Bernie Van Der Linde
Experience the epitome of exclusive luxury at The St James of Knysna, an owner-run country hotel set beside the stunning Knysna Lagoon. Awaken to breathtaking lagoon views from your well-appointed room, and start your day with a delicious breakfast served at the lagoon’s edge.
This five-star hotel is nestled in a beautifully manicured three-acre garden with two pools and a private jetty, offering the ideal escape from city life. Conveniently located just 2.8 km from the centre of Knysna, it is the perfect base to explore the many pristine beaches and unique neighbouring locations.
Enjoy many activities nearby, from forest horse riding to wildlife sanctuaries and adrenaline-fueled adventures. Discover why The St. James of Knysna is more than just a hotel—it’s a home away from home.
For more video footage of our stay at the St. James visit our Instagram highlights!
Where is the Knysna lagoon?
Knysna is in the Western province of South Africa and is one of the most central and treasured places on the Garden Route. Knysna lies 60km east of George on the N2 highway and 33km west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.
This buzzing town is a popular holiday destination throughout the year and an excellent location from which to explore the neighbouring unique places such as Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, Brenton-on-Sea, and Buffalo Bay with their secluded and pristine beaches. George Airport is only 67 km from Knysna.
Where to find the best Knysna lagoon hotel with views
It is not often that you can wake up to views over the Knysna lagoon from your bed. Not only were we treated to exquisite lagoon and sunrise views from our large balcony, but we also stayed in the biggest hotel room to date. The only enticement strong enough to lure us from our comfortable beds (did we mention exquisite lagoon views) was the delicious breakfast waiting for us downstairs on the shore of the Knysna Lagoon. Swimming is not recommended in the lagoon due to the strong current.
The St James is within prime proximity to some of the most pristine beaches, as previously mentioned. Brenton-on-sea, a quaint seaside village, is only 15km west of Knysna and, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful Blue Flag beaches. Don’t miss Castle Rock formations! From there, you can easily walk along the beach to Buffalo Bay, another Blue Flag beach.
St. James is conveniently situated only 20km from Plettenberg Bay Airport and 60km from George Airport or an easy 485km drive from Cape Town.
The best accommodation on the Knysna lagoon
Guests can stay in two exclusive locations: The Manor House (where we stayed) or the Courtyard.
The Manor House comprises three superior, four deluxe suites, and two standard rooms. We stayed in a suite in the Manor House, Lady Anne, as the name suggests, a beautifully appointed colonial-style suite with a massive bedroom (and enough cupboard space to stay for a month), a dressing table, a separate lounge, a bathroom with a Victorian free-standing bathtub, and a large shower and high-end amenities.
We even had a fully stocked bar fridge and a coffee and tea station in the luxuriously appointed lounge.
Best features of the lagoon hotel: The St. James of Knysna
- Conveniently situated only 20km from Plettenberg Bay Airport and 60km from George Airport or an easy 485km drive from Cape Town.
- All the suites and rooms are VERY spacious!
- The hotel offers a fabulous buffet breakfast. A light lunch menu is available
- Two generous-sized pools (one is in the landscaped garden near the jetty, the other is in the centre of the courtyard).
- Offers secure on-site parking at no additional cost, with no need for reservation
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property
- Chic decor throughout the living spaces
- Equipped with conference facilities, making it an ideal wedding venue
- Features an on-site bar serving equisite cocktails
- Complementary lagoon cruise on the hotel's barge (visit our Instagram page to witness our unforgettable cruise experience)
- A small gift shop with items for the discerning traveller.
- Angling from the jetty (fishing rods provided)
- The hotel promotes sustainable tourism by supporting local businesses and recruiting local staff
- They recycle, avoids the use of single-use plastic, and limits harmful pesticides.
- The staff of St. James is what makes this hotel feel like home. From Elijah (the friendliest barman and Jack-of-all-trades) to Unathi (reception), Sandy (the general manager) and Alex the friendly and knowledgeable skipper of the hotel's barge.
Fun activities at (or nearby) the Knysna lagoon
- Join one of the early morning or late afternoon lagoon cruises on their resident boat. Alex, the skipper, will tell you many interesting facts about the area and lagoon.
- Besides visiting several of the most pristine beaches in the area, there are plenty of fun activities within proximity of the St James Hotel, such as Knysna forest horse riding, Jukani (Wildlife sanctuary), Birds of Eden, Monkey land, Wolf sanctuary, snake park and elephant sanctuary.
- For the adrenalin seekers there are Knysna Ziplining, Face Adrenalin and Storms River bungy jumping.
How to get to the Knysna lagoon hotel: The St. James?
Address: Point Close, Eastford St, Knysna
-34.039° / 23.0175°
How to make a booking at the best Knysna lagoon hotel - St. James hotel of Knysna?
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Good to know about the best Knysna lagoon hotel
Because the hotel only serves breakfast and light lunches, we enjoyed exploring the many Knysna Harbour restaurants. We can truly recommend 24 Degrees South restaurant for excellent seafood and sushi at highly affordable prices.
Due to the hotel’s location (on the lagoon’s banks), no children under 12 can be accommodated.
Pro tip
Notice the exquisite wooden horse at the hotel’s entrance, which is ceremoniously fitted with a different hat daily (according to the staff’s mood, or so we believe).
We enjoyed looking at what hat the horse was wearing daily, as this usually indicates the type of day expected!
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Your Travel Buddies, Bernie & Petra
