The N2 along the Garden Route is hard to beat. But if you’re looking for the best Knysna scenic drives, the older backroads offer a completely different experience.
For a long time, Knysna was isolated. Dense forest and the Outeniqua Mountains made access difficult. The roads that cut through this landscape weren’t built for convenience – they were built out of necessity. What remains today are routes that still follow the shape of the land, passing through forest, over mountain passes, and into places that once felt far removed.
Here are a few of the most worthwhile drives to explore.
The Seven Passes Road
Before the N2 was built along the coast, the Seven Passes Road was the main route between Knysna and George.
Completed in the late 1800s, it crosses seven river gorges. The route runs for around 75 km through forest, farmland and small settlements like Rheenendal and Karatara.
It’s a slower drive, but that’s what makes it interesting. Much of the original road is still intact, including old stone bridges and narrow sections.
One of the more notable sections is the Homtini Pass. In the 1880s, a group of Italian immigrants – later known as the “Gouna Italians” – settled here. While that plan failed, their descendants are still part of the area today.
Along the way, there are a few good places to stop. The Dalene Matthee Big Tree near Rheenendal is a short walk to one of the largest yellowwood trees in the region – an 800-year-old giant – while Jubilee Creek nearby offers a perfect spot for a picnic or a quiet stroll through the forest.
Phantom Pass
Phantom Pass is one of the easiest drives to access from Knysna and works well as a shorter outing.
The road climbs quickly above the lagoon, with several points to pull over. On a clear day, the views stretch right across the water and back toward town.
The name comes from the Phantom Moth, a rare silver-coloured moth found in the area. The original pass was steep and difficult for ox-wagons. Later improvements introduced a gentler, zigzag route.
Prince Alfred’s Pass
Prince Alfred’s Pass is a longer and more remote drive, running north from Knysna toward Uniondale.
Built between 1860 and 1867, it was the first road to link Knysna to the interior. The pass is still largely unchanged and remains one of the most significant examples of early road engineering in the region.
The pass uses dry-stone retaining walls – large rocks fitted together without mortar, angled back into the mountainside to allow for drainage and movement. Many of these structures are still in place more than 150 years later.
As you climb, the landscape changes from dense forest into more open mountain terrain. One of the more distinctive sections is known as the “Eye of the Needle,” a narrow rock cutting that feels like a natural gateway through the mountains.
There are several points along the pass where you can stop and take in the views, particularly near the higher sections. One of the more worthwhile stops is Spitzkop Viewpoint, where the road opens out to wide, uninterrupted views across the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Millwood Gold Mines
Hidden in the forest near the Seven Passes route is the site of one of South Africa’s earliest gold rushes.
In 1876, gold was discovered in the Karatara River, and within a few years the small settlement of Millwood had grown into a busy mining town, complete with hotels, shops and its own newspaper.
The gold was inconsistent. Small deposits appeared and disappeared quickly. When larger gold fields were discovered elsewhere in the country, Millwood was abandoned almost overnight.
Around Jubilee Creek, you’ll find old mine workings and walking paths, along with the remains of the Materolli store, which once served the settlement.
It’s a quiet place, and people often overlook it, but it gives a sense of how quickly the area changed during that time.
Taking the Longer Way
These drives aren’t about getting anywhere quickly. They follow older routes through the landscape — across rivers, through forest, and over mountain passes that were once the only way in and out of Knysna.
They’re a good option if you want to explore beyond the main roads and see a different side of the area.
If you have time, you can also head inland — a day trip to Oudtshoorn offers a very different landscape on the other side of the mountains.
Practical Tips
- While most of these gravel roads are accessible in a standard car, Prince Alfred’s Pass is considerably more rugged; a high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended for this route, especially after rain.
- Check conditions after heavy rain
- Take water and snacks – there are long stretches without stops
- Look out for the upright “soldier stones” along the passes, originally placed as a guide and guardrail for wagons
If you have time for one of these drives, it’s easy to choose a route that fits your day.