Established in 1998, Knysna Hollow was the second hotel in the Seasons in Africa Hollow Hotels Collection, following the success of Hippo Hollow in Hazyview, which was opened by Jack Brotherton in the mid-1990s. In partnership with Clive and Liesel Battell, Knysna Hollow opened its doors on 1 July 1998 with just 20 rooms and a team of 10 staff. Over the next two decades, the hotel flourished, expanding to 87 rooms along with modern conference facilities, two restaurants and a team of nearly 70 staff members. The success of Knysna Hollow formed part of the wider growth of the Hollow Hotels brand, which later expanded to include Cape Town Hollow (2003), Hollow on the Square and Perry’s Bridge Hollow (2006), and Casterbridge Hollow (2008). Today, all Hollow Hotels are marketed and managed by Seasons in Africa, a leading tourism marketing and management company representing a collection of luxury lodges, hotels and experiences across Southern Africa, known for their quality facilities and warm, personalised hospitality.
The Devastating 2017 Knysna Wildfires
On 7 June 2017, tragedy struck when Knysna Hollow was almost completely destroyed by the Knysna wildfires that swept the area in gale force winds. Over 400 homes and many businesses in the Knysna area, including other hotels were also destroyed in the fires of that day. Luckily all the Knysna Hollow staff including our hotel cat, Charlie, were unharmed in the fires.
The decision was immediately made to rebuild Knysna Hollow and to reinvent the property as a modern, 4-star hotel that would offer spacious and contemporary accommodation with a brand-new Manor House and the same warm, personal service that we were always renowned for. Construction began on 1 September 2017 and the new, modern Knysna Hollow reopened on 1 October 2018 with many of the long-serving Knysna Hollow team back in the same positions as they held before the fire.
The Heart of Knysna Hollow
Any business is only as good as the staff that add that personal touch and this is especially true of the hospitality business – many of the Knysna Hollow team have been involved with the business for 10 years or more and have a genuine love of their work which shows in the warm hospitality that our guests experience when staying with us at Knysna Hollow.
