Plettenberg Bay Holidays

While most stays in Plettenberg Bay are just one or two nights, you could easily spend a week relaxing, swimming, or trying watersports at its beaches and interacting with the residents of its wildlife sanctuaries. Even then, you’d only be seeing half of what this gorgeous oceanside resort has to offer. Drive by the luxury villas of Beachy Head to the stunning trails of Robberg Nature Reserve.

Search the sea for telltale spray from the clifftops at Whale Tail Lookout Point, or get closer to the world’s biggest beasts on a guided cruise. Take a moment of quiet among the hilltop gardens of the 19th-century St. Peter's Anglican Church. Souvenir hunting? Old Nick Village has been attracting shoppers since 1880 and is just as charming today as it was then. If you’re here with the little ones, try the captivating mazes and games of Plett Puzzle Park.

Just a few hours from the game reserves of the Eastern Cape, Plettenberg Bay is the ideal place for a Garden Route beach break. From Singing Kettle in the north to Witsand on the Robberg Nature Reserve peninsula, there are plenty to choose from. Hang out at family-friendly Central Beach by the mouth of the Piesang River where you can rent paddle boats, Hobie cats, or jet skis.

The Wedge, dive and snorkel around the sunken ship of The Wreck, watch dolphins from a sea kayak, or search for humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise. Prefer to stay on dry land? Enjoy views of mountains and marine life from Lookout Beach or relax in the quiet calm of Sanctuary Beach. Local restaurants and bars line the edges of Plettenberg’s bays meaning there’s always a scenic spot to recharge and refresh.

Animals in their natural habitat are one of the great attractions of South Africa. Sometimes preservation and rehabilitation are needed and Plettenberg Bay is at the heart of the Garden Route’s wildlife care. Hike picturesque oceanside trails through the World Heritage Site of Robberg Nature Reserve. Enjoy an up-close Wild Cat Experience at the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Center, where over 400 animals are rehabilitated every year.

Feed and walk alongside Africa’s biggest land mammals at Knysna Elephant Park, and even stay overnight at the Elephant Nature Lodge. For truly special birding moments, step under the two-hectare dome of Birds of Eden and wander among 3,500 free-flying species from South Africa and all around the world. For something different, sanctuaries for primates and snakes are also nearby.

It’s always a great time to visit Plettenberg Bay. While the region experiences four distinct seasons, the climate is mild and sunny days can be expected during any month. Summer, from December to February, is the hottest period of the year and temperatures often reach 30°C or more. Winter, from June to August, enjoys averages of 15℃ during the day.

Night temperatures are cooler all year round and packing layers or jackets is recommended. Rain can occur at any time but prolonged downpours are rare. For whale watchers, Bryde’s whales and Orcas can be seen all year round, as can Cape fur seals, and dolphins. Southern right whales arrive between June and November while humpbacks and their calves reach South Africa from November to February.