Knysna Local Municipality sits on the Garden Route coast around the Knysna Lagoon, in the Western Cape’s Garden Route District. The 2022 census counted 96,055 people across 1,109 km², up from 68,659 in 2011. Knysna is the seat.
The lagoon and its sandstone entrance, known as the Knysna Heads, define the town and give the wider municipality its identity as one of the Garden Route’s best-known destinations.
Towns and Villages in Knysna
Knysna, on the shores of the lagoon, is the seat and largest town. Sedgefield lies west along the coast toward the Wilderness lakes; Rheenendal is the main inland forestry village, and Brenton-on-Sea sits on the coast beside the lagoon mouth.
| Town | Note | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Knysna | Municipal seat, on the lagoon | 68,659 |
| Sedgefield | Coastal lakes town | 10,069 |
| Rheenendal | Forestry village | 4,715 |
Other named places in the municipality:
- Barrington
- Brenton-on-Sea
- Buffelsbaai
- Diepwalle
- Goukamma
- Gouna
- Hornlee
- Karatara Settlement
- Leisure Isle
- Noetsie
- Xolweni
Geography
The municipality lies between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma forests and the Indian Ocean, centred on the Knysna Lagoon and its indigenous forest hinterland. It borders George to the north and west, and Bitou to the east, within the Garden Route District.
The Goukamma Nature Reserve, west of Sedgefield, protects a run of coastal dunes and estuary wetlands, one of several protected areas that make the Knysna coastline a conservation priority.
Demographics
Population rose from 68,659 in the 2011 census to 96,055 in 2022, a 40% increase, among the fastest-growing municipalities on the Garden Route, driven largely by growth in Knysna town itself.
English and Afrikaans are both widely spoken, with Xhosa common in the township areas around Hornlee and Xolweni.
Sedgefield has also grown quickly as a smaller, quieter alternative to Knysna for both retirees and holidaymakers along the same stretch of coast.
Economy and Local Life
Tourism around the lagoon and the coastal forests drives the economy, alongside timber and forestry linked to the Knysna and Tsitsikamma forests, and farming settlements at Rheenendal and Karatara.
The annual Knysna Oyster Festival, held each July, draws visitors from across the country and anchors the town’s tourism calendar.
The Knysna forests, once the base of a large timber industry, still support furniture-making and craft woodworking, while the lagoon’s oyster farms give the town its best-known export product.
Sedgefield’s lakes and lagoons, part of the Garden Route National Park’s Wilderness section, support a smaller, quieter tourism trade built around birdwatching, canoeing and holiday rentals.
Getting There
The N2 runs through Knysna and Sedgefield along the Garden Route. George Airport, roughly 60 km west, is the nearest airport with scheduled flights.
FAQ
What is the seat of Knysna Local Municipality? Knysna.
How many people live in Knysna? 96,055 at the 2022 census, up from 68,659 in 2011.
Which district is Knysna in? The Garden Route District Municipality.
What towns are in Knysna? Knysna, Sedgefield and Rheenendal.
How big is Knysna? 1,109 km².
What are the Knysna Heads? The twin sandstone cliffs marking the lagoon’s entrance to the sea.
What is Knysna known for? Its lagoon, oysters and the surrounding indigenous forest.
What is Sedgefield near? The Wilderness lakes, further west along the Garden Route.
How far is Knysna from George? Roughly 65 km east along the N2.
What is Knysna’s biggest town? Knysna itself, the municipal seat, with 68,659 residents.
Which languages are common in Knysna? English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, in that rough order of frequency.
What is Rheenendal known for? A small forestry and farming village inland of Knysna, near the indigenous forest.
Can you visit the Knysna forests? Yes, several marked hiking trails run through the Diepwalle and Gouna forest sections.