The Featherbed Nature Reserve is situated on the Western Head and is privately owned by Mr William Smith - the Maths and Physics guru of the Learning Channel. He inherited this property from his father, Professor JLB Smith, the world renowned scientist who identified the Coelocanth - a fossil fish thought to be extinct 180 million years ago. Apart from the Nature Reserve, which is a South African Natural Heritage site, The Featherbed Company has operated as a family business for the past 20 years, and offers ferry trips on the Knysna Lagoon: sailing aboard a luxury yacht; fine dining on a paddle cruiser; and an exclusive eco-experience in the Featherbed Private Nature Reserve.

Noetzie: A Place of Castles

Situated on the Garden Route between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay is a pristine cove, called Noetzie. This place is a well-kept secret, with miles of unspoilt pounding surf and magnificent castles. To stay in a modern-day turreted castle on the beach is sublime if not spectacular! To stay in a castle, with candles and roaring fires - watching the pounding surf, make evenings unforgettable! Bordering on the Sinclair Nature Reserve, activities such as hiking, fishing, whale watching, forest picnics, walking trails and swimming are available. Otters, bushbuck, whales, dolphins and numerous bird species inhabit the area.

Nearby Knysna (a 20 minute drive) offers numerous activities from golf to an unforgettable train journey along the coast, as well as boat trips and canoeing and a morning spent with the Knysna elephants is an experience not easily forgotten.