South Africa – Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay was named after Governor Joachim von Plettenberg, who placed the bay under the jurisdiction of the Dutch East India Company in 1778. The company used the place mainly as a port for timber shipments. Later, a whaling station was built here, which ceased its activities in 1920.
On the site of the former whaling station, there is now an exclusive hotel complex. Beacon Island is one of the most famous hotels on the Garden Route and has played a decisive role in the development of Plettenberg Bay into an exclusive seaside resort.
Today, of course, there is an abundance of other first-class hotels and lodges, as well as numerous B&Bs, guesthouses, apartments and campsites. *Plett* – as the sophisticated seaside resort is simply called by South Africans – has the most beautiful beaches on the Garden Route. They stretch for many kilometers all the way around the bay.
Water sports are varied, and whales and dolphins can often be spotted in the bay. Various other sports, including parachuting, can also be practiced here
From Plettenberg we drive into the Tsitsikamma Forest Nature Reserve with its well-known yellowwood trees, a long suspension bridge in the forest and over a deep gorge and its unforgettable meter-high sea waves that burst with a loud roar on the cliffs. From a vantage point at the upper end of the bay you have a fantastic panoramic view.
The extensive white sandy beaches invite you to linger and swim. Unfortunately, we have only planned a two-day stay in Plettenberg, so we prefer to explore the surrounding area.
