Knysna

Additional 15% discount for 1 or 2 night stay in the months of July and August 2010.  Book now for the Women’s Day long weekend in August – limited space available!  Do not miss out on our Winter Madness Weekend and Midweek Breakaway Specials!

Knysna Garden Route Western Cape

CAPTAIN OF YOUR OWN HOLIDAY

Pilot your houseboat through the safe, tranquil waters of the Knysna Lagoon and be the Captain of your own holiday! Our fully equipped, 4 or 6-berth self-drive houseboats, very similar concept to the canal boats found in Europe, and provide the perfect accommodation for your holiday in the Garden Route. You don’t need any experience or a skipper’s license – we’ll show you how it’s done!

Whether you are on a family holiday, a romantic getaway or honeymoon, or a unique conference or team building break, a Lightleys Holiday Houseboat offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Live the dream in Knysna

We are situated on the banks of the beautiful Knysna Lagoon within driving distance of Knysna’s beautiful beaches at Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay, the famous Knysna forests, and Knysna town with its coffee shops, pubs and restaurants.

The Knysna Lagoon is an 18 km long tidal estuary which stretches from the famous Knysna Heads, which guard its entrance from the Indian Ocean, and joins the 60 km long Knysna River that starts in the Outeniqua Mountains.

Because the Knysna Heads are always open the lagoon is host to many species of fish. Small bait fish such as the estuarine round herring and Cape silverside breed in the estuary and you’ll find line fish such as Garrick, spotted grunter, white steenbras, dusky cob, Cape stumpnose and lee fish. Each Lightleys Houseboats has two fishing licences and a bait collection license for your convenience. At our premises a small shop is stocked with fishing equipment and bait and there are also fishing rods for hire.

There are an endless number of activities for children on the houseboats itself including swimming in the lagoon and the canals of Thesen Islands, fishing and snorkelling. Closeby there are fun water slides, mini golf, sailing, canoeing, horse riding, scuba diving and surfing.

The area between Knysna and Keurbooms is home to a number of wildlife sanctuaries including the Knysna Elephant Park, the Elephant Sanctuary, Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre.

For the more adventurous there is abseiling, quad biking, kite surfing, scuba diving, zipline tours, paragliding, heli flips and bungy jumping (the highest commercially operating bungy jump in the world is at Tsitsikamma from the Bloukrans Bridge, not far from Knysna).

There are excellent markets in the area including the Friday Market at Knysna Montessori in Welbedacht (4pm-8pm during summer) and the Saturday morning Wild Oats Farmers Markets at Sedgefield (7.30am-11.30am). The Scarab Craft Market in Sedgefield is open from 8am-12.30pm and there is a Sunday Craft Market on Thesen Island during the summer months – if you’re on a houseboat you can tie up on the Thesen Harbour town and walk to the market!

Featherbed Nature Reserve, a South African Heritage Site, provides for a wonderful family outing. Cross the lagoon on your houseboat, tie up on the Featherbed jetty and join the excursion to the top of the Western Head on a 4×4 Unimog vehicle, with a guided trail down again. Finish your adventure with buffet lunch under the milkwoods.

Lightleys Holidaymakers can now anchor at Thesen Islands and browse around the many shops and boutiques at Thesen Harbour Town and the Waterfront which is within walking distance. Enjoy a meal or snack at one of the excellent coffee shops and restaurants. This is an ideal place for families and kids can enjoy the playground and sandpit, and swim and fish in the canals.

About our houseboats

Our 6-berth, aluminium-hulled Aqua Chalets and newly-built 4-berth glass fibre Leisure Liners come complete with bedding, galleys (with fridges and gas stoves and all cutlery and crockery), ‘heads’ (shower with chemical toilet) and portable barbeques.

Our shore facility offers spacious ablution blocks and indoor/outdoor conference and function venue. The Crow’s Nest restaurant seats up to 50 people and has a vast wooden deck with built-in barbeque and panoramic views over the lagoon which is ideal for cocktail parties and braais.

With Lightleys Holiday Houseboats you’ll enjoy all the pleasures of boating, and have the ideal base from which to explore the Garden Route and the charming town of Knysna and its surrounds. Experience the freedom of piloting your houseboat through the safe, tranquil waters of the Knysna Lagoon and be the Captain of your own holiday! Remember – you don’t need any experience or a skipper’s license – we’ll show you how it’s done!