Knysna is a popular vacation town. It is called the “jewel of the Garden Route.” It is known for its oysters and its wooden furniture. Many visitors enjoy the area’s beaches, lagoon, and forest. The Knysna lagoon, or estuary, is located where the Knysna River meets the sea.

The Knysna River Estuary is the second largest in South Africa, and the most biodiverse: there are more species of fish, plants, and mammals in the Knysna Lagoon than in any other lagoon in the country. Amongst all these species, the town of Knysna has adopted one – the Knysna seahorse – as its special mascot