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Self Drive, Walking, Honeymoon, Shopping, Photography, Birding, Cuisine, Spa, Day Tour, Guest House, Swimming Pool, Price Range - Southern Africa: $050 - $200
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Knysna is built on the banks of the Knysna Lagoon, a landlocked estuary fed by the Knysna River and connected with the sea between two great sandstone cliffs, the Knysna Heads. The town is famous for its Stinkwood, the most prized and beautiful South African indigenous wood, and is the centre of the timber industry of the great Knysna and Tsitsikama forests. The waters of the Knysna River, as with all rivers south of the Outeniqua range, are a deep wine colour due to the oxide of iron and vegetable matter, and therefore responsible for the changing colours in the lagoon. During the previous century the Knysna Forest and surrounding areas were the stronghold of about 400 to 500 elephants. Although these numbers have decreased rapidly, attempts have been made to boost the number of these elephants by introducing elephants from the Kruger National Park into the forests. Success of this reintroduction still remains to be seen. Although the Knysna elephants are not a distinct subspecies, they represent the southern most population of elephants on the African continent and the only South African population that has adapted to living in a forest.

Parkes Manor offers nine exquisite en-suite bedrooms equipped with telephones, satellite TV, mini bars, safes, tea and coffee facilities, fans and underfloor heating. All suites open onto individually sectioned-off, wrap-around verandahs where you can relax and enjoy views across the secluded garden and pool area and savour the ever changing colours of the lagoon.

Optional photographic tours: The garden route is a photographer's paradise, yet most travellers' photographs are taken form the fringes of the highway. In associations with Ian and Glenda Flemming, Parkas Manor can offer her guests the opportunity of experiencing tailor-made photographic trips. As a professional photographer, Ian will take guests over the peaks of the Outeniqua mountains, through the mystical indigenous forests or perhaps rambling through the Lake District, capturing breathtaking scenes on film. When embarking on the photographic tours, guest will be taken either by a landrover 4x4, or if the group exceeds four people, by a courtesy bus and driver. Itineraries are scheduled to include lunches and teas as well as the on-hand training. Optional bird watching tours: As with the photographic tours, Knysna is the perfect destination for those guests wanting to indulge in birdlife. Boasting a phenomenal number of bird species, Knysna offers her guests not only the opportunity of going with an experienced guide to seek these beautiful and varied creatures, but also the opportunity of doing a basic bird watching course. Parkes Manor in association with various Bird Guides will organise the bird watching trips as well as enrolment on the Aquilla Bird course , if so desired. As with the photographic courses, prices and itineraries are purely dependent on the guest requirements.

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