Knysna Heads

#Knysna Heads The mouth of the Knysna Estuary is a narrow channel, which is difficult to navigate for those not familiar with it. Provided that an experienced skipper is at the helm the channel is however easily handled by small and medium-sized craft - including sailing boats. The channel is often dramatically depicted framed by two rocky promontories, known as The Heads or The Knysna Heads.

The eastern head is overrun by suburban development. An addition to the eastern head is a golf course, which has been developed at the top of the ridge line and slightly east from the channel. It provides glorious ocean views and is very highly rated.

The western head falls within the privately owned Featherbed Nature Reserve. It is covered with indigenous vegetation and conserved by the proprietors. The Nature Reserve gets its name from the safe anchorage it provided to 18th century wooden sailing ships.The ships had to navigate the treacherous channel to enter the Estuary. The small sheltered cove, featuring a sandy bottom, just past the channel and at the inland side of the western head, was viewed as a 'feather bed' on which the battered ships could safely come to rest.