Forest Edge Nature-lovers Retreat, Cottages on the Garden Route
Multi-award winning, Affordable, Private Knysna Accommodation in Forest Cottages in the middle of the Garden Route, with Self Catering Cottages and Cabins on the Edge of the Ancient Knysna Forests. Authentic Rheenendal Accommodation awaits you.
Forest Edge is 30 30-minute’ scenic drive from Knysna into the mountains and forest.
Close enough to amenities and far enough to avoid congestion, traffic and crowds.
We are NOT EQUIPPED FOR DAY VISIT
Buffalo Bay Beach – about 25 minutes from Forest Edge Knysna is one of the most beautiful, safe, clean beaches on the Garden Route. Equally famous for whale watching and surfing, this beach is popular with active adrenaline junkies and sedate families alike. Take the Buffalo Bay turnoff from the N2 between Knysna and Sedgefield (there is an excellent kiosk, canoe hire, a pony ride place, and a station restaurant near this corner). Continue until you ride alongside the river, then eventually, you will see the rough, rocky sea to your right (this is where the fishermen hang out and is also suitable for great moody sunset shots and long walks). Continue PAST this until you cannot continue to reach the swimming beach anymore. There is parking and a restaurant/shop; lifeguards keep it safe in busy seasons. The restaurant has a raised deck ideal for dolphin- or whale-spotting – so take your binoculars.
*** You will miss out if you do not try to visit Buffalo Bay Beach near Forest Edge, Knysna. It is great for families, surfers, and whale watchers! The beach is easily accessible from Forest Edge by car, especially during peak season when you can reach the beach without getting stuck in the hectic Knysna town traffic.
NB! BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL; PLEASE CALL SANPARKS DIRECTLY ON +27 76 906 8125 TO MAKE A BOOKING – PLEASE NOTE FOREST EDGE DOES NOT MANAGE THE BOOKINGS!
Drupkelders – loosely translated into Dripping Cellars, are rock pools in the Knysna forest. Combine a 3.5km Indigenous forest walk with a visit to magnificent rock pools in the Homtini River in the Knysna Forest. These massive rock pools offer deep, cola-coloured waters to cool off in and even a waterfall to clamber up next to (to another series of pools). Take a rucksack with picnic and swimming things and wear good walking shoes as there is a steep section near the river.
Due to the exclusivity of this gem, only 12 persons a day are allowed in, and a Sanparks permit is required (Wildcards are not accepted for this walk). It is not expensive, and you must keep the permits on you should officials ask you for them by the rock pools. This trail starts at the Forest Edge Nature-lovers Retreat gate entrance.
*** You will miss out if you do not try to visit this excellent, natural spot! The Forest Edge Drupkelders Knysna rock pools are worth the effort. Drupkelders at Forest Edge offers our guests a prime starting position as you walk there from your cottage veranda.
Jubilee Creek is an exquisite picnic area next to a forest creek deep in the Goudveld Forest, Knysna. With picnic benches, barbeque facilities, bins and toilets, this is a clean and simply breathtakingly beautiful area.
It is ideal for either a secluded romantic picnic or whole-family fun. Kids can lose themselves in the joy of water play while parents can relax on soft grass in the shade nearby. An hour-long walking trail starts and ends at the picnic site, through the Indigenous forest alongside the creek (a part of the famous Outeniqua Hiking Trail) that leads past old gold-mine dug-outs to a small rock pool and waterfall.
This is a must-visit spot to replenish your heart and soul. From the N2 between Knysna and Sedgefield, take the Rheenendal turnoff and follow it for 11.5 km. Turn right at the Bibbieshoek sign and follow the road through the Sanparks boom (a Sanparks entry fee applies unless you have a Wildcard) until you see the Jubilee Creek fork to your left. Follow it; you will know when you have arrived.
*** You will miss out if you do not try to visit this gorgeous, natural spot! The Forest Edge Jubilee Creek Knysna picnic site and Jubilee Creek walking trail are worth the effort—pack a picnic basket or take braai stuff and spend a day in Nature with the sun, water, and green grass. They are easily accessible from Forest Edge by car (or by mountain bike, or on foot for the fit and adventurous).
Knysna Forest: walks & trails for every fitness level. Giant, ancient yellow wood trees; tree ferns and forest nooks where frogs and fairies dwell… Have a short stroll on an easy forest trail, or take an hour-long circular Knysna Forest Trail route through different biomes, explore the Knysna forest TREES, Knysna forest WILDLIFE or Knysna forest BIRDS or get serious on a 9km trail; many trails near Forest Edge to choose from (see trail map below).
Krisjan-se-Nek: Visit the Big Tree, an 800– to 900-year-old Yellowwood Giant, see Dalene Matthee’s memorial, or picnic in the nearby clearing. This is also the starting and finishing point of the Circles in the Forest Trails (the shorter 3km trail, which we highly recommend, as well as the longer, more strenuous 9km trail, which passes some pools for cooling off in) and the 19km Homtini Cycling Trail. We often see the Knysna Loerie (Knysna Touraco) in this area.
Jubilee Creek is one of our favourite spots in the entire Knysna Forest! The picnic site and walking trail are situated next to two forest clearings. Picnic or walk the pretty and relatively flat 3.4km trail along the creek to a small rock pool and waterfall, passing old miners’ diggings along the way.
Materolli / Millwood museum and tea garden(Currently Closed): This is the site of the old gold-mining town (of which only one building remains), as well as an evocative graveyard and ghost-town street signs. Do the Millwood circular mine walk or go on a Mine Tour into tunnels? Order a light meal or sumptuous cake at the Millwood Tea Garden.
Drupkelders: The magnificent and unique Drupkelders Walk at Forest Edge requires a permit at a cost, as only 12 persons per day are allowed in. Knysna Forest walking trails require a nominal fee at the Sanparks entry boom.
Why not stay at Forest Edge? Enjoy the comfort of a private, fully equipped, award-winning & affordable Knysna Forest self-catering cottage Garden Route at its most peaceful, from where to enjoy the Knysna Forest attractions and these other gifts of the Knysna Forest: Jubilee Creek picnic site and walking trail; The Drift; even the Beach; Knysna Forest; Post-trail Massages in your cottage
*** The Forest is good for the body and even better for the soul. If you feel stuck, try a walk in the Knysna Forest – nothing beats walking in the forest! Take a Forest Walk or get serious on a Knysna Forest Trail – it can change one’s perspective on life. The Knysna Forest trails are worth the effort. The Knysna Forest at Forest Edge offers our guests a prime starting position, as many forest walking trails are on our doorstep.
THE HOMTINI CYCLING TRAIL: This 19km circular route starts at the Krisjan-se-Nek picnic area in the Millwood Forest. This mountain biking trail includes single-track sections, it is 19km long and starts and ends at Krisjan-se-Nek (about 3km from Forest Edge) there is a tough climb between kilometres 5 and 9, there is shade parking for your car. There is scenic high forest, fynbos and plantations. There is a swimming spot just before a very tough climb that can take up to 40 min to crest. There is a stunning view over the Knysna River gorge, Lilyvlei Forest, the Knysna Heads in the distant background, and the Millwood Goldfields. It traverses sections of wet forest and a white-water stream. It takes the rider of average fitness about 2 hours, but to enjoy the scenery, aim for 3 hours. The route roughly follows Millwood Road, Pomp-se-Pad, Deurpad, Lawnwood River, Portland Heights, Boer-se-Pad, and back to Millwood Road.
Most Forest Edge guests who use our Knysna Forest Mountain Biking Package do this trail before any other.
THE HARKERVILLE CYCLING TRAILS & ROUTES: These 12/14/15/24km routes start near the Garden of Eden Permit hut near Harkerville. These mountain biking trails have relatively easy gradients and offer 4 different routes: Yellow Route: 14 km, about 1.25 hours to ride. It follows gravelled surface roads and will be the only open route if others have to be closed due to rain. Blue Route: 12 km, about 1.5 hours to ride. There is a section along the Beukespad forest slip-path through medium-high forest, and the return path loops past a glade of coast redwood planted in 1927. Green Route: 15 km, about 2.25 hours to ride. It follows Grooteilandpad, then Waterpad, where there is a swimming hole. An alternate southward loop also offers breathtaking views of the rugged Harkerville coast. The home-bound leg follows Kleineilandpad, then Perdekoppad through some tall coastal forest with fine Hard Pear. Red Route: 24 km, about 3-5 hours to ride (much tougher route than the others). The most scenically diverse, with long stretches of off-road track along old slip-paths and a section through fynbos near the cliff line.
Forest Edge guests who use our Knysna Forest Mountain Biking Package often tackle these trails after making the picturesque, must-do Homtini cycling trail.
THE PETRUS-SE-BRAND CYCLING TRAIL: This 24km trail starts at the Diepwalle Forest Station and ends at the Garden of Eden near Harkerville (or vice versa). It suits riders of average fitness, especially those downhill starting at Diepwalle. Southbound takes about 1.5 hours, and Northbound takes about 2 hours. Families cycling at a more leisurely pace should allow 3 hours. The more commonly used Southbound route starts 533m above sea level and starts along the Uniondale road, then breaks sharply to the left to follow the contoured bed of the old narrow-gauge forest railway line, which used to run from Ysterhoutrug to Knysna. Then, turn left at Petrussebrandpad, descend, cross a stream, and wind up the ascent from Petrusbrand Eiland. Ride through medium-moist to dry type forest with several old yellowwoods crowned with ‘old man’s beard’, then suddenly emerge in the open towards Kleineiland. On a clear day, expect a fantastic view of the Tsitsikama mountains and the distant Plettenberg Bay. Re-enter the forest and descend into Kleineiland river valley, where the road becomes quite cobbled. Crossing a low-water bridge with unusually clear water, as it originates in the forest and not in fynbos, gives other streams their characteristic brown colour. This is the lowest point at 180m above sea level, just before a severe climb. This eventually tees into the Fisanthoek public road before leaving the forest to follow an old timber slip path offering exciting single-track riding.
Forest Edge guests who use our Knysna Forest Mountain Biking Package often tackle this trail after doing the picturesque, must-do Homtini cycling and Harkerville trails.
Knysna Forest cycling trails require a nominal fee at the Sanparks entry boom or relevant kiosks. Below are the official Sanparks Maps; this is the Sanparks flyer scanned in for your convenience. For more information on Sanparks cycling trails, contact Sanparks on 044 – 3025606.
Why not come stay at Forest Edge? Enjoy the comfort of a private, fully equipped, award-winning & affordable Knysna Forest self-catering cottage Garden Route at its most peaceful, from where to enjoy the Knysna Forest attractions and these other gifts of the Knysna Forest: Jubilee Creek picnic site and walking trail; The Drift; even the Beach; Knysna Forest; Post-trail Massages in your cottage
*** The Forest is good for the body and even better for the soul. If you feel stuck, try cycling in the Knysna Forest – nothing beats cycling in the forest! Take a gentle ride on one of the many farm gravel roads in the area or get serious on a Knysna Forest Trail – it can change one’s perspective on life. The Knysna Forest trails are worth the effort. The Knysna Forest at Forest Edge offers our guests a prime starting position, as many forest mountain biking trails are on our doorstep.
The Drift—About a 15–minute drive from Forest Edge, The Drift is a beautiful spot on the Knysna River, locally known as The Drift. With a sandy beach and shallow entry into the vast, attractive river, this is the ideal spot for a secluded family outing or romantic picnic with a cooling frolic in brackish water, whether for swimming, canoeing, fishing, or shooting the breeze.
The Drift will surely surprise you with Knysna Loeries, fish jumping, and more wildlife surprises! More wind is still here since it is tucked away behind a hill. Currently accessible from the Phantom Pass road, it is open to the public until 6 p.m. camping is not allowed.
*** For a different experience off the beaten track, check out The Drift – Easily accessible from Forest Edge by car
BIRDING IN THE GARDEN ROUTE
The Garden Route is one of the lushest and most charming places to visit in South Africa, and birding on the Garden Route is a unique experience. Knysna is a natural indigenous paradise offering breathtaking and endless opportunities for Twitchers to complete their birding lists.
Our Knysna forest is the largest closed-canopy forest in southern Africa. It has a subtropical climate with rain almost all year round. It’s a wonderland of sea, mountains, forest, fynbos, and water, home to more than 370 different species of birds.
Everyone seeks peace to relieve us from the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced city life. Whether your idea of relaxing is looking for mindfulness, thrill-seeking or adventure, Knysna offers it all.
Forest Edge, Rheenendal, and Knysna are in the forest’s heart. It is a special place with only a wire fence between our establishment and the dense, lush tree canopies. There are 850 species of birds recorded in Southern Africa, of which 50 are found only in Southern Africa and nowhere else. We have regular visits from our feathered friends, including the Knysna Loerie and the Knysna Woodpecker, who frequent the trees and ponds on the premises. Our nightlife is also a spectacular and special experience, with the sounds of nightjars echoing, fireflies fluttering, and the trees rustling.
Can you think of a better way to experience the Garden Route than being right in the woods? It is the only way to truly experience the Knysna indigenous forest in all its glory.
For those wanting to go birding in the area surrounding our establishment, there are two great bird hides, the Rondevlei bird hide, and the Lang Vlei bird hide, which never disappoints, we recorded 6 Malachite Kingfisher during our short visit. They have been well maintained and easy to access for all fitness levels. You can also venture out along the estuary in Knysna or around the lakes surrounding Sedgefield. If you would like a guided tour of any of these, we have the following recommendations:
The scope of environmental variation in the Garden Route offers visitors to the region the option of forest, wetland, Fynbos, estuary, riverine, montane and coastal experiences without travelling vast distances. On this foundation of diversity, Garden Route Birding has developed its range of guided birding tours in the region.
We can also highly recommend the Wilderness River Safari, moving up and down the Touw River or Island Lake for early morning or late afternoon birding. They have never failed to find us some great birds, including the Half-collard Kingfisher in all its glory. This is, of course, weather-dependent, but it is a beautiful ride nonetheless and very cost-effective. Here is more information: https://wildriversafaris.co.za/
Garden Route Birding also offers some great tours, and they have a birding list available on their site for those wanting to see what they can tick off on the list. They offer both land and water viewing/capturing. Here is a link to their birding list, as well as the tours on offer: List Of Birds
The Garden Route, especially Rheenendal, Knysna, and its surroundings, is genuinely one of the most outstanding birding experiences in the country.
We look forward to sharing our feathered friends with you and welcoming you to Forest Edge.
Embark on a journey through the enchanting Garden Route, where our adventures led us to the exceptional Forest Edge Nature-Lovers Retreat. Nestled in a serene woodland setting, this idyllic sanctuary became our home base for various captivating day activities.
The air was filled with the melodic calls of the Red-chested Cuckoo, creating a symphony that resonated through the trees. Amidst this natural orchestra, the soft, haunting notes of a solitary Narina Trogon added a romance to the atmosphere, making it clear we had discovered the perfect escape.
Our hearts were captivated as we witnessed the African Emerald Cuckoo whizzing past, its vibrant plumage shimmering in the dappled sunlight before it gracefully perched on a nearby branch. Each moment at the Forest Edge Nature-Lovers Retreat was a blend of wonder and tranquillity, a testament to the unparalleled beauty and serenity of the Garden Route.
As we turned left off the N2 and made our way up the hill, we saw a change as the forest appeared before us. First, it was a commercial plantation and then a dense indigenous forest. This lush sea of greens and brown with a musty odour was probably how it looked from Cape Town to the Tsitsikamma long before man exploited these forests for financial gain. Most of the actual forests and the Outeniqua yellowwood Giants are gone. A handful of sanctuaries, managed by Sanparks, have protected areas where you can experience these mystical, dense indigenous areas. One is the Diepwalle section above Knysna, which is high in the hills and safe from the woodcutter axe.
The forests of the Garden Route National Park are most famously captured by the South African author Daleen Mathee and her enigmatic stories of the forest. This was a time of exploration, exploitation, gold diggers, and elephant hunters. Today, the woodcutters, golddiggers, and most elephants are gone. You will still encounter traces of the past within the lush Knysna forest. These dense green forests hold many myths and legends; we followed this historic journey through the Knysna forest as part of Sanpark’s Rooted in Time adventure to ten enchanted locations.
The Diepwalle Camping Decks section, managed by Sanparks, was the perfect setting for our first encounter with the African Emerald Cuckoo.
Calling close to our deck number three. After a frantic search, we finally set our sights on this elusive forest bird.
Little would we know that for the remainder of our holiday, we would constantly hear this pleasant sound of this cuckoo calling. Capturing a few images would be a completely different story. Ultimately, we had some luck and captured this elusive forest bird.
Description
The African emerald cuckoo is sexually dimorphic. The males have a green back and head with a yellow breast. Females are barred green and brown on their backs and green and white on their breasts. The African emerald cuckoo can also be identified by its call, a four-note whistle with the mnemonic device of “Hello Ju-dy.”
Diet
The cuckoo’s diet consists mainly of insects like caterpillars and ants.[5] The diet can be supplemented with some fruit, and the African emerald cuckoo often forages in the middle and top layers of the canopy.[6]
Breeding
Chrysococcyx cupreus in a spawn of Anabathmis newtonii – MHNT
Like most cuckoos, the African emerald cuckoo is a brood parasite. Female African emerald cuckoos lay eggs in the nests of other bird species. A female cuckoo can lay between 19 and 25 eggs on average per breeding season.[7] The breeding season occurs during the rainy seasons, generally during the months between September and March.[4] Even though the cuckoos do not need territory to feed fledglings, male African emerald cuckoos still maintain territories to display themselves to potential mates.[4]
Conservation status and threats
The cuckoo’s distribution is 11,400,000 km (7,100,000 mi)[4] across sub-Saharan Africa, and subsequently, the species is not in any immediate threat of decline.[8] However, there is some concern about habitat reduction and fragmentation of riparian areas and lowland forests in the upcoming years.[6]
Folklore
In the Zigula language its call has been rendered as ziwkulwa tuoge, (“let’s go and bathe”). In Zulu it is known as ubantwanyana, or “little children”, which suggests the song Bantwanyana! ning’endi!, or “Little children, don’t get married!”.[9] In Xhosa it is mostly known as intananja,[5] but its call is also rendered as ziph’ iintombi?, meaning “where are the girls?” [9] In Afrikaans, it is known as the mooimeisie, or “pretty girl”.[10]
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