Quick Facts: Plettenberg Bay
- White sandy beaches: Robberg Beach, Central Beach (at the Beacon Isle Hotel), Lookout Beach
- Plettenberg Game Reserve
- Whale and dolphin watching
- Hiking and Mountain Biking
- Birds of Eden
- Elephant Sanctuary
- Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
- Monkeyland
- Golf Courses: Plettenberg Bay Country Club, Goose Valley Golf Course
- Tsitsikamma Mountain Trail
Distance to Airport: 103 km
Distance to City: 1 km
Introducing Plettenberg Bay
The magnificent seaside resort Plettenberg Bay is located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa along the Garden Route. Plettenberg Bay was originally named Bahia Formosa (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers and lies 210 km away from Port Elizabeth and about 600 km away from Cape Town. It is one of the most popular and beautiful holiday destinations on South Africa's Garden Route coast.Plettenberg Bay hosts one of the largest seagull breeding colonies along the South African coast at the mouth of the Keurboom's River which was named after the indigenous keurboom tree.
Local vegetation in the Plettenberg Bay region varies from Cape Fynbos to native forest further inland. Whales are a common sight in the bay during their breeding season, while dolphins are frequently seen in the surf of the waves. A delicate flower-shaped sea shell called a pansy shell is endemic to this part of the coast, and is used as the symbol representing the town. Looking for these shells on the beach is a popular activity amongst visitors and locals alike. The Robberg Peninsula is maintained as a nature reserve, allowing visitors to encounter many of the area's local plants and animals.
The white, sandy beaches in and around Plettenberg Bay are very popular:
- Robberg Beach
- Central Beach (at the Beacon Isle Hotel)
- Lookout Beach.
Plettenberg Bay in South Africa has one of the most temperate climates in the world, and the weather is suitable for game viewing all year round which is provided at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve for the day and overnight visitors. During mid-summer temperatures average about 26 ºC by day. Winter temperatures are moderately cooler during the day but warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. The area does not experience the severe windy conditions common to the Eastern Cape and has an average of only four rainy days a month.