Visit Knysna, Knysna Tourism, Garden Route, South Africa

Month: September 2024

Knysna’s natural beauty stealing the limelight once again

Posted on by Keagon Borchards

Tourism Month celebrations started earlier this year as the town won the KFM Best of the Cape Award for “Best Dorpie” for the third year consecutively. Knysna Municipal Local Economic Development Manager, Lungiswa Goya, said this feeds into the national theme of Tourism Month, “Peace and Optimism”.

“Tourism is one of Knysna’s main economic indicators and the livelihood of many of our residents depends on the industry. The award confirms once again Knysna’s popularity as a sought-after tourism destination. We certainly feel the “Optimism” the national theme refers to. The tourism economy showed considerable growth last year and the attendance to annual events like the Simola Hill Climb and Knysna Oyster Festival was close to pre-Covid numbers.”

International Adventure Tourism conference
Goya said they are excited to host the 11th International Adventure Tourism Conference (9 to 11 September) in Knysna. “It is the first of its kind in the area and a collaboration between ATRA (Adventure Tourism Research Association), Tshwane University of Technology, Wesgro, SATSA, We are Events, and Visit Knysna. David Frost, the CEO of Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) is one of the keynote speakers. The programme will also include panel discussions hosted by, amongst others, Jacques Stolz, the Director of the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism.”

“Historically tourism is a seasonal driver of our economy, and we believe adventure tourism can increase visitor numbers throughout the year. Knysna is blessed with incredible natural beauty and the Greater Knysna area boasts forests, lakes and beaches – a perfect backdrop for numerous and varied activities.”

“The Visit Knysna team will also be attending the ‘Focus Knysna Breakfast | Inbound Tour Operators activation’ in Cape Town. They will meet with more than 60 tour operators to promote the area and create lasting contacts.”

“The ‘Top things to do in the greater Knysna area’ leaflet is being updated to include events happening in September. The public is welcome to pick up copies at the office in Main Street, Knysna, or contact the office for the electronic version.

Knysna’s natural beauty certainly continues to shine. Whether it’s an adventure, culinary, family or wellness break you are looking for, the area will not disappoint. We look forward to seeing you in Knysna to celebrate Tourism Month with us!”

Enquiries:
Email: info@visitknysna.co.za
Tel: +27 (0) 44 382 5510

Cool Temperatures but Red-Hot Racing Predicted for 2024 Lions Karoo to Coast

Posted on by Keagon Borchards

The Lions Karoo to Coast will boast Cycling South Africa sanctioning for the first time in nearly a decade when it takes place on Sunday, 22 September 2024. This has led to a surge in the number of competitive riders taking part and the reestablishment of elite racing hostilities. In the women’s race Cherise Willeit is up against Catherin Colyn on a course which suits both the gravel-focused stars. While the match-up between local favourites – Matthys and Cronje Beukes, with Tristan Nortje – should be fascinating.

More importantly – for the 1 700 non-elite mountain-, gravel-, and electric-bikers taking on the 95 kilometre route from Uniondale, in the Karoo, to Knysna, on the coast – the weather is predicted to be cool and largely clear on race day. Temperatures are expected to vary between 8 and 20 degrees throughout the day, after a cold night. A few drops of light rain are also anticipated to fall, though no more than 0.7 millimetres are currently forecast for both De Vlugt, along the route, and on the finish line of the Knysna Sports Fields.

The road conditions are also good, route guru Stuart Lightley has revealed. “The Ou Wapad is always the roughest part of the route, and that is where the gravel bikes will be at a disadvantage,” Lightley noted. “Avontuur to Kom se Pad is pretty good at the moment, which should help the likes of Matthys Beukes post a fast time. The passes have undergone some resurfacing in the last few months and that’s a big positive for the riding experience. Approaching Knysna there is a soggy section bit under the indigenous forest canopy before the Kom se Pad turn-off. Kom se Pad itself will be fine on the bike though.”

“There is loose gravel on the Ou Wapad and on the Gouna descents,” warned race director Zandile Meneses. “But generally, we always like to remind everyone to ride within their skill limits, because its easy to end up going too fast on some of the long, steep descents. Riders will also be cycling through a game farm as they leave Uniondale, which could provide stunning wildlife sightings. Again, we’d like to reiterate the need to exercise common sense and not rush towards the antelope if they are galloping across or near the road. There will be safety measures in place here, but riders participate at their own risk. Be safe and have fun!”

Even the elite racers will be having fun on Sunday, though their version of fun will involve self-inflicted pain as they contest for victory. George locals Tristan Nortje, along with Matthys and Cronje Beukes, headline the elite men’s field. The trio will likely have ultra-endurance specialist Freddie Visser for company throughout much of the course, which could lead to an exceptionally fast time. Currently the course record is of 3 hours, 3 minutes and 13 seconds, which has stood since Charles Keey’s victory in 2012. Light headwinds through the opening half of the course may stifle a record attempt, though once the riders crest Buffelsnek, at the 59 kilometre mark, the wind is predicted to swing to a tail wind as the rain-bearing localised low pressure system moves east.

Cherise Willeit and Catherin Colyn will go head-to-head in the women’s race, with Lehane Oosthuizen a formidable third opponent in the battle for race victory. The mixed start group means that positioning within the bunch will play a key role in determining the women’s race victor. Ariane Lüthi holds the women’s record, of 3 hours, 31 minutes and 33 seconds, which – like Keey’s time – will take some beating.

To see if the leading men’s and women’s contenders of 2024 can challenge the 12-year-old course records mountain biking fans can tune in to the Lions Karoo to Coast Instagram and Facebook stories on Sunday, 22 September. Regular updates from the course will be posted there, when cell phone signal allows, while further photos and highlights from the race will be available post-event on the Karoo to Coast Facebook and @karoo2coast Instagram handles. For more information visit www.karootocoast.com.

Garden Route Giro – Dryland Introduce 6-Stage Gravel Race

Posted on by Keagon Borchards

Gravel racing has grown and matured in recent years, stand alone events and series have gained popularity, and now the time has come for a truly world-class gravel stage race. The Garden Route Giro promises to be that and more. A six-day stage race through the stunning Southern Cape region, featuring ascents of some of South Africa’s most iconic gravel passes, and Dryland Event Management’s famous hospitality.

The inagural edition will take place in Summer 2026, with entries opening in Summer 2025. “We have been planning and working behind the scenes for two years now, waiting for the right opportunity to launch this event,” Henco Rademeyer of Dryland Event Management said. “We have a lot of experience hosting mountain bike stage races and will be bringing that expertise to gravel, then mixing it with some of the most exciting elements of road racing. The Garden Route Giro will feature special jerseys for not only the race’s general classification leaders, but will also reward the best climbers and sprinters, as well as the top age category contenders.”

In the inagural edition the race will start in the Garden Route capital: George. From there it will traverse the coastal plains to Riversdale, conquer the Langeberg mountains to Calitzdorp and take on the famous Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert. A second successive showdown over the Swartberg sets the race up for a challening Queen Stage from De Rust to Knysna, before a rolling final stage concludes preceedings in George. In total the six-day event will feature a roughly 700 kilometre long route.

“The routes will mix asphalt and gravel, with roughly 25% of the first edition taking place on tarmac,” Rademeyer explained. “The key climbs will all be on gravel though! We are very fortunate in the Garden Route, Hessequa and Klein Karoo to have excellent municipalities which take great pride in maintaining their gravel roads. Anyone who has ridden our Prince George 100 Miler will know, the gravel here is incredible.”

Along with the great gravel riding the event is set to feature hospitality like only rural South Africa can produce. Dryland are famous for their water points, which with the aid of Biogen Sports Nutrition, will certainly be the case at the Garden Route Giro too. Entrants will also have a variety of entry options. “Riders will be able to top up their standard entry – which includes six days of riding, official race apparel, support on course, medical services, lunches after each stage and VIP after-party access – with a variety of optional extras,” Rademeyer stated. “Riders who take up the standard entry option will be able to source their own accommodation and meals in the race towns, but we will also be setting up a race village and providing breakfasts for riders who book a camping upgrade. Luxury upgrades will include bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation packages, a driver/sports massage therapist to support a group of riders throughout the race, and all-inclusive packages which cater for everything from arrival at George Airport to departure.” Auxilary services – like mechanics in the race village and sports massage treatments – can also be booked through the event website upon securing an entry.

“Dryland and our partners are really excited to offer South African and international gravel racers a superb experience,” Rademeyer promised. “It will not only show off a beautiful region of our country but also create a route that’s challenging enough to provide exciting racing for the elites while being achievable with some serious training for the amateurs. Creating the Garden Route Giro has taken us back, in many ways, to the early days of mountain bike stage racing; but with the benefit of 20 years of experience. We’re confident that the first edition will already be a cracker.”

To stay updated with news from the Garden Route Giro visit www.gardenroutegiro.co.za and sign up for the newsletter.s