Knysna Houseboats

Even with the very cold weather, we had a great trip and stay. Such an amazing experience, and I’d definitely do it again in summer.

We only ended up staying on the Knysna houseboat for a day because of a cancellation, but it became the highlight of our Knysna visit before we had to head back to reality. It was peaceful and felt like a completely different kind of stay. The boats have what you need, so pack light and bring your clothes and food. During the day the water can be a little noisy and busy, much like a road with cars going by, but I still loved being out there. The views and freedom are hard to match, and the friendly, passionate Knysna houseboat team made the experience even better. It’s great for couples, friends, or families. We spent time looking for a trophy fish, and also explored and took in the sights from the water. The lagoon is a breeding area for marine life, like other tidal river systems, so please release small or undersized fish. It seems many locals keep fish of all sizes to feed themselves and their families, which puts extra pressure on the river system. There are plenty of small fish to play with, or you can try for a big one. Bringing games or an inexpensive fishing setup from home, or finding one locally, could keep you busy for hours. There isn’t much room to move around, so for a family with young kids I think a weekend is probably long enough. If you’re active or staying longer, you’ll likely want to dock for a few hours and explore, especially if the kids start getting bored with the isolation. Definitely a bucket-list stay if you’re visiting Knysna.

The boat was a lovely place to rest, and the scenery is something I haven’t found elsewhere. From a woman’s point of view, the kitchen could use a bit more attention, and a novice would benefit from more practical training. Still, it was a wonderful experience.

The people were friendly and super helpful, and I loved the freedom of exploring by boat. You get views you just can’t have from other accommodation, so it felt worth it. I’d do it again if a few comfort issues were addressed. We had an amazing time on the boat, but the main bed is so difficult for two people that one of you has to find somewhere else to sleep to avoid falling off. That’s not ideal for a romantic getaway. The toilet was a porta potti for both number 1 and 2, which was quite a shock because the videos showed a normal flushing toilet. There were no cushions outside, so the deck was hard and it wasn’t comfortable to relax on the roof and enjoy the scenery. We didn’t get much information about the best places to visit. At first we had to figure it out ourselves, and wandered around a bit before feeling confident enough to explore more. Then we realized how many options there were, but by that point it was too late to enjoy them.