter if your family members have two legs or four, everyone is welcome to make the most of our safe, clean beaches this summer – even though the four-legged family members have a few conditions to comply with!
Even if you have made your December travel arrangements, the good news is that summer comes to a very late close in Knysna. Our Blue Flag beaches are perfect for sunbathing and swimming until late in March, with April known for surprising us with a few Indian summer weekends… Even if you can’t spend your December holidays with us, be sure to visit www.exploreknysna.com and start planning your perfect late summer break away.