Knysna is one of the Garden Route’s most welcoming and inclusive destinations – where breathtaking scenery meets true accessibility. Whether you’re exploring quiet forests, admiring incredible views, or relaxing beside the water, you’ll find a wide range of wheelchair-friendly things to do in Knysna.
Tastings at the Knysna Waterfront
For a delicious and accessible experience, visit 34° South at the Knysna Waterfront.
Oyster Experience: Enjoy a tasting that includes a large, medium, and a cocktail coastal oyster, and a cultivated oyster.
Fine & Rare Wine Tasting: Sample four exceptional wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Blend, Syrah, and Pinot Noir – while learning what makes them unique.
The restaurant and the surrounding Waterfront area offer wheelchair-friendly paths, ramps, and accessible facilities.
Wheelchair-Friendly Viewpoints in Knysna
Experience some of the most iconic views along the Garden Route:
Bollard Bay, Leisure Isle: A wheelchair-friendly beach with incredible views of the Knysna Heads.
Margaret’s Viewpoint: Easily accessible by car on the way to Brenton-on-Sea, offering expansive views over the Knysna estuary.
Spitzkop Viewpoint: For those with a suitable 4×4, this rugged lookout offers panoramic views reaching as far as Plettenberg Bay on a clear day.
These spots are ideal for photography, picnics, and soaking up Knysna’s natural beauty.
Accessible Forest Walks
Discover the tranquillity of the Knysna forests on wheelchair-friendly trails:
Garden of Eden
Located just outside town, this beautifully maintained boardwalk is one of the best accessible nature walks on the Garden Route. The smooth, flat path winds through an indigenous forest filled with birdsong and dappled light.
Jubilee Creek
Set deep in the Goudveld Forest, Jubilee Creek offers a peaceful, partially accessible picnic area along a gently flowing river. Once the site of gold discoveries in 1876, the valley adds a touch of history to your outing.
Visit the Knysna Heads & Leisure Island
The Knysna Heads Viewpoint features paved paths, railings, and accessible parking, making it easy for everyone to enjoy one of South Africa’s most spectacular coastal views.
Nearby Leisure Island offers flat, smooth pathways and calm lagoon beaches—perfect for relaxed strolling, picnicking, and photography. Bollard Bay remains a favourite for its peaceful, accessible shoreline.
Wheelchair-Friendly Beach Access in Sedgefield
If you’ve dreamed of enjoying a day at the beach without worrying about sandy terrain, Myoli Beach in Sedgefield makes it possible. The Sedgefield Business Chamber provides a beach-friendly wheelchair, available at PiliPili Restaurant, right next to the beach.
Cost: Free (donations encouraged for the Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust).
Access: First-come, first-served.
Dine & Shop with Ease
Knysna offers several wheelchair-accessible dining and shopping areas:
Knysna Waterfront: Smooth pathways, ramps, accessible facilities, and a lift.
Thesen Island: Flat, well-maintained walkways and wheelchair-friendly restaurants.
Recommended accessible eateries include Ile de Pain, Sirocco, 34° South,
East Head Café, Totties Farm Kitchen in Rheenendal (wheelchair-friendly with a beautiful garden setting), Lindy’s Table and More on Leisure Island and Juan Michelle’s at Blackwaters River Lodge.
Top tip: Enjoy lunch at Totties after a morning picnic or visit to Jubilee Creek.
Stay in Accessible Comfort
Knysna offers a range of wheelchair-friendly accommodation, including guesthouses and hotels with roll-in showers, step-free entrances and spacious room layouts. Hosts across the region are known for their warm, helpful hospitality. For assistance in finding accessible places to stay, contact the local information office at +27 (44) 382 5510.
Experience Accessible Knysna
Knysna continues to lead the way in inclusive tourism along the Garden Route, ensuring that every visitor can experience the forests, beaches, cuisine, and views that make this destination so special.
In Knysna, everyone deserves to feel the magic.
