About Brenton On Sea

Brenton On Sea, Garden Route

Lying on the other side of Knysna's Western Head, nestled on the shores of the Indian Ocean in a quiet, lazy bay, residents describe Brenton on Sea's beauty as the coast that Knysna doesn't have, and in reality, Knysna lies on a lagoon, the rough seas making itself heard only at the Heads.

Brenton on Sea lies virtually encircled by the Goukamma Nature Reserve, its slopes rich with fynbos, only 500 kilometres from Cape Town and 60 kilometres from the airport at George.

The little community derives its name from the fragile free-flying butterfly, the Brenton blue, occurring only on the south-facing slopes of coastal fynbos at Brenton on Sea. Human disturbance in nearby Natures Valley led to the final disappearance of this beautiful specimen during the 1980s, only to re-emerge in 1991 in Brenton on Sea where the Brenton Blue Butterfly Reserve has been proclaimed.

The Brenton blue butterfly, evident in late October until December, lives within one hectare of asteraceous coastal fynbos and its larvae depend entirely on the lower side of the leaves of Indigofera erecta for their food. Other than catching a glimpse of the butterfly, Brenton on Sea's golden sands are an invitation to sunbathe, fish and stroll the shores.

The cliff tops provide ample whale and dolphin watching opportunities in season and paragliding is a popular pastime for obvious reasons. Brenton on Lake has a jetty for launching boats and canoes, and the Knysna forests and the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which includes a 14 kilometre coastline, offer glorious walking and hiking opportunities.