Sho't left- a word derived from everyday South African
taxi lingo when a commuter wanting a ride to a destination close by will ask
the driver to ‘sho’t left’ meaning he wants to get out around the corner.
Sho't
Left is a South African Tourism campaign that aims to promote a
culture of local holiday travel, take short breaks around South Africa and
challenges South Africans to see their country differently.
The website offers advice and tips for
first-timers on choosing destinations suited for their preferences and budget.
I had the pleasure of taking a sho’t left
to Knysna in partnership Wesgro for the Pick n Pay Oyster Festival. Knysna is a small town
in the western Cape Province of South Africa with an oceanic climate and along
the Garden
Route - a 200 km stretch of road that winds past white
sand beaches, forested mountains and picturesque towns spaced no more than a 45
minute drive apart. The heart of the Garden route is in Knysna.
HOW TO GET THERE
Fly from O.R Tambo International airport
in Johannesburg to George Airport for just under 2 hours then drive to Knysna
for under an hour along the garden route. It however depends on your
place of departure.
We were fortunate enough to have Gavin
Oosterwyk from Fairest
Cape Meader Tours to show us around. Gavin picked us up from
the airport and was our tour guide through out our stay. He was insightful,
funny and lovely to have around. For an alternative option, I would suggest you
hire a car, as public transport between Knysna and George and around Knysna is
not efficient.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the lovely Madison Manor
Boutique Hotel, a quaint and charming hotel that offers both luxury and
comfort. The boutique hotel offers all the imperative luxuries every
guest wants- high-speed wifi en suite rooms, and full English/continental
breakfast. Oh and not forgetting the remote controlled curtains that I might
have gotten way too excited about.
The hotel is also the perfect option for
affordable luxury, spectacular views and is centrally located to the center of
town.
We had lunch and a spa treatment at Pezula
Hotel and boy oh boy was it a treat! The staff paid attention to
detail, did their research about guests before arrival and definitely catered
to all our dietary requirements.
The luxurious hotel is set in a lush
paradise of ancient indigenous forests, mountains, lakes and pristine beaches
on the prestigious Pezula Private Estate. The hotel boasts a golf course, 2
restaurants, a bar, fitness center, games room, a spa and many more
facilities.
We had lunch at Zachary’s restaurant and
thereafter we were treated to a Swedish spa treatment that also included a
waterbed spa treatment. The hotel is certainly luxurious and has
something for every type of traveller.
Ocean Odyssey’s Marine Eco Tour ensures an
enlightening experience that serves to highlight the estuarine and marine
environment of Knysna.
We enjoyed the spectacular sightseeing
cruise that took us across the Knysna Lagoon to explore the beautiful
coastline. We even spotted a whale!
The tour also includes various historical
and cultural information of the area and our guide was knowledgeable and
friendly. If you plan on going during winter, wear something warm and
comfortable.
As a wine lover, this was definitely one
of the highlights of my trip!
The wine festival is the premiere showcase
for local wines, from over 200 wines from more than 50 different estates.
We had the pleasure of tasting the many wines from across the Cape Winelands
and Garden Route and oh I might have just become a wine connoisseur in a little
over an hour lol!
We visited Headquarters of Hope (HQ)
Community – a non-profit company that provides support and sustains 2 skills
development centres. The skills development centres are: Hands & Heart and
iThemba. They are located on the same premises as Hope HQ and their aim is to provide
support to skills centres and be able to turn unskilled citizens into skilled
citizens of Knysna and South Africa.
Hope HQ also runs a wooden bird crafting
operation. The handcrafted birds are sold at the HopeHQ Gallery and the
students make some of the products from the skill centers. They were kind
enough to gift us with their beautiful birds.
The students from the centers are able to
partake in an apprenticeship program and become master bird craftsmen.
Pledge Nature Reserve is in the heart of
Knysna filled with indigenous plants. The afternoon stroll hosted by Hashtag
tours and perfect for those who want some peace and nature while not
having to do a strenuous hike.
We were treated to a Swedish spa treatment
that also included a waterbed spa treatment. I was so relaxed; I even took a
nap whilst I was on the waterbed. We thereafter relaxed by the pool area with
some champagne and of course we had to follow the mantra of instagram by having a
mini photo shoot because what’s a thousand memories without a picture?
We explored Knysna in a unique and fun way
on a Segway personal transporter. At first, I was quite anxious but with
the help of our tour guide, I quickly got the hang of things and had so much
fun riding within the Knysna area, overlooking the coastal views.
Knysna Segway Tours provided the
highest quality orientation, training and tours and included a 15-20 minute
training followed by a 45-minute tour around Knysna.
WHERE TO EAT
Upon arrival we were welcomed at Black
Waters River Lodge for lunch and drinks. The hospitality was impeccable and
could not stop taking pictures on their refurbished bathtub seat.
We enjoyed dinner at the Island Café at
Turbine Hotel. The setting is very pleasant and the interior deco is
immaculate! The restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch.
Shisa Nyama at Nekkie’s Township
Shisa
Nyama- term used in many South African townships to describe a barbecue where
people come together to grill meat in an open fire near a butchery.
We had lunch at a Shisa Nyama at Nekkies,
a township in Knysna. Gerald from Thole
Township Tours offered us an intimate look into the local township
experience. He also showed us around the township of Khayalethu, home to
the largest Rastafarian community in South Africa.
The Paddle-Cruiser is South Africa’s only
paddle driven vessel that offers a unique and luxurious fine dining
experience. The menu caters for all dietary requirements and the dinner
cruise includes a buffet dinner. We got to experience the magnificent 360
degrees lagoon views.
Departure times for the dinner cruise are
17h45 in winter and 18h15 in summer, I would suggest you arrive a bit earlier
to take pictures before boarding.
We had our last supper at the vibrant 34
Tapas and Oyster Bar. They have a wide selection of Spanish, Mediterranean and
South African tapas. They also offer fresh oysters from their oyster
tanks.
I usually travel abroad but I've come to realise that my country has a plethora of beautiful places to explore. I had the most amazing experience and still in awe of the beauty of South Africa. I certainly experienced a taste of paradise in the heart of my country!
I usually travel abroad but I've come to realise that my country has a plethora of beautiful places to explore. I had the most amazing experience and still in awe of the beauty of South Africa. I certainly experienced a taste of paradise in the heart of my country!
My country is my oyster!
Love & Scribbles
Wandi
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