For over 40 years, the Knysna Oyster Festival has been a beloved clambake for fans of the coast. Its famed marathon alone brings close to 5,500 people to the small town, 60% of them women. Organisers mainly attribute this to the fact that the marathon (42km) and the half marathon (21.2km) are full of scenic wonders. Many participants want to run it just for the wonderful scenery and photo ops.
Of course, the chance for fitness junkies to get their sweat on is just one pull of the festival. There is also the call to enjoy the finest dining and thrills that Knysna has to offer.
Boasting an array of activities for food lovers and thrill seekers, the festival offers a feast of options for both newbies and veterans. Here is a look at some of the delights you might enjoy when hitting Knysna for the Oyster Festival, which takes place this year from June 21 to 30.
A SHUCKING GOOD TIME
The best place to start is the obvious one: with the oysters. Unless you have a shellfish allergy, it would be nonsensical to attend the festival and not indulge in the titular treat.
Over the past few years, though, your chance of slurping down one freshly picked in the town has been quashed by stringent rules around where, when and how much local oyster pickers can collect. A particular gripe of theirs is that the best pickings are in places where they are not allowed to work at all — in the marine reserves guarded by South African National Parks.
Third generation oyster pickers Andrew van Rooyen and Mingo Jacobs believe that SANParks has it all wrong in the way they are trying to protect the coast. In fact, they say, oysters' protected status in the reserves is leading to overpopulation. According to Jacobs, this has only caused bigger problems in the oyster beds, as well as difficult times for the pickers and their families.
“We are struggling and we are asking them to [let us] go there so we can clean that place so that the oysters can grow again,” Jacobs says.
Their picks, now from Wilderness, are typically sent to the Quintet of Cuisine group, which owns the restaurants 34 South, The Dryrock Food Company, Tapas & Oysters and Scirocco. The latter is a top spot where you can take a stab at shucking and tasting oysters with glasses of bubbly.
Its current offerings include Cape rock wild oysters, which are “by far superior”, according to Quintet's marketing director Elizabeth Vertue.
Their offerings also include a succulent platter of three oysters and a glass of champagne, with a rundown on the history of the oysters and the different seasonal flavours.
• Oyster Experience at Scirocco, R140 per person.
THE BEERS AND BEES
Other than bubbly, Knysna is also a hotbed for imbibing the works of unique local breweries.
A great place to start is the Knysna Distillery & Gin Bar. Founded in 2018, the family-run business was inspired by the desire to place Knysna on the ever-growing gin map in South Africa. Their bottles are crammed with South African flavours including the Natal plum, better known as num-num berries. They offer a gin-tasting experience mixing the different offerings with chasers and their unique blends, including limoncello and nonalcoholic versions.
• Gin tasting: R60 per tasting board. Includes four different gins and tonics.
Just a five-minute walk from the gin bar you will find Eden Honey Distillery. While it's a great spot for those with a sweet tooth, their distillery also offers alcohols brewed with honey. Their store is also a treasure trove of Springbok memorabilia.
And if you're not much of a fan of sweet drinks, you can try beer, with tastings at Red Bridge Brewing. The Golden Ale is one of their original beers, with fruity hops flavours that deviate from bitter US beers. Their Giant Pale Ale is a dryer serving with accents of lychee.
• Beer tasting: R50 per tasting board. Includes three 100ml beers.
SWIPE, SIP AND PAINT
For those who like to admire other people's art, Knysna is home to a number of art galleries and public murals. But you can also unleash your inner Picasso with a visit to the Art Cafe on Queen. Here, an instructor runs participants through the process of creating artworks using the expected paint brushes but mainly trains visitors in using cards for creating unique strokes and patterns. In an attempt to “uncork creativity”, smart shopper cards and credit cards bring to life different vistas and horizons at the home of Knysna's most unique art and curio shop.
• Sip and Paint, R375 per person, includes canvas, art materials and a beverage.
BLUBBERLY LOVE
Other than the fauna on land, the great seas of Knysna are home to some of the country's top ocean dwellers.
There is bound to be plentiful whale spotting this year. On a “Close Encounter” whale-watching trip with Ocean Odyssey, we got to spot the Bryde's Wale early in season. Known for being one of few whale species that do not migrate long distances, it was named after Norwegian whaler John Bryde, who discovered them in South Africa. According to our boat crew, they are easy to spot thanks to the gannets that are never too far from them.
• R1,500 per adult, R1,190 for children under 12. Rate valid until November 30.
NEED FOR SPEED
If you would rather acquaint yourself with the Knysna Forest outside of the foot race, then try Scootours Knysna. These tours utilise monster mountain bikes, which have fat tyres but no pedals or seats. These Swiss-designed scooters are used in the Alps during the summer season on the ski slopes when the snow is gone. In Knysna, you roll downhill from the Garden Route National Park, as you zip past the fauna and flora of the area.
• R600 for adults; R300 for children (age 9 and younger). There is the option to add a snack for R80 (both adults and children).
WHERE TO STAY
For my visit, I got a taste of Knysna Hollow. This country estate is just a 10-minute walk from the town's scenic promenade.
The Hollow has 44 suites that surround two sparkling pools in the centre of a leafy garden. Two of their garden suites are wheelchair accessible and amenities include a kiddies' play area and padel courts.
• A superior garden suite with a balcony is R2,000 per night for two people. For more, room options, specials and to book, see their website.
FOUR WAYS TO EAT AN OYSTER
Whether you are a newbie or a longtime fan, here are four ways to best savour an oyster, according to the team at Scirocco.
The Naked Lunch: Lift the meat off the shell with an oyster fork and let it slide into your mouth.
The Citrus Pleaser: Do the same as above, but squeeze some lemon on and add a sprinkle of pepper before swallowing.
Hot Knotted Oysters: For a bit of a kick, throw a dash of tabasco onto your oyster. This works well with a splash of lemon too.
The Secret of the Kilt: For the ultimate taste journey, throw in some Laphroaig whisky.
