The journal

Guides to Leisure Isle, Knysna

Guides to the island in the Knysna estuary — the shoreline, the nature reserve and the practical details worth knowing before you book.

Start exploring

Browse by interest

One theme so far, covering the island itself. More will follow as the journal grows.

Island guideThe causeway on and off, the tide around the shore, Steenbok Nature Reserve, and what is and is not on the island.Explore guides

Booking.com Genius

Free member discounts through Booking.com

Booking.com's free loyalty programme — instant member discounts on selected stays, plus free breakfast and room upgrades at higher tiers.

Join Genius

Sponsored — small commission earned at no extra cost to you.

From the journal

Latest guides

Fresh ideas and practical reading for your trip to Leisure Isle.

Leisure Isle Journal

Featherbed Nature Reserve, Knysna: How the Western Head Trip Works

4 October 2026

Knysna's Western Head is a private reserve you reach by ferry. How the trip works, what you see on the walk down, and what to know before you book.

Leisure Isle Journal

Steenbok Nature Reserve, Leisure Isle: What the Walk Is Actually Like

19 September 2026

Seventeen hectares on the island's northern shore, free and open at all times. Six named stops, a golf course underneath, and a tide that decides what you see.

Leisure Isle Journal

Does Knysna Have a Beach? Where the Swimmable Water Actually Is

16 September 2026

Yes — but the beaches you can swim off are not on the sea. Two headlands almost close the estuary, and that decides where the water is calm and where it is not.

Leisure Isle Journal

Leisure Isle, Knysna: What the Island Is Actually Like

4 September 2026

One causeway on and off, a free nature reserve, and a tide that redraws the shoreline twice a day. What staying on Leisure Isle is really like.

Find your base on the island

Compare the holiday homes, apartments and guest houses on Leisure Isle, with photos and facilities from Booking.com.

Browse all stays