Explore The Knysna Forest

Knysna Forest, in some places so dense it borders on impenetrable, is a marvellous mix of ancient trees, both local and exotic. Tree ferns, creepers, flowers and the elusive Knysna loerie, its call heard more often than it is seen, are also part of the forest.

Timber harvesting left the habitat degraded, for back then the forests were considered so big that nothing could exhaust them. The forest area was probably about 2 500 square kilometres before 1 900 square kilometres were destroyed by the combination of logging, development and a huge fire.

Many of the larger mammal populations like the buffalo, elephant, and possibly leopard, were largely destroyed. The elephant are of the forest's most famous inhabitants; there is continuous debate as to their whereabouts, if indeed they are about at all (a photographic sighting in 2014 raised hopes).

The last buffalo was shot in the forest in 1883, whilst of the roughly 500 elephants of 1860, only 4 remained by 1990. Any attempt at re-introduction to strengthen their numbers has failed. It does not help that their previous migration passage is no longer possible because of human development.