05/09/2026
Fun fact... about thr origin of the name Knysna from a Khoikhoi word, naizna, which translates to "ferns" or "place of wood." The area was first inhabited by the Khoikhoi and San people, who named the local river, lagoon, and surrounding landscape after the abundant ferns or timber in the region.
Early Spellings: European settlers and explorers recorded various spellings starting around the 1770s. Early documents from the late 18th century often spelled it "Nysna"
By the early 1800s, the modern spelling "Knysna" became standard usage after the area was mapped and settled by figures like James Callander and later George Rex.
