What could be sweeter than Cruising down Knysna's lagoon with the winners of the Oyster Cooking Competition as your personal chefs for the afternoon?

Perhaps the knowledge that Knysna has more gastronomy treats in store.

As we headed down river aboard a catamaran, I sipped a strawberry cocktail, whilst wondering how tanned I would be post this little experience. Check this  yummy gallery.

With the Knysna Heads sprawled out in an inviting view, the sea breeze gently keeping me cool and the sun streaming down to transform what would have otherwise been a chilly experience; I glanced over to the table of food.

And yet, this was but a small precursor to the Knysna Oyster Festival as an event; the lavishness of the food, impeccable quality, and extravagant atmosphere all spoke of what was to come.

From the 4-13th of July, Knysna will once again be the centre of South Africa’s Universe as this year marks the festival's 25th year - and it promises to be huge.

With mountain bike and adventure races, whiskey and wine tasting, golf days and live bands; Knysna will be home to both the adventurous and the cultured - always eclectic in its appeal.

While the oyster mayhem ends in July, devout pilgrims can look forward to yet another feast, now known as Gastronomica.

To diarise: the 24th- 28th September; Knysna will transfigure herself into a town of gourmet tasting.

Themed ‘Local Intrigue’, this year’s organisers have promised for it to be ‘natural, magical and delicious’ and mostly organic.

And if our chocolate tasting was anything to go by; I can certainly vouch for this.

Speaking of oysters then, Knysna is home to at least 30 ‘Oyster Hotspots’; some of which include the lavish Zest in Pledge Square, The Bell in Belvidere Manor and finally Cruise Café, Featherbed Jetty.

Whether it's cultivated oysters and a glass of white wine, or pan-fried oysters in garlic with crème fraiche, chopped chives, served on a teaming bed of penne pasta; the experience is Knysna in a shell: beautiful, pure and unique in flavour.

So as we sailed past canoeists, chatted and took photographs of what would realistically be our last encounter with a catamaran for the year; we then docked to yet another surprise: a rendezvous and afore-mentioned chocolate tasting at Ile de Pain.

Devoted entirely to every variation of bread ever conceived, this delicatessen reminded me of a corner café in Austria.

With a bread basket on the table, we were presented with hot croissants, olive breads, home-made loaves topped with pumpkin seeds; and to compliment it all; frothy- European looking cappuccinos.

In all then, the day had been superbly decadent. Looking out over Knysna from the lagoon, the water pure and the cocktails sweet; culminating in the warmth of a coffee shop, with a chocolate croissant slowly melting my senses; I knew I’d be back for more…

Try all these Knysna delights with these delicious deals.