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ACTIVITIES
There are so many things to do in Plettenberg Bay that you could spend days in our lovely town without running out of new ideas. Below list is alphabetically and not by recommendation, because we recommend you to experience whatever it is your heart desires.
Abseiling can be done over a step cliff below the Storms River Bridge.
African Wildlife - refer to Safari
Art Galleries - in Plettenberg Bay and the surrounding areas you will find many galleries and manufacturers of art from wood to metal work, form ceramics, pottery's to beads and even paper made of elephant dung. All of these places are an endless source of inspiration and joy.
Birds - Birds of Eden, is the Garden Route's very own world class free flight bird sanctuary.
Blackwater Tubing is a half day fun ride down the Storms River.
Boat cruises in the Bay are the best way to experience the wealth of marine life found here all year round. See dolphins, whales (in season), seals and different kinds of sea birds.
Body boarding and Surfing in the bay is fantastic and Plettenberg Bay is the host for the South African Bodyboard Championship 2007.
Bungi Jumping at Bloukrans River Bridge is with 216 metres and 7 second free fall the highest commercial bungi jump in the world.
Fishing and Angling is not only fun but something everyone should have tried. You can choose between boat based fly fishing and deeps sea fishing or Angling from the rocks and beaches.
Canoeing on the Keurbooms River. You can hire a canoe or a little boat with outboard engines and cruise up and down the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve.
Day trips - if you stay in Plettenberg Bay you have the ultimate choice of whatever you desire. Nevertheless, the surrounding areas have also a great deals to offer and many of these attractions are easy to explore with a fun filled day trip. From Outshoorn and Mossel Bay in the West to Storms River and Jefferey's Bay in the East, everything is in easy reach of Plettenberg Bay.
Diving and Snorkeling in the bay or at Storms River Mouth is excellent if the conditions are right and we have a PADI dive school in town which does courses and rents equipment.
Elephants - two Elephant parks / sanctuaries maintain the legacy of the Knysna Elephant. This experience is somewhat of a closer kind than in a National Park as visitors are allowed to touch, feed and ride the elephants.
Game drives - refer to Safari
Glider trips and training is offered in Plettenberg Bay. Silently glide over our beautiful bay and see why we all love it so much.
Golf - Plettenberg Bay is well known for its beautiful golf courses namely the 18 holes Plettenberg Bay Country Club, the 18 holes Goose Valley Golf Course and the 9 holes Rietvlei Mashie Course and if this is not enough thee are 3 more 18 hole Golf courses in Knysna to play.
Guided Hikes are very popular and there are specialist hiking guides available.
Harvest Time Saturday Farmers Market - Local producers sell direct to the public at this open air country meeting place - each Saturday 08h00 - 12h00.
Hiking - there are many hikes and short walks in our area and Robberg is by far our most popular hiking destination where you can choose trails from 45 min to 4½ hour. Also refer to Nature Reserves
Hobie Cat Sailing - you can launch your own Hobie Cat at Hobie beach.
Horse Riding - enjoy horse trails in the forest but unfortunately no horse riding is allowed on beaches.
Keurbooms River - here you can take a ferry trip up the river, or do a bit canoeing, water, skiing or swimming.
Monkeyland is unique as a primate sanctuary. It is home to many varied species of monkey from several continents which were captive bred prior to their release at Monkeyland.
Mountain Biking is the most popular and there are many trails / guided trails waiting to be enjoyed.
Nature Reserves - The biggest nature reserve is the Tsitsikamma National Park stretching 65kms along the coast from Natures Valley to Oubosstrand. It is a marine breeding area for the repopulation of exploited species and is a research area for marine and terrestrial ecosystems. One can enjoy outdoor recreation including walk and dive trails. The Robberg Nature Reserve is an excellent view site and whales and dolphins are often seen from the top of the cliffs. There are three circular walks of various lengths, caves, and extensive information about Robberg's geology, archeology and existing marine life.
Nyati - Traditional Mampoer & Witblits Distillery To visit this distillery at Wittedrift is a unique experience. The owner, Jack Mudd, has recently won prizes at an annual agricultural show near Pretoria for his superior mampoer and witblits.
Off-road driving and 4x4 Trails - The Garden Route offers an exiting choice of 4x4 trails and scenic off road routes. This activity has to be undertaken with qualified guides and it is prohibited to venture into the wild without permit. Please respect our environment!
Polo - Plettenberg Bay has become well-known as the “polo mecca” of South Africa. Exciting polo tournaments are being played over Easter and during December and January with polo practices throughout the year.
Safari - have an African Wildlife Experience in one of our private game lodges in Plettenberg Bay. See Rhino, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest and much more on an intriguing game drive.
Scenic drives are the easy way to see a lot in little time and there are many of them in and around Plett. You need to do this, especially because they connect most of the activities and attractions of this stunning area in any case.
Scenic flights in planes or helicopters are offered to get a different angle on all our beautiful bay has to offer. Whale watching flights (in season) concentrate on a unique aerial encounter with these giants of the ocean.
Sea Kayaking - experience ocean or river kayaking at Plettenberg Bay and see dolphins sea birds and seals up close from your kayak.
Shopping is big in Plettenberg Bay and the Garden Route. There will be nothing you can't get and whatever you get is beautiful. Clothes, art, souvenirs, shoes, food, wine, "schnapps" and so much more ...
Snakes - Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary is worth while visiting if snakes are your thing.
Swimming and Sunbathing - ok, that's what you want to do most! Pristine beaches of fine sand stretching for kilometres, warm water (not to warm but also not to cold!) and lots of sun! Plettenberg Bay now also has a Blue Flag Beach - Robberg 5, with ablutions, safety guards on duty and gentle waves making it fun to dive in.
Township tours bring you closer to the diverse and charismatic cultures living peacefully together all along the Garden Route.
Trumilk Dairy - Treat yourself for a scenic drive up the pristine Bitou Valley for cheese, wine and liquor tasting's. Trumilk Dairy was recently awarded for the best feta cheese in South Africa. Their production includes cheddar cheese and a handmade French style camembert.
Whale watching - Plettenberg Bay is renown for its shore and boat based whale watching. Different kind of species (Southern Right Whale, Humpback Whale, Bryde's Whale) can be seen during the whale season from June to October.
Shore based whale watching: You can often see whales from the beach, however, the ideal vantage point is on an elevated ridge or high point overlooking the ocean. One can see a great deal with the naked eye, but a pair of binoculars definitely enhances the experience. In the Greater Plett Area, there are a number of good viewing sites:
Robberg Nature Reserve - There are wonderful viewsites on both sides of the peninsula close to the parking area and, if you are a little more energetic, you can do the coastal hiking trail from which you can clearly see the whales.
Beachy Head Drive - There are two parking areas along Beachy Head Drive from which you can overlook the ocean, Robberg Peninsula and the shore line along the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Van Plettenberg Monument - Meeding Street above Hobie Beach offers you clear views over Hobie Beach and as far as Keurbooms.
Lookout Rocks - Directly accessible from the bottom end of Church Street or take a leisurely walk along Central or Hobie beach to the Rocks. (Climbing can be steep –so you need to be a little fit and preferably not alone.
The Lookout Viewsite - From Church Street turn left (if you come downhill) into Swift-Sure Street, which leads you to the whale viewing site. There is a information board giving you some interesting facts about whales.
Keurboomstrand - There are wonderful vantage points to clearly see the whales at play. Dolphins Point is a very popular spot to watch these magnificent creatures. Take the N2 towards Port Elizabeth. The turn-off to Keurboomstrand is clearly indicated.
Boat based whale watching: There are a number of Boat Cruises operators situated at Central Beach from where these 2 hour trips depart. Make sure to use a licensed operators for a breathtaking, close up encounter with these large mammals of the sea.
Wild Waters Park - this is an adventure park especially for children. It has a supertube, mini-golf, jumping castle, kiosk, picnic spots and braai areas. Situated in the Piesang River Valley, it is next door to the Plettenberg Bay Health Centre and swimming pool.
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113 ROBBERG
113 Robberg Road
PO.Box 2455
Plettenberg Bay 6600
South Africa
tel +27 44 533 53 01
mobile +27 82 320 39 40
fax +27 86 519 74 37
online reservations
 
THE LEGEND OF THE PANSY SHELL There is a pretty little legend That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lovely shell.
If you examine closely
You'll see that you find here
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by the Roman spear.
On one side the Easter lily,
Its centre is the star
That appeared unto the shepherds
and led them afar.
The Christmas poinsettia
Etched on the other side,
Reminds us of His birthday,
Our happy Christmas.
Now break the centre open
And here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread goodwill and peace.
The simple little symbol
Christ has left for you and me
To help us spread His gospel
Through all eternity.
FACTS OF THE PANSY SHELL
The fragile Pansy Shells are ties of sea urchins, with flattened, irregular shells, which live buried in the sand.
When the Pansy is alive, the body is covered with fine short spines, resembling fur, unlike the porcupine needles of the ordinary Sea Urchin. Each spine is able to move around and is used to dig the animal into the sand.
Unlike the Sea Urchin, the Pansy has a definite front and rear and will always turn around so that the front points in the direction of movement.
These animals have no brain and no eyes, so they are unable to see, but they possess a nervous system which controls all the bodily functions.
A Pansy Shell has no gills, but has flexible tubes on the outside that extract the oxygen from the water and it is then dispersed throughout the body.
The animal gets its name from the petal-like pattern which is formed by tiny holes. At the centre of the petals, one can find a little star with holes through the shell on four of the five points.
A Pansy is either a male or a female and eggs and sperm are released from these four holes during the breeding time. The eggs are washed out to sea by the tide where they turn into larvae. They are then washed in by the tide and deposited in the sand, where they hatch in time into tiny Pansy Shells.
An interesting phenomenon is that the adult pansies release a chemical into the water to encourage the babies to settle in a particular community.
The mouth of the Pansy Shell is a hole, found on the underside in the centre and the second, smaller hole towards the rear of the animal is where waste is released.
The function of the two slots that pass through the shell is still an unknown phenomenon.
The Pansy feeds on minute pieces of organic material which is found while they dig themselves into the sand. The food is then coated with mucus by special spines and is then delivered to the mouth via little hairs.
The Garden Route is the only place in the world where these shells are found. In America, a similar species exist, the Sand Dollar, which is rounder and fatter.
The Shells are the skeleton of the Pansies, which have died and have been washed up on the shore. The sun bleaches them into a creamy white color. When alive they are purplish- blue from the tiny spines.
When you find a Pansy Shell yourself you “officially” become part of Plett and when one is given to you as a gift, it means that you are welcomed as a special part of Plett.
The Pansy Shells are protected, and no live pansies are allowed to be removed from their habitat.
Please be careful to avoid the breeding grounds of these very precious little beings of Plett and happy hunting for the ones you are welcome to treasure!
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