The best spots to braai in Knysna

Posted by Jan Braai on 21 January 2012

It was 16h00 on a Friday afternoon when I drove into Knysna. My nostrils had barely breathed the fresh forest- and lagoon-infused air when there was a message on my phone from freelance journalist Ivo Vegter, who calls Knysna home these days. (He’s so well connected in this holiday destination I’ve started calling him the non-official mayor of Knysna.) Mitchell’s Brewery had just launched two new beers and Ivo was on his way to a tasting, as you do on a Friday afternoon when you’re the de facto town mayor.

The brewery is in the industrial area, at the bottom of a dead end road and it’s very easy to find … if you know exactly where to look. The crowd consisted of Ivo, a plumber, a handyman, a welder (all locals), two guys from the township alongside the industrial area and myself. It turned out the township guys were there to buy beer and not for the tasting. Anyhow, we tasted the two new beers and, as a control test, all the older beers too.

A gentleman by the name of Rory McKenna introduced himself by tapping me on the shoulder to ask whether I’d like to go on a boat trip the next day; I immediately said yes. After a few minutes I reflected on my trip with a man I had just met and a question came to mind: could we braai on the boat? The answer was affirmative.

The next morning at 10h00 sharp we motored out of Knysna Harbour, past Thesen and Leisure islands and through The Heads. The open sea is a bit unstable for braai purposes, so we returned to safer waters and anchored in the lagoon for the braai. We had to use a gas braai – open flames on boats are apparently dangerous – but we had a fantastic time, nonetheless.

There are two morals to this story: when you’re in a strange town and get invited to a tasting of some local delicacy, go. Secondly, when invited on boat trips in scenic towns immediately say yes, ask questions later.

Before Knysna, I’d been in Port Elizabeth for a few days, trying to find the best butchery in the friendly windy city. I posed the question on Twitter and the overwhelming response was Merino Butchery, so I went straight there. It’s a phenomenal butchery and I gave up my search at once. Continuing it seemed futile because, while theoretically possible, the odds of finding a better butchery were slim. On the butcher’s advice I took boerewors, chicken sosaties and pork spare ribs and braaied all of it a few hours later. Next time you’re in Port Elizabeth, you should do the same.

Where to braai in Knysna

Knysna is an extraordinary braai destination. Here’s how to make the best of your visit:

Buy some meat from two of the best butcheries I’ve been to in South Africa. If you’re travelling from Port Elizabeth, go to Merino Butchery (5 Crawford Street, 041-484-2833) and if you’re coming from Cape Town, stop in at Van Rensburg Foods in George (60 Courtenay Street, 044-874-2045). In Knysna, you can buy meat at Greeff’s Butchery and Meat Market (45 Waterfront Drive, 044-383-2607), which is also pretty good. Don’t forget to pick up a supply of freshly brewed beer from Mitchell’s Brewery (Arend Street, 044-382-5530).

If locals don’t invite you to braai with them on their boat, choose one of these scenic public areas:

  • Kathy (opposite Bosun’s Pub) on George Rex Drive
  • Green Hole on Leisure Island
  • Coney Glen (sea-facing side of The Heads) on Coney Glen Drive
  • There are various picnic areas with braai facilities at Diepwalle Forest Station on the R339.
  • Charter the Princess Lee, a 45-foot luxury motor yacht, from The Featherbed Company. Tel 044-382-1693, www.featherbed.co.za.

Jan Braai is the man behind National Braai Day. Read about it on braai.com or follow him on Twitter @janbraai.

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