Knysna’s secret season has just arrived… it’s that special time at the end of summer to the beginning of winter when, for more than just a few weeks, the days are sunny, the temperatures are comfortable and everyone is a bit more relaxed after the giddiness of getting the working year underway. While no-one knows exactly when it starts or when it ends, it is the perfect time of the year to experience the best of what the area has on offer while missing the worst of the seasonal crowds.
And with a couple of long weekends making their appearance in this time, Knysna, with self catering, B&B, guest house and boutique hotel accommodation options, is most definitely the place to take it slow at this time of year.
Having started on 19 March, the Knysna Literary Festival spans the long weekend over Human Rights Day on 21 March, and the Sedgefield Slow Festival takes place over Easter weekend, from 29 to 31 March. With events for young and old, the Slow Fest (as it is affectionately known by locals), reminds us to have fun the way we used to.
Celebrating the great outdoors in and around Sedgefield, the programme includes a paragliding challenge, beer pong championship, the Goukamma Traverse trail run, Slow Art in the Park, a family theatre show, the Slow Festival Yard Sale, an anything that floats contest, the ever popular Easter bunny beach fling, a sand sculpting challenge, NSRI beach volleyball, the Smutsville Extreme Funky Hair Challenge, Slow Fest beauty Pageants, the Amazing Creatures and Band Parade, the Slow Town drive in, the Castle Light Street Bash, Chumani township tours, an Out Of The Bin Fashion Show, a slow biking challenge, a picnic concert in the park, the Timberlake chocolate workshop and much, much more.
And if you’ve had your fill of fun the old fashioned way, why don’t you head on over to the Knysna Elephant Park to say hello to the park’s newest addition? On 5 March Thandi gave birth to Fiela, a healthy and happy, strong little girl weighing in at 82kg.
Photo courtesy of Elle Photography and the Knysna Elephant Park.
Whatever your reason for visiting Knysna for a long weekend, you’ll be sure to find another reason to come back soon…