Plettenberg Bay is one of South Africa’s most popular summer destinations. Our summer festival includes polo matches, ocean-side rock concerts and beach and watersports fun galore, as visitors from all over the world flock to “Plett” to enjoy sunny days and balmy nights. But, once the crowds leave, the town returns to its slower pace; a pace that attracts a different kind of traveller: one looking to immerse themselves in local culture, wander endless beaches, hike indigenous forests and enjoy the best of Plettenberg Bay, without the queues. Here are our reasons why the quietest of Plett’s seasons, winter, may just be your favourite time to visit!
WHALE SEASON
June-October in Plettenberg Bay is our official Whale Season – Humpback and Southern Right whales make their way up to our relatively warmer waters to mate and breed. The bay is an ideal place for whale watching offering numerous view-points from which to enjoy an elevated view of the whales antics: breaching, tale slapping, spyhopping and more. Or take a stroll along the coastline, as the whales will often cruise just behind the breakers. For an unforgettable encounter, hop onto a whale safari boat for a chance to see these enormous marine mammals up close. Our winter days are calm and sunny, making it a superb time of year to be on the water! Find out more about the whales of Plettenberg Bay.
PLETT ARTS FESTIVAL
This unique festival is now in its fifth year and provides a smorgasbord of film, food, dance, music, exhibitions and more. Anchored by main events like the Plett Fringe Festival, Twlight Arts Meander and, a first for Africa, Plett Food Film, it’s a two-week engaging programme with something for everyone. A new highlight on the Plett ARTS Festival calendar is Plett Winter School: a series of workshops on such diverse subjects as film, fine art, viticulture, coffee, dance and drumming. This year’s festival takes place from 25th June – 9th July 2018. Find out more about Plett ARTS Festival.
EXPLORE THE GARDEN ROUTE
Plettenberg Bay lies in the very heart of the enormous Garden Route National Park, with the Tsitsikamma section to the east and the Knysna and Wilderness sections to the west. It is the perfect centre from which to explore these regions. Tsitsikamma is Africa’s oldest marine protected area and the start of the famous Otter Trail (Nature’s Valley just outside Plett is the end of this trail). The park offers many shorter walks including one to the suspension bridge and one to the waterfall. Activities within the park include scuba diving, kayaking, blackwater tubing, Segway and zip-lining. Knysna and Wilderness also offer excellent hiking and mountain biking options, along with a lovely coastal vibe centred around oyster-slurping, Rastafarian culture and rumours of wild Knysna elephants.
NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
As the centre of the Garden Route National Park, Plettenberg Bay has its own set of natural wonders to be explored. Robberg Peninsula, a national monument, nature reserve and World Heritage Site, is as synonymous with Plett as Table Mountain is with Cape Town. The peninsula stretches a protective arm around the entrance to the bay and visitors can enjoy a choice of three circular hikes. Find out more about hiking Robberg. Plett’s flora includes indigenous forest, wetland, coastal brush and endemic Fynbos, the smallest and most biodiverse of all the floral kingdoms and hikes around Plettenberg Bay offer a chance to stroll through these floral wonderlands, watching birds, spotting wildlife and taking photos. Find out more about hiking in Plettenberg Bay.
PLETT ADVENTURES
Plettenberg Bay “mild to wild” is a fairly accurate discription, as there is something for everyone to enjoy during winter in Plettenberg Bay. If your idea of adventure is a slow sail across the bay or Big Five game drive, you can do that. If you prefer to walk with giants (elephants), spot monkeys or hang out with exotic birds, you can do that. Or if your idea of adventure is flying off the world’s highest bungy bridge, scuba diving or abseiling, you can do that too! Families, adventurers, adrenalin junkies – Plettenberg Bay is the place for you!