Media from mainstream publications, radio and television — along with some top influencers — were recently wooed by the Knysna Oyster Festival organisers with a couple packed days experiencing all things Knysna and specifically all things Oyster fest.
The purpose of this jaunt was to equip us to spread the word about what’s coming up in town for locals and visitors during the 42nd rendition of the fest which starts today.
I thought twice about accepting the media invitation because I live in Knysna, but decided to go because I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to pretend I was a visitor with brand-new eyes on the town.
This fest brings tens of millions of rand into the town and is a big deal for Knysna in the dead of winter when the hospitality industry struggles.
I am so glad I went! Top marks to the organisers for this media trip which blew the cobwebs right out of local-yokel me while providing visiting media and bloggers enough exciting fodder for their respective audiences.
The highlight of the festival is the full and half Knysna Forest Marathon tomorrow, with runners coming from across the country.
Then there is an absolute feast of things to do every day until it ends on July 13, something for everyone including children.
The list of activities is so impressive and this website so well organised and user-friendly I suggest readers have a look at www.knysnaoysterfestival.co.za/events
Our media group first checked into the beautiful Blackwaters River Lodge near Buffalo Bay and this was where my jaded glasses first fell off.
Before the fires and Covid-19, we locals used to regularly go for lunch and spend the day here enjoying the expansive manicured lawns, the river, the canoes, the mashie-golf and the vibe.
Somewhere along the line after the Knysna fires which ravaged this property and then Covid, we may have become set in lazy ways.
Blackwaters Lodge has that luxury feel, but also that of a country lodge with so many appealing elements such as the green, green views from the rooms, being able to put a picnic blanket down on the lawns and soak up being in nature.
It feels far away from the world, though it’s only about 10 minutes from Knysna.
There couldn’t have been a lovelier location from which to base a media trip and, of course, owner Elmay Bouwer is a very special host and kind of legendary in the town.
For many years, she has held pivotal roles within the tourism industry in Knysna.
In 2017, the fires took her home, but in spite of this she threw herself into saving that next Oyster Festival and she was a beacon of hope and encouragement to the tourism industry, which took a hammering.
I would suggest including visiting Blackwaters in your fest plans since there are loads of fun things to do here such as a night walk, craft workshops, art, you name it.
You can catch the Springbok rugby match here on July 5, there’s a traditional Sunday roast at JuanMichelle’s restaurant on July 6. The food is good. Dining outside in the sun is unbeatable.
There’s every reason, from food, to art, to workshops, for families to head for Blackwaters River Lodge any day of the Oyster Festival week and some quirky things to do like sign up for the handcrafted feet harmony treat where a spa therapist will teach couples how to massage one another’s feet.
There’s a brand new walk from Blackwaters through the forest and a guide to take you should you want.
The Forest Wellness spa is offering special treatments during the fest, not that I need any encouragement to be pampered, especially in this salon which is situated semi-outdoors in nature.
Our whirlwind media tour started at Sirocco Restaurant, Thesen Island.
We were shown how to tell and taste the difference between a coastal oyster and a cultivated one and even given a knife and glove to shuck our own oysters.
Then after a hearty lunch we went to Pledge Nature Reserve for an easy 3km walk to the top of the reserve which has forever views over the town.
Nanna Joubert, who runs the Plett Nature Reserve, shared her rich knowledge of the vegetation and fynbos here.
If you are visiting during the fest, make a point of visiting our nature reserve in the heart of town — and for fellow residents shake off the lethargy, a walk here is well worth it.
Contact dmin@vukaukhanyecommunitytours.co.za about a walk and picnic here on July 12 or for general information go to info@pledgenaturereserve.org
What followed our walk was just fabulous judging from the reaction of out-of-town media and again it’s something we locals don’t do often enough.
On the Buffalo Bay Wildside is a small, wooden, nothing fancy, restaurant literally on the beach — and it’s open every day until the sun goes down.
I can’t remember when last prawns cooked to perfection flowed like they did here, not to mention fish and calamari with thick, meaningful chips all served in enamel plates with lots of messy fingers and serviettes.
Selfies were taken in the bathtub which is parked on one of the dunes and there was a spectacular moonthat night.
Quite amazing really that after all that seafood our group managed to do some damage to the desserts on offer.
This was a taste of a new event this year, The Dessert War Fair on July 9 happening at the main fest hub.
People are invited to try the various desserts, rate them and see who wins.
We rolled back to Blackwaters to sleep in luxury, then the next morning we were up and off early to the famous Île de Pain for breakfast.
This buzzing cafe on Thesen Island is renowned for its bakery serving breakfast and lunch, wood-fired bread and fine pastries, a secret locals know about, and a spot all visitors should try.
Over the years, I have been whale-watching on Ocean Odyssey and the thrill never abates.
The Pepler family who operate it are proud to show off our local waters and whales.
The passage through the heads with its big swell caused great excitement among people doing it the first time.
Not one whale was seen on this media trip and blow me down if they didn’t put on a great show the very next day.
Here for the festival, make time to experience this.
It’s peak whale-watching season now so the chances of seeing them are good. Book at info@oceanodyssey.co.za or phone 44-382-0321.
One of the spoils of our educational — and a perfect Insta-moment — was being chauffeured by a fleet of classic cars to Sedgefield where Wagyu burgers were on the menu at Rosie’s Steak Bar.
Then there was the moonlight meander on Gericke’s Beach with Judy Dixon offering a once-in-a-lifetime night experience of the ocean in the dark and what lives in the rock pools.
Over the years, the kinds of activity in the town during this week have grown into a vast programme which extends far beyond the Festival Hub at the Knysna High School sports field just off Waterfront Drive.
There are music, food and a week of activity here, including shopping as the Neighbourhood Makers Hub, a group of SMMEs and local businesses, will show off unique crafts, boutique fashion, home-grown products and artisanal food.
On Sunday 6 and 13, the Festival Hub will host laid-back Sunday Market days with gourmet stalls, fresh produce, pop-up shops and picnic vibes.
Oyster Alley in the hub is a bustling thoroughfare of thrift stalls, delicious food, coffee and arts and crafts.
What is admirable is that entry to the hub is free, which means everybody in town can get in on the action with access to the Kids Zone, a wonderland for young festivalgoers offering trampolines, mini-quads, puppet-making workshops and creative play sessions with the Kom Kuier Clay Café.
This year organisers are proud of the Wildlife Warriors fairground, where children can enjoy animal-themed games while learning about endangered species, courtesy of Raptor Rescue and the Raphaeli Waldorf School.
If you like cars, don’t miss the Eden Classic Car Motor Show, a premier event on the fest calendar.
Organisers say it’s one of the best in the country.
The second Eden Classic Car and Motorcycle Show is a huge turnout of vintage cars, supercars, high-performance cars, you name it.
This year there will be 17 Ferraris on display along with other high-performance brands including Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Aston Martin, Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar, BMW, Shelby Ford, Alfa Romeo, Jensen and a selection of Cobras V8s.
There will be more than 200 selected cars on show.
The car show takes place on Sunday July 6, at the Scarab Arts and Crafts Village, alongside the N2 freeway in Sedgefield from 10am until 4pm.
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.