Plettenberg Bay offers everything that makes the Garden Route one of South Africa’s most exciting regions. Stay in “Plett” to experience lazy days on golden beaches or up-close encounters with whales and dolphins. Hike through breathtaking coastal scenery and enjoy family-friendly activities in this charming coastal town.
Walk through a town that has been occupied since the Stone Age. The Khoi people lived around the bay and left traces of the earliest stages of humanity. Portuguese explorers landed here in the 15th century, while farmers and frontiersmen settled here permanently in 1763.
Today, tourism is the main industry and people flock to Plett for its combination of sun, sand and sea. Experience all three of these on Central Beach, where you can choose between working on your tan or taking surfing and wakeboarding lessons on the ocean.
Head out onto the waters as part of a wildlife-watching trip. The Robberg Peninsula protects the waters of the bay from the harshest elements, so sea creatures like to swim in the balmy waters here. The bay has a resident colony of Bryde’s whales, while southern right whales visit the waters seasonally. Bring binoculars to spot cape fur seals, bottlenose dolphins and even orcas.
Take your children to Plett Puzzle Park, which is filled with brain-teasing games. Walk along the Plett Trail to see the fynbos, an area of biodiverse shrubland. Hundreds of different bird species fly in the skies above.
Sip on a glass of pinotage in the Plett Winelands. The hills outside Plettenberg Bay are covered in vineyards that produce critically acclaimed wine. Go on a tasting tour to sample several different vintages.
Fly into Plettenberg Bay Airport for quick access to the town. Flights arrive here from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Plettenberg Bay offers different experiences at different times of the year. Visit in the peak season summer months between December and February for blazing sunlight and good surfing. Winter and spring, from June to October, are the best seasons for whale watching, while autumn brings the riches of wine harvesting.
