What is Plettenberg Bay?
Plettenberg Bay is a seaside town on the Garden Route in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. The sandy Central Beach and Lookout Beach both have surf breaks.
To the south, Robberg Nature Reserve is a rocky peninsula with trails and the Stone Age Nelson Bay Caves.
Northeast are Birds of Eden, a free-flight bird sanctuary in an indigenous forest, and an elephant sanctuary. Whales come near the coast in migration season.
Where Is Plettenberg Bay In South Africa
The town of Plettenberg Bay lies almost on the border of the Western and Eastern Cape. Built on the hillside, most of the town is on a steep slope leading down to the sea, which means that regardless of where you find yourself accommodated, you will be treated to spectacular views of the bay and surrounding hills and mountains.
For holidaymakers, accommodation in Plettenberg Bay is plentiful. From upmarket resorts and hotels to budget Bed & Breakfasts and self-catering, accommodation is offered in varying price ranges from budget to over-the-top luxury. You are sure to find a great place to stay.
Plettenberg Bay has a relatively long history as a South African town, having been regularly visited by Portuguese explorers during the 15th and 16th centuries. Signs of their visits abound, and history enthusiasts can view artifacts such as the remains of the Gonzales Wreck in the town.
Early European settlers to the area arrived in the late 1700s, and have also left behind many fascinating historical relics, for example, the Old Rectory, built by the Dutch East India Trading Company in 1776, and Forest Hall, a privately owned stately home, built in 1864 by William Henry Newdigate.
In modern times, Plettenberg Bay has gained somewhat of a reputation as a pleasure seeker hotspot and has many leisure activities on offer. From polo at Kurland to yachting at the Keurbooms River mouth and marina to less high-brow activities like swimming and water sports in the warm, gentle waters. In fact, when you enter the town proper, a monument to one of the symbols of this lush, almost tropical bay greets you: a bronze statue of the dolphins that play in the warm waters just off the coast.
With miles of pristine beaches to choose from, it’s no wonder that lazing on the beach is so popular with visitors, but, for those that manage to pry themselves away, there are charter boat cruises, hiking, canoeing, and abseiling to choose from, to name but a few. Another attraction well worth a visit is the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary; the world’s only multi-species, free-roaming primate sanctuary, located a few minutes outside of town.
For the adventurous palate, trips to the Mampoer and Witblits distillery are available, where one can view the making of, and sample, these very strong locally produced alcoholic beverages.
While on the topic of culinary and other indulgences, and while there are many fine restaurants, café, and other eateries to choose from in the town, one of the most memorable must surely be the restaurant at the Beacon Isle Hotel. Built literally straddling a small strip of land between a lagoon and the sea, it almost seems when seated in the restaurant, that the hotel is floating on the water.
For those seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a short trip on the N2 towards Port Elizabeth, and over the border into the Eastern Cape, will bring you to the Bloukrans Bridge. Itself an engineering marvel, and this bridge holds another claim to fame. It is the site of the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. At 216 meters, or the equivalent of almost 70 stories, it is definitely not for the faint (or weak-hearted) and many may prefer to view the seemingly endless plunge from the purpose-built observing platform on the edge of the gorge.
Which province is Plettenberg Bay?
Western Cape Province of
Plettenberg Bay, nicknamed Plet or Plett, is the primary town of the Bitou Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Is Plettenberg Bay near Cape Town?
Plett is on the N2, 240 km from Port Elizabeth, 520 km from Cape Town, and 35 km from Knysna.