"South Africa has a bit of everything and staying at Thesen Island is a real treat. If you make it over, you won’t be disappointed!"
Rev Phil Arnold, UK
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We’ve just returned from a wonderful time in SA. As a family of three, it was a real treat to see this beautiful country with friendly, warm people, food and landscape to die for and breath-taking day trips to enjoy the wild natural beauty of Africa. It was safe, and as long as we were sensible, we had no worries with security.
We started in Cape Town, arranging at 10 in the morning and heading straight down the Peninsula, visiting Simon’s Town and Boulder’s beach. What a place! Then after a good night’s sleep, we went up Table Mountain with views to die for. And on our final day, Robin Island which was moving, educational and well worth the trip.
Flying to George, we stayed at this lovely house on Thesen Island. It was a place that was so peaceful and classy, that we could have stayed for a lot longer. The Island is entirely secure and has all the amenities for children and teenagers, providing a “holiday of a lifetime”. Bucking the local aversion to winter beach swims, we swam virtually every day at Buffalo Bay Beach, which was just about perfect, and Plettenburg Bay. Both were safe for swimming and the water a lot warmer than the east coast of England. (no wetsuits required in late May)
Our safari day at Botlierskop Private Game reserve, as well as the bird and monkey sanctuary were also highlights. I think my favourite was the Knysna Elephant reserve where we fed and walked with our own Elephant. Wow! All are really worth a visit. Other highlights were seeing bungee jumping from the highest bridge jump in the world as well as the beautiful Storms River with its rope bridges over the river. Walking around the Robberg Nature Reserve was something else I wouldn’t want to miss.
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And that was all in 10 Days!
South Africa has a bit of everything and staying at Thesen Island is a real treat. If you make it over, you won’t be disappointed.
Stefan, Holland
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We loved our stay at Di & John's place. They gave us a very warm welcome, showed us around the apartment and told us all there is to do in the Thesen Island/Knysna area. They even have all kinds of folders saved for the guests. the apartment was very clean and they have everything we needed and more! There were quite a few pleasant surprises, such as a few bottles of water, fresh milk and lovely biscuits. We are a young couple with a son of two years old, Di gave him all sorts of toys to play with. During our stay the door was always open in case we needed help with anything (like making a reservation at a restaurant they recommended). We really felt most welcome staying at John and Di's place and would recommend it to anyone.
"We really felt most welcome staying at John and Di's place and would recommend it to anyone!"
We were fortunate enough to spend a week at Knysna, which gave us ample time to explore this lovely area. One day we went out to The Heads and were treated to fantastic views. The Heads form the ends of two peninsulas that encase the Knysna river estuary. It’s a very dramatic and picturesque location as the cliffs on either side of the opening are only 300 metres apart, which causes the ocean to boil like a cauldron. The remains of early humans have been found in caves in this area, so you really feel you are at the cradle of civilisation. Breakfast at the Heads Restaurant is a must, followed by an exploration of the rockpools underneath the Lighthouse. You are almost certain to see starfish as well as other marine life. Slightly further afield is the Garden of Eden, which includes some safe trails through an ancient forest. The information board shows a plethora of mammals and birds to watch out for as you make your way through the forest. You can also view some huge specimens of the Yellowwood Tree, which is South Africa’s national tree. You have to crane your neck to see the top of these giants, with their huge branches reaching up and tickling the sky.
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Just down the road from Garden of Eden is the Knysna Elephant Park. At the time of our visit, the park was home to 5 mature elephants. It’s a unique experience as you get to walk alongside these magnificent animals and feed them lunch! There’s also a small herd of zebras in the park and a nice café for refreshments. Another highlight is the wonderful Birds of Eden at Plettenburg Bay. We’ve never been anywhere quite like Birds of Eden as it’s a free flight bird sanctuary. It’s the closest bird encounter we’ve ever had with some of the world’s most beautiful birds, passing by within a few centimetres. Although the birds are captive, they have an enormous enclosure that they are free to explore. They are clearly well cared for, and hopefully the resident cat, which resides in the ladies’ WC never manages to sneak into the enclosure!
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Our holiday was nearing the end, when we took a road trip with John and Di to the Little Karoo, staying overnight at the lovely Dutch colonial town of Prince Albert. We travelled over the magnificent Swartberg Mountain pass and back via a scenic tour through Meiringspoort. After almost two weeks in this wonderful country, we did not think that we could be any more awestruck. We were so wrong and had two of the most memorable days of our lives. The Swartberg pass incorporates some of the most dramatic scenery we have ever seen. The geology is phenomenal, and reflects the dramatic forces at work when the African continent was first being formed. It’s one of those places that makes you realise that a human lifespan is just a speck in time and a reminder to make the most of your slot. This nearly brings me back full circle. I’d wanted to visit Cape Town since I was very young, but never thought I’d have the chance to go, and I didn’t appreciate just how much the Western Cape has to offer. We finally took the plunge when we realised that we must make the most of life’s opportunities. After a glorious stay in Knysna we made our way back to Cape Town. We re-mortgaged the house (only joking) and booked a stopover at the luxurious Botlierskop Game Reserve. This is not a cheap option, but a night in a game reserve, with the chance to view some of South Africa’s iconic animals at close quarters is a special treat. It’s difficult to put a price on a single experience, but South Africa offers so many options and the favourable exchange rate makes the overall trip more affordable.
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So how did we spend our last day? When we awoke on our last morning, we finally saw the top of Table Mountain as the cloud had lifted. What a perfect way to end our trip and fulfil a long-held dream by making it to the top of Table Mountain. The experience lived up to our expectations in every way, but I won’t say too much. You must try it for yourself….
Linda Taylor, West Yorkshire, UK
Di and I are both gardeners. Di planted a seed in my mind a few years ago when she mentioned that she and John had a house in South Africa and that my family would be welcome to stay. For many reasons it wasn’t initially possible for us to turn the dream of a South African holiday into reality. However, like all good gardeners Di nurtured the seed she had planted in my mind, by showing me photos of her lovely house and describing in passionate detail the amazing wildlife and scenery easily accessible from Knysna. We just had to go! In 2023 we decided the time was right to make our first trip to the African continent and head South from a British winter to a South African summer.
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We landed at Cape Town airport and stayed in the city for a few days. Pictures of Table Mountain had captured my imagination as a young child and when I learned you could actually walk on the top the pull was even stronger. We were not disappointed. Cape Town is set in a stunning location and is a vibrant place, with an international feel. We visited the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which is a lovely place to pass a few hours and allows wonderful views of Table Mountain. The Mountain was caped in its infamous table cloth, so although we couldn’t see the top, we were rewarded with the mesmerising view of mist swirling over the edge, which was magical. The mist persisted throughout our stay, so we reconciled ourselves with the thought that it would not be possible to explore the top on this occasion. While we stayed in Cape Town, we also visited Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Point and Simonstown. Another couple of days would have easily been filled, but it was time to move on and head off to Knysna.
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To break our journey, which stayed in Somerset West for two nights and visited the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These are very pretty towns, surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery and of course the vineyards, for which they are famous. The wine region is certainly worth visiting, but it’s less than an hour from Cape Town, so we still had a full day’s drive to Knysna. Another option is to break the journey at Swellendam. We stopped there for lunch, but an overnight stay would have been a good option.
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We arrived at Knysna in the late afternoon. It’s a lovely route, with mountain scenery to the north for most of the journey. As we drove nearer to Knysna the anticipation began to build. Not only were there stunning mountains and lush forests on our left, but the Indian Ocean was pounding pristine, sandy beaches to our right. Stone the Croze is located on Thesen Island, which sits in the middle of an estuary and is surrounded by hills forming a natural amphitheatre. The island accommodates a secure complex of attractive properties and is reached via a causeway from the mainland. The many canals running through the development and its position within the lagoon give this island a very nautical feel. Apparently, the lagoon is famous for seahorses, but we only saw the ones that had been caught and were on display! From the moment we arrived, Di and John made us feel very welcome. Their house is beautiful, comfortable, and very well appointed. It’s located in an idyllic position as it borders a nature reserve, which attracts all manner of birdlife and is very tranquil. It only took a couple of hours before we were calling it home! I’d never heard of Knysna before I met Di and John, but I can see why they have settled into this wonderful location. The town itself is very well served with amenities and surrounded by beautiful countryside. We can highly recommend a tipple or two at The Knysna Gin Distillery and Brewery accompanied by a delicious pizza from Maillard Baking Co, which is situated next door!
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During our stay in Knysna, John and Di were kind enough to take us out on their boat. This gave us a unique view of the picturesque surroundings, and the opportunity to view sea life at close quarters. As well as spotting a seal basking in the estuary, we also saw oyster catchers, a kingfisher, a heron and a multitude of other sea birds.
There are some lovely beaches nearby, including Buffel’s Bay and Plattenburg Bay for relaxing or if you prefer more energetic activities, surfing is possible at the beautiful Victoria Bay. Swimming is popular, although you do need to heed the warnings about shark activity…
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