Knysna and Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay is South Africa’s favourite outdoor playground along the Garden Route. It’s lazy days on sunny world-class beaches and for others it’s boutique shopping, wine tasting, dining under the stars, incredible wildlife experiences and outdoor adventure. Whatever blows back your hair, it’s here in Plett and it’s all for you!
Activities in the area are plentiful with fabulous trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders. Water sports include sailing in the safe waters of the Bay, superb rock and surf fishing, paddling and scuba diving.
Plettenberg Bay has a very rich marine life. Schools of playful dolphins can regularly be seen surfing the waves off the local beaches. Whale watching is a very popular attraction during the months July to December. There are boat-based tours available as well as marine safaris which provide a chance to see these gentle giants up close.
The massive Robberg Nature Reserve is the perfect spot for whale and dolphin viewing, bird watching, hiking trails and exploring the Nelson Bay Cave. The Robberg is a must see for all visitors with the Peninsula being home to a large Cape fur seal colony. Seals can often be seen in the surf off Robberg Beach.
Knysna is a natural paradise of lush, indigenous forests, tranquil lakes and golden beaches. She nestles on the banks of a breathtakingly pretty lagoon, now a protected marine reserve that is home to the extraordinary sea horse and over 200 species of fish.
Beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers provide endless opportunity for leisure and outdoor adventure. Within the town, craft shops, flea-markets and cosy cafés beckon with small-town charm and hospitality. The area around Knysna is a veritable Garden of Eden. This is home of the only forest elephant in South Africa, the rare Pansy Shell, the brilliantly coloured, and elusive, Knysna Loerie, a plethora of waterfowl and forest birds, dolphins and visiting whales.
The indigenous forests in Knysna constitute the largest complex of closed-canopy forest in southern Africa, whilst the remarkable richness of the Fynbos vegetation contributes over 8000 plant species to the Cape floral kingdom. Exploring the Knysna forests, along demarcated walks, with the occasional call of the Loerie.