The Knysna Forest is a remnant of the great coastal forest that once stretched along much of South Africa's southern coast. Today it covers around 60,000 hectares of the Garden Route National Park, managed by SANParks. It is one of the largest indigenous forests in South Africa, with yellowwood trees — the country's national tree — reaching enormous size.
Several trails run through the forest from picnic sites and trailheads near Knysna town. The Elephant Walk at Diepwalle is one of the most popular: a well-marked three-day hike (which can also be done in shorter day sections) through the densest forest, past giant old-growth yellowwoods, and through terrain where the forest elephants are occasionally tracked. The forest is quiet, dark, and mossy — a complete contrast to the open fynbos on the cliffs above Knysna.
The forests around Knysna were heavily logged through the 19th century, and the old woodcutters' villages and sawmill ruins add a layer of history to the trails. Guided forest walks with rangers who know the elephants' current range can be arranged through the national park office.