William and Jenny Smith — who established Knysna’s Featherbed Nature Reserve on two separate pieces of land once owned by William and his father, Professor JLB Smith, 25 years ago — have sold the property and their company to Johannesburg-based businessman Kobus Smit in his private capacity.

Mr Smit intends retaining the Reserve in its pristine state.

He will continue running the John Benn Company — which owns the ferries on the Knysna Lagoon, the Cruise Café Restaurant and the tours of the Reserve — without change.

“Featherbed has been our lives for a very long time,” said William Smith, “but we’ve both come to the age where we’d like to retire.

“Although a number of people approached us about buying the land, we felt that Kobus was the right choice because he wants nothing more than to continue the work we’ve done here.”

Partly because of its unique location on Knysna’s Western Head and partly because of its unusual four-hour tour (a ferry ride across the Lagoon followed by a 4x4 trailer drive, a walk and a magnificent buffet meal), Featherbed Nature Reserve has become an icon attraction for the Garden Route and, indeed, for the Cape Province as a whole — and is thus a standard item on almost every tour of the region.

“The only change that tour operators might experience is an improvement in the experience we offer, but they can rest assured that it will continue to offer the same level of service and the same tours well into the future,” said Mr Smit.

“Jenny and William have agreed to stay on on the Reserve for some time, and in keeping with best business practice in the sale of any large company, will continue with their work during an extended hand-over period. This will ensure a seamless succession — as will our retention of Helen, their daughter, who will continue in her position as operations manager of the luxury sailing yacht Heads Explorer.

“I share the Smith’s vision that conservation comes through education and that as people we are just the custodians of the land, but never its real owners. So I intend to make sure that the Reserve continues to be accessible to the public in a controlled and orderly manner and that it remains a haven for its wildlife and for the dune forest and fynbos that grow here,” he said.

Mr Smit also said that Jannie Gie, who has extensive managerial experience in the hospitality industry, would act as the company’s general manager.

“William and Jenny have worked hard and long to get where they are today, and I wish them a comfortable and happy retirement safe in the knowledge that I will do all I can to ensure that I honour and grow the legacy they’ve created,” said Mr. Smit.