St James of Knysna offers a luxury boutique experience on the lagoon shore. Guests enjoy stunning water views from the sun-kissed terrace, browse nearby designer shops, or select books from the library. Rowing and kayaking are available on-site, with motorized watercraft nearby.
Located in Knysna, St James of Knysna is on a lake. Simola Golf Course and Knysna Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Knysna Lagoon and Leisure Isle. Knysna Waterfront and Brenton Beach are two other places to visit that come recommended. Discover the area's wildlife on a nearby safari, or try your luck with game drives and game viewing. Visit our Knysna travel guide
Located close to Knysna Waterfront and Featherbed Nature Reserve, St James of Knysna provides a free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and designer stores on site. Tee up with amenities like a driving range at this country house. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like boat tours, fishing, and kayaking. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as mini golf and a garden.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
2 outdoor pools along with sun loungers and pool umbrellas
Free self parking
A roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), tour/ticket assistance, and concierge services
Beach towels, outdoor furniture, and motorized watercraft on site
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and include comforts such as 24-hour room service and air conditioning, in addition to thoughtful touches like free WiFi and safes.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
Separate tubs/showers, free toiletries, and hair dryers
43-inch TVs with Netflix, streaming services, and digital channels
Refrigerators, electric kettles, and daily housekeeping
Free buffet breakfast available daily 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
A bar/lounge
Coffee and tea in common areas
Private picnics
Restaurants on site
St James of Knysna
Things to do
2 outdoor pools
Boat and paddles
Boat tours
Canoeing
Designer stores
Fishing
Golf driving range
Gym
Kayaking
Library
Mini golf
Personal motorized watercraft
Family friendly
2 outdoor pools
In-room refrigerator
Laundry facilities
Mini golf
Soundproofed rooms
Conveniences
Laundry facilities
Limited-hour front desk
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk
Guest services
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Tour and ticket assistance
Turndown service
Outdoors
Beach towels
Beach umbrellas
Dock
Garden
On a lake
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Pool loungers
Pool umbrellas
Terrace
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Handrails in stairways
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
More
2 buildings
2 floors
Built in 1991
Colonial architecture
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Bathroom
Bathrobes
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Separate bathtub and shower
Slippers
Towels provided
Entertainment
43-inch TV with digital channels
Netflix
Streaming services
Food and drink
24-hour room service
Champagne service
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Minibar
Refrigerator
Restaurant dining guides
More
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Electrical adapters
Free daily newspapers
Individual decor
Individual furnishings
Iron/ironing board on request
Phone
Safe
Soundproofed rooms
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
No pets or service animals allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Airport shuttle fee: ZAR 800 per room (one-way)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)
National rating
Quality Graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organization.
Property is also known as
Knysna St James
St James House Knysna
St James Knysna
The St James Knysna
The St. James Of Knysna Hotel Knysna
St James Knysna Country House
St James Country House
The St. James Of Knysna Hotel
St James of Knysna Knysna
St James of Knysna Country House
St James of Knysna Country House Knysna
Frequently asked questions
Does St James of Knysna have a pool?
Yes, this property has 2 outdoor pools.
Is St James of Knysna pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Self parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at St James of Knysna?
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.
What time is check-out at St James of Knysna?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Does St James of Knysna provide a shuttle to the airport?
Yes, there's an airport shuttle. A fee of ZAR 800 per room applies.
Where is St James of Knysna located?
Situated on a lake, this luxury country house is steps from Knysna Lagoon and 1.8 mi (2.8 km) from Knysna Waterfront. Simola Golf Course and Knysna Golf Club are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Reviews
St James of Knysna Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
Beautiful Hotel in a quiet location. Staff are excellent and trip on the hotel’s own boat is a bonus. Pools are both lovely and our room/suite was lovely with great views of the lagoon.
St James was a perfect stay in Knysna - we wished we had booked additional nights, the hotel is a little further out of town but it is quiet, tranquil & the staff were so helpful in organising transport when required. Thanks to Sandy & the team!
We really enjoyed our stay here, we stayed in the Lady Anne Suite and it was amazing. The views over the lagoon were super and Sandy could not do enough for us. Was very helpful about suggesting activities for us and restaurants to eat in.
It's a little bit out of town but they can arrange transfer for you which are quite reasonable. We had a really great relaxing stay here.
A beautiful hotel overlooking an even more beautiful lagoon. We had a large room overlooking the lagoon and there are some huge suites.
The staff were all friendly and excellent. Norman was extremely helpful and happy to advise us on how to get the most from the time we had in Knysna, including an excellent restaurant recommendation.
We just spent two nights at St James and we loved it. It it right in front lot the Knysna lagoon and offers a great boat ride to all guests, which we enjoyed. We were upgraded on arrival by the very kind staff who man the reception. Knysna is a very interesting destination, we loved the Two Heads excursion to the ocean. We recommend Dt James to all travellers to Knysna and we would like to thank the staff for the very profesional and kind atttitude.
I felt a bit like royalty.... Such a pleasureable experience! And everyone goes out of their way to help you.... And the free boat ride of course was very nice!
This must be the best place to stay in Knysna. I agonized about whether to stay here or closer in town and I definitely made the right choice. Everyone in ZA seems nice but the St James is beyond nice. It really is lovely to come back to a place where people go above and beyond. Great breakfast overlooking the water without the crowd. Nice place to have a cocktail after dinner. Huge room with great views. Private, safe parking area. I never even used the beautiful boat which other guests took advantage of. Enjoy!
Lovely hotel right on the lagoon. We had a spectacular view from our room and it was so peaceful waking up to the sightband sound of the still lagoon.
Staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was amazing too.
Fabulous hotel and top shelf service. We were greeted at the door, escorted to the bar/salon seating area to have a glass of bubbly while doing the checkin process in comfort. We were lucky enough to get a complimentary upgrade and our bags were in our beautiful room when we got there. The room was large and comfortable. Bed and linens were perfect. Breakfast was a choice of hot or a buffet, or both...but all amazing. Staff were all professional, but very warm and welcoming. I recommend this hotel very highly.
O hotel é lindo! Local calmo, em frente à Knysna Lagoon! Os quartos são grandes, limpos e confortáveis. O café da manhã é maravilhoso! O atendimento é impecável. Fizemos um passeio de barco (oferecido gratuitamente pelo hotel) guiado pelo Alex, que além de muito educado e atencioso, foi um excelente guia do nosso passeio! Voltaria mil vezes para esse hotel!
Excellenter Service, schöne Zimmer und traumhaft schöner Blick von der Terrasse und dem Gemeinschaftsraum.
Es ist in absoluter ruhiger Lage. Einerseits ist das wunderschön, andererseits - und gepaart damit, dass es im Hotel außer Frühstück kein Essen gibt - muss man doch häufig mit dem Auto ins Zentrum oder zu anderen Orten fahren.
Sarah
10/10 Excellent
Michaela
Apr 20, 2022
Liked: Staff & service
Die Lage des Hotels an der Laguneist bezaubernd! Es gibt wahnsinnig viel zu unternehmen in der Umgebung! Besonders haben wir das Picknick des Hotels am Strand genossen, ebenso das Angebot des Hotels,die Bootsfahrt an der Lagune!
Klysma ist ein Traum besonders s ab n diesem Platz!
This is our favourite place to stay in Knysna. Great staff, wonderful position, great breakfast.
DOUGLAS
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2020
6/10 Okay
Verified traveler
Dec 1, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Service, staff and room were excellent but stay was ruined by no restaurant, no bar, no lounge no T V and very few other Guests. Renovation works in progress which we were not told about. Check before you book