About us

Your hosts,, Richard and Mandy will take care of your every need. Nothing is ever too much for them and they can advise guests about the various tourist attractions and they will enthral you with their ever-growing knowledge of the history of Knysna and the Garden Route.

The three behind the scenes ladies at the guesthouse are Lizzie, Annaline and Troi, who will make sure your room is clean and tidy, as well as cooking the delicious breakfast.

History

1900 Knysna Manor House - A Heritage Building

The property on which this house stands was granted in freehold to Wililam Gunn McPherson by the Governor Sir Philip Wodehouse in 1864, and stretched from Fichat Street down to Main Street. The property was sold out to Hjalmar and Rolf Thesen in 1872, who were then living on the property in Main Street. The erstwhile Mayor of Knysna, Henry Percy Morgan, proprietor of the West End Hotel, purchased the property in 1892 and had this building built by Andrew Hepburn of the Knysna Forest Co. in 1900.

In the 1930's the building had rooms to let, where Beatrix Antoinette Lotz (later the second wife of Knysna Mayor Commander Alexander Foakes) gave Afrikaans lessons. During the period 1945 to 1960 the Heunis family owned the house, when it operated as a boarding house for teachers and students of the Knysna High School. In 1992 the building became the Knysna Manor House.

Your hosts

Since taking over this Knysna accommodation (bed and breakfast / guesthouse) in May 2007, the owners have lovingly upgraded the rooms and this can be seen in the homely furnishings and décor throughout Knysna Manor House. The deck of the B&B has been extended, as well as a swimming pool being built for the use of the guests.

Recently, the yellow wood floors and doors have been restored to their former glory, and the owners are continually maintaining and upgrading the property. They have managed to make Knysna Manor House one of the top Knysna accommodation providers, and the record number of guests staying at Knysna Manor House is proof of their success.

Brenda and Anthony started running the B&B / guest house in August 2007 after having relocated to Knysna and the Garden Route from Zimbabwe. They have settled into their new lifestyle, and many a guest has commented that they appear to have been running a bed and breakfast all their lives. 

Since her retirement in 2019, Richard and Mandy have taken over the reins and  can advise our guests about the various Garden Route attractions and will enthral you with their vast knowledge of the history of the Knysna and the Garden Route. We invite any guest who visited our guest house prior to May 2007, to come and experience the personal service that our Knysna B&B has to offer.

Dining Experiences

A full English Breakfast is served daily in either the Dining Room or on the deck during Summer months.  

Guest house Facilities

This Knysna accommodation offers a quiet environment to relax at the end of an exhausting day; we offer the quiet simplicity of a home away from home.  Wi-Fi is available throughout the guesthouse. 

The deck is the perfect place to both start and end the day where breakfast can be served here or in the dining room.  At the end of the day, one can admire amazing African sunsets and enjoy a well-earned sundowner before you prepare yourself for a night at one of the many international restaurants in Knysna. When the weather is not being kind to us, the B&B has a cosy lounge / and fully licensed bar area.

Secure off-road parking is situated at the back of Knysna Manor House where guests have direct access from the parking area to the guesthouse.  The swimming pool at the guest house is available for the relaxation of our guest and is wonderful place to cool down after a busy day touring the amazing Garden Route. Due to B&B being centrally located, all shopping, banks, local craft and curio shops in Knysna are a mere two-minute walk from the guesthouse, as are the local pubs and restaurants.

Latest accreditations

Knysna Manor Guesthouse, situated on the Garden Route, South Africa, Knysna Manor House is very proud of their accreditations and associations with AA Travel and the Tourism Grading Council. In 1983, this charming Victorian B&B was converted into a modern day guesthouse consisting of thirteen en-suite rooms. A truly delightful Knysna Bed and Breakfast that has managed to combine the charm of the original building with modern day amenities and thereby are able to offer a comfortable homely environment without compromising on being able to offer five star services. Suitable for both business and tourist travelers, the staff at this charming Knysna B&B will ensure that your every need is met.

Our accreditations and affiliations include:

Tourism Grading Council - 3 Star

AA Grading - Highly Recommended

TripAdvisor - Travelers Choice Winner

Historical Building

Booking.com - Traveler Review Award 8.7