Kanonkop Guest House
Seven suites above Knysna Lagoon offering lagoon-view terraces, gin bar, solar power
Framed by indigenous forest and fynbos, Kanonkop Guest House sits on a hillside above Knysna Lagoon on South Africa's Garden Route. Seven suites occupy the property, divided into three categories: two 80 m² penthouse suites, three 65 m² lagoon-facing suites, and two 50 m² garden suites. The Selwyn penthouse suite spans two floors and carries 180-degree views of the lagoon and the Knysna Heads, the sandstone cliffs that mark the lagoon's entrance to the Indian Ocean. It includes two private balconies, a lounge, and a raised slipper bath positioned to face the water. The Diamond penthouse suite, designed by Arno Joubert, features an indoor-outdoor bathroom with a deck opening onto the forest canopy. Forest Suite, one of the three lagoon-facing units, sits within the tree line and holds a raised bath that looks onto a private fern garden; bushbuck and mongoose pass through. All suites include king beds convertible to twins, underfloor heating, Nespresso machines, and en-suite bathrooms with Africology products. Breakfast is served daily on the outdoor terrace or indoors.
The property operates on solar power and holds no connection to the national grid. A bar stocked with more than 50 South African craft gins occupies the main lounge. An outdoor pool overlooks the landscaped garden. Massages are available in suites or on a secluded forest deck. Kanonkop Guest House lies five minutes by road from Knysna town centre and the waterfront. The Knysna Lagoon, protected and tidal, supports endemic Knysna seahorses; snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding depart from the shore. Brenton Beach, a Blue Flag beach seven kilometres long, sits 14 kilometres from the property. Buffalo Bay, another Blue Flag beach with a gently sloping sandy bottom, lies 20 kilometres away. Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Head is reached by ferry; tours include a 4x4 ascent, guided forest walks, and lunch under milkwood trees. The property arranges private guided tours across the Garden Route, including transfers to Pezula and Simola golf courses, where discounted green fees apply.
The property operates on solar power and holds no connection to the national grid. A bar stocked with more than 50 South African craft gins occupies the main lounge. An outdoor pool overlooks the landscaped garden. Massages are available in suites or on a secluded forest deck. Kanonkop Guest House lies five minutes by road from Knysna town centre and the waterfront. The Knysna Lagoon, protected and tidal, supports endemic Knysna seahorses; snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding depart from the shore. Brenton Beach, a Blue Flag beach seven kilometres long, sits 14 kilometres from the property. Buffalo Bay, another Blue Flag beach with a gently sloping sandy bottom, lies 20 kilometres away. Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Head is reached by ferry; tours include a 4x4 ascent, guided forest walks, and lunch under milkwood trees. The property arranges private guided tours across the Garden Route, including transfers to Pezula and Simola golf courses, where discounted green fees apply.