Knysna On The The Garden
Route - South Africa's Hidden Expat Haven
| For A Certain Kind Of Person |
| This Is The Ultimate Destination |
|
|
Bali
Style House In Knysna ~ The Garden Route
|
|
| Not five million, not three million,
not even a million... you can buy this house for only $800,000 - Amazing!
Yes, amazing. Over 7,000 square feet, a Bali design, large pool, spell
binding ocean views, golf course, beach access, every possible amenity,
inside a gated nature reserve with state of the art security. This reserve
is located in Knysna overlooking the ocean and forests of the Western Cape.
Knysna (pronounced "Nize-na") is without question one of those rare and
special places and it is a unique privilege to be a witness to the diversity
and rich natural beauty in the area. Knysna is the Aspen, or Carmel
of the Garden Route, and the Garden Route is a destination for Europe's
smart in the know crowd. Knysna Heads [image below] must be the most striking
geological features along the entire southern African coastline. They flank
a deep channel through which the sea pours into the wide and breathtakingly
beautiful lagoon at the mouth of the Knysna River. |
|
I've come
to the conclusion that property in South Africa is now among the best bargains
in the world,
in both absolute
and relative terms. - - Doug Casey
|
|
|
| The home shown above could not be
purchased in the USA or Europe for under five million dollars; and even
if you could find a similar home at any price, it would not have the spectacular
scenery of the Western Cape nor the lifestyle of the Knysna lagoon. It's
a rememberance of finer things; polo, yachting, the club, safaris, golf,
tennis, cycling... The Garden Route is a place like no other place
that you ever seen except in a dream, the Cape has very different dynamics.
Words fail to describe it. When you come to Knysna you will never want
to leave. This is the lifestyle location you've always dreamed about. For
a certain kind of person this is the ultimate destination. |
|
 The
Garden Route, a slender stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and
Storms River Mouth, bears a legendary status as South Africa's paradise
- reflected in local names such as 'Garden of Eden' and 'Wilderness'. This
soft, green, forested swath of nearly 200 km is cut by rivers from the
mountains to the north, tumbling down to its southern rocky shores and
sandy beaches. |
|
| Wildlife-spotting, deserted sandy
beaches, sheltered lagoons, bush land and mountain passes: this stretch
of the Western Cape coastline is an area of spectacular natural beauty.
And with outdoor sports and delicious local food, there's plenty of entertainment
along the way. This is why the Garden Route has become a primary residential
destination of choice for both South Africans and for a growing band of
internationals, mostly from Europe and the USA. ...and the very best destination
on this wonderous route is Knysna. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Location, Location, Location..... |
| It's All About Address |
|
|
Vanessa Knysna Heads Lagoon
~ The Garden Route
|
|
| Knysna is a living, breathing
town with wonderful, enterprising people, and stunning natural beauty. |
|
| Knysna’s commercial history does
not begin properly until 1804, when the farm Melkhoutkraal was purchased
by George Rex (the alleged illegitimate son of George 111 of England).
He owned virtually all the land surrounding the lagoon. |
|
| By 1817 Knysna had established a
port with naval and commercial ships bringing supplies, thanks to the enthusiastic
support George Rex obtained from Sir Jaheel Brenton. Soon British Navy
vessels and commercial ships were taking timber out from the settlements
of Melville and Newhaven. |
|
| Today Knysna is regaining its links
with the sea and the Knysna Yacht Company is once again building catamarans
and houseboats for the export market. |
|
| Knysna, unlike many other towns,
came together from the amalgamation of two smaller entities, Millwood and
Newhaven in 1881. Knysna is steeped in a colourful past. Woodcutters, gold
diggers, merchants and sailors, colonial landlords, craftsmen, ordinary
folk - all have left their mark and contributed to its history. |
|
| Many historical buildings and sites
offer a glimpse of bygone times. Some are within the town, like Millwood
House and the Old Gaol; others, like the Holy Trinity Church, Belvidere,
or the Millwood gold mining village, oblige the visitor to take a short,
scenic drive to enjoy these attractions. Woodmill Lane, Pledge Square and
the soon to be completed Thesen Islands all reflect this wonderful mosaic
of Knysna's history. |
|
| Agriculture, Timber and Tourism,
is the economic pillar that has shaped Knysna as we see it today. One of
the worldwide benefits of tourism is that it is the fastest catalyst for
job creation and, according to the World Tourism Organisation, by 2015
over 15% of the world’s employment will come directly from tourism related
activities. |
|
| South Africa will be re-built on
the backs of small business entrepreneurs who see a gap and go for it with
heart and soul. The days of big multi-nationals coming in with a fist full
of dollars will seem like a lottery win -merely a dream. |
|
| Knysna has been built these past
few years on the collective efforts of many small businessmen and woman
who seek a better lifestyle for themselves and their families. The
Knysna Chamber of Business believes we may have nearly 1,300 small businesses
in the Greater Knysna Municipal Area. |
|
| Exceptional Property Investments |
| Exceptional Properties |
|
|
House
For Sale In Sparrebosch Golf Estate, Knysna
|
|
| Recent research conducted by MCA
Planners (in conjunction with Grant Thornton Kessel Feinstein) for the
Knysna Municipality Local Economic Development (LED) Plan, estimates that
30% of Knysna GDP comes directly from tourism activities. |
|
| Tourism in Knysna is now a 12-month
industry, with over 60% of the visitors coming on pre-arranged tours through
both local and international destination management companies. This dramatic
change from a seasonal leisure industry has been in no small way achieved
by sound, long-term investment in new ‘niche’ leisure developments. |
|
| The development of the Knysna Quays
(in what was one of the most run-down areas of town) is a prime example
of ‘vision’ persevering over ‘adversity’. This mixed-use development of
residential, commercial and retail combined with a leisure harbour has
substantially increased Knysna’s attractiveness. The project is anchored
by the very successful four-star Protea Quays Hotel, which now offers ample
space for large touring companies and the free independent traveller (FIT). |
|
| Sparrebosch Golf Estate has now
joined forces with Pezula Estate to form one the most exceptional
property investments in the country. Sparrebosch was acclaimed
the Best New Golf Course for 2001 by the esteemed magazine Golf Digest.
Pezula, meaning ‘high on top’ boasts some of the most pristine fynbos in
the country and most of the 620 hectares of land has not seen man’s footsteps
for over two hundred years. A rare thought indeed. |
|
| Competition is tough in any part
of the world, and Knysna is no exception. Knysna Tourism and its members
took the unusual decision (or so it seemed at the time) to form a Section
21 Company to market the town’s activities. Run along strict business lines,
with six business directors, two local councillors and the Municipal Manager,
this partnership between business and council is now the template for tourism
bureaux up and down the country. |
|
| Collective marketing was the ‘vision’
with members and Municipality pooling resources. The desired outcome was
to grow the cake for all concerned. Two years down the track, most businesses
are now reaping their best returns with the dual prospect of increased
profitability and higher yields from both industrial and residential properties. |
|
| Tourism sales have risen 50% over
the past two years and property values have increased over 40% in the corresponding
period. Knysna has seen a modest footflow increase of 9% per annum.
What has happened is that our visitors are staying longer and spending
more. This is positive for the town because it is not in our long-term
interests that the current 800,000 visitors suddenly increase to 1,5 million
visitors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stunning Ecology ~ Exceptional
Playground |
| Reserves - National Parks - Golf
Courses |
|
|
Simola Golf Course
|
|
| Knysna is blessed with one of the
most stunning ecological systems in the world, but it needs our protection
to ensure future generations can appreciate the sheer natural beauty of
our environment. We are therefore very fortunate to have South African
National Parks resident on our lagoon to ensure fair play at all times. |
|
| Knysna has witnessed an unprecedented
growth in both new homes and additions to existing homes. During the whole
of 2001 over R171 million Rands worth of plans were passed. This
figure was exceeded within the first six months of 2002 alone (R175 million)!
Most suppliers cannot keep up with the demand for timber, tiles and bricks
- this is surely a huge for a budding entrepreneurs. |
|
| What is truly inspiring is to see
many of Knysna’s old homes being renovated and brought back to their former
glory. Many of these will offer discerning visitors a glimpse into Knysna’s
eclectic past, in the form of four and five star luxury. |
|
|
|
Knysna's Main street in 1933
|
|
|
|
|
Knysna's Harbor Today
|
|
|
|
| There is no finer example of modern
day architects bringing in the new without throwing away the old heritage
that shaped Knysna, than Thesen Islands. A private estate of 19 islands
surrounded by the warm, blue waters of the Knysna Lagoon and linked to
the mainland by a single causeway, it brings new life to the Ashmead Channel. |
|
| Thesens Island has long been associated
with Knysna’s historical past. Arnt Leonard Thesen and his family left
Stanger in Norway in 1868 in search of a new home. In 1870, they settled
in Knysna and soon became an integral part of the burgeoning village, setting
up the first trading store and then a counting house. |
|
| They also dealt in timber and in
1904 Charles Wilhelm Thesen bought Paarden Island, which had been part
of the Melkhoutkraal Estate of George Rex - the founder of Knysna. The
Thesens began processing timber on the island in 1922 and the island soon
became known as Thesen Island. |
|
| In July 2001 Thesen Sawmill closed
its doors and this, although sad for the timber workers, brought in a new
era for Knysna businesses. Currently over 650 people are employed on the
islands learning new skills, and with a new one-stop design centre and
soon to be complete Environmental Centre (with a R3 million donation from
South Africa multinational Barlow’s, the last owner of the sawmill) many
new talents will emerge. |
|
 |
|
Thesen Island
|
|
|
|
|
Five Star Lifestyle
|
|
|
|
| Potential homeowners now have the
very latest home décor innovations right on their doorstep, and
need not ‘import’ from Cape Town, Johannesburg or even further afield.
Wonderful opportunities for local talent now exist to create kitchen, bathroom
and outdoor lifestyle furniture and equipment from ceramic, metalcraft
and wood. |
|
| Knysna history is synonymous with
timber, and its is no surprise that the overall theme on Thesen Islands
would seem to reflect timeless wooden clapper-board houses, more reminiscent
of Boston, New England or Copenhagen, Oslo and Stanger in Norway. T &
B Log Homes, one of the first main investors on the Islands, has established
an outstanding reputation and now exports to many European and North American
customers. |
|
| In the 1880`s Mr George Parkes,
an industrialist from Birmingham, England turned to South Africa for wood
for his edge tools produced by his UK factory. Parkes purchased over 3,400
ha of forest at Knysna and established the first primitive sawmill in the
forest and a mill conveniently situated in the centre of Knysna. |
|
| Move To Knysna - You Owe It To
Yourself |
| ...And To Your Family |
|
|
Knysna Heads In Mist
|
|
| This was the beginning of Knysna
commercially producing with our indigenous woods, instead of exporting
the raw materials. In 1990, Woodmill Lane was established on the site of
the historical George Parkes sawmill and timber company by Hjalmar Thesen
and now provides locals and visitors alike with convenient shopping in
a beautiful Victorian ambience. |
|
| Today Knysna is world famous for
quality, handcrafted furniture, made from selected indigenous woods, using
traditional joining methods. These pieces remain highly sought-after collectors'
items. In honour of this tradition, a Timber Route has been established
were the public can visit crafters in their working environments and purchase
direct from the manufacturer. |
|
| If the gold diggings in Knysna had
turned out differently, one wonders if Knysna would have become another
concrete city with skyscrapers blocking out the sunshine and pure, fresh
air!. In 1876 a gold nugget weighing 17 pennyweights was found by Mr James
Hooper in a riverbed on his farm Ruigtevlei. |
|
| He showed it to a government official
Mr CF Osbourne. The find was significant enough for the authorities to
make a grant of 100 pounds for further prospecting (a sizeable sum in those
days). |
|
| Osbourne, however, was transferred
from Knysna and the search for gold was postponed until his return in 1885
(imagine partners waiting nearly ten years to commence digging today!)
Work commenced in the Karatara River and initially proved successful. This
widely publicised find encouraged a number of fortune seekers to descend
on the Millwood area. |
|
| By December 1887 over 2,000 reef
and alluvial claims had been pegged and over 600 miners and 400 other residents
had settled in the Millwood Village. At its height the village possessed
some six hotels, a bank, and government office and 60 shops. (Today Knysna
boasts over 300 guests houses, 15 hotels, 25 estate agencies and 70 restaurants
- a far cry from 1890). Regretfully the mine failed to deliver the untold
riches many had hoped for and with short years the reef was dead. Most
prospectors headed for the more lucrative reefs of the old Transvaal (Barberton
etc). |
|
| Undoubtedly the discovery of Gold
at Millwood provided an important impetus to Knysna’s development more
than 100 years ago. Thanks to the Forestry Department, the friends of the
Millwood Goldfields and the Parkes family, visitors can view the Bendigo
Mine and Materolli Museum today and experience a quite unique atmosphere.
An aura still seems to lurk there as if its body has vanished but its soul
remains |
|
| Take a trip up the Rheenendal Road
and see if you experience this feeling... Why wait - Knysna is a town geared
to meet the challenges of the new economy- knowledge is your company’s
most competitive edge - move to Knysna, you owe it to yourself and your
family. |
|
| Amen. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| About This Report |
| Telling Others About Knysna And
The Garden Route |
|
| This report is the second in
a series of special reports on the Garden Route; a secret place where
unmatched luxury exists in one of the world's most spectacular settings.
This EscapeArtist Special Report will be a revelation to many. Few
Americans have heard of the Garden Route, those that have are keeping it
to themselves. That such a wonderful way of life had been kept secret
for so long is probably due to the fact that Americans only recently began
moving overseas. Europeans know about the Garden Route and there
has been an increasing number of Europeans moving there. Lately Americans
have begun moving there. This Special Report will certainly persuade others
to do so. The place is breath-takingly beautiful. Moving to Panama
or Belize is better than being in the USA; moving to Knysna, as shown in
the images above and below, is better than moving to anywhere on earth.
What a splendid place. |
|
| Real
estate photos courtesy of Offshore Properties South Africa
- We highly recommend the services of this company; Bronwyn and Vanessa
concentrate on finer properties but they can assist you in finding a lower
priced property or introducing you to the right people and places in Knysna.
Tell them hello for us. |
|
| Read
Doug Caseys comments on Cape Properties |
|
| Read
our previous report on the Garden Route |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
