2 Best Hotels in Knysna, The Garden Route and the Little Karoo

In a former power station, this eco-friendly boutique hotel has incorporated some of the heavy machinery into the decor. It blends seamlessly with the warm bright colors and funky furnishings found throughout. The state-of-the-art bedrooms and suites are designed to reflect Knysna’s rich historical and cultural diversity. The hotel sits in the middle of Thesen Island, where perfect little houses are perched on perfect little jetties on perfect little canals. The food is superb—have a sundowner cocktail or bottle of craft beer in the pub or dine at the Island Café.

These attractive apartments right on the edge of Kynsna Lagoon are converted from an old boatshed and have retained the original timber framework. In the two-bedroom, self-catering apartments, the main bedroom's wooden beams and triple-volume ceilings call to mind the cabin of an old sailing ship. Upstairs, an open-loft bedroom overlooks the spacious lounge/dining/kitchen area. Soft blue and green furnishings echo the nautical theme. There are outside nooks and small spaces to sit and enjoy the great views.  The one-bedroomed apartments are smaller but also funky and functional with small viewing decks.