Plettenberg Bay - A Garden Route Gem...

This December was our second visit to Plettenberg Bay since we moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in March last year. This beautiful seaside town located in the South-Western Province is truly a jewel which can be a perfect stop on your Garden Route adventure or just as a beach break destination.

Robberg Beach

Plettenberg Bay, commonly known as 'Plett' amongst the South Africans is well-known for its many pristine beaches and is always on the list of people exploring the Garden Route. However, this pretty little coastal town has a lot more to offer due to its surrounding geography which consists of forest, river and farmlands making it an adventure destination for all ages.

Plett is located on the rocky Robberg Pennisula, with the marine reserve stretching around the peninsula and the beautiful dramatic hidden valleys of The Crags making it one of the spots for adrenaline junkies to explore the terrain. One can find numerous outdoor activities, like bungee jumping, forest canopy walks, whale-watching and endless water-sports.

As we were with our three and a half year old son, we had to limit our dose of adventure. We rather spent family fun time on the beaches and the lagoons, visiting the elephant sanctuary, exploring few walking trails and seeing the playful cape fur seals...

Here is our list of Top 5 things to do in Plettenberg Bay with kids

1. Beach / Lagoons - Plett coastline stretches almost 20 kms long offering some great seaside fun. Whether you want to just soak up the sun-rays and play with the waves, enjoy some family time finding sea-shells and building sand castles, take up surfing lessons or get on a fishing expedition, there is something for everyone. We enjoyed some beautiful long walks, and playing in the sand and hitting some waves.

Here are few of our favourites beaches

Keurbooms Lagoon Beach is on the Keurbooms Lagoon formed by the Keurbooms river. It is a wonderful spot for an afternoon walk / stroll and to watch beautiful sunset. It is an ideal spot for kids as has wide sandbanks covered with shallow water making it fun and safe for families with young kids.

Central Beach also known at Beacon Island Beach, was our another favourite spot for swimming. We really enjoyed this beach as it has the Piesang Lagoon running into the sea here, which makes it very safe and a wonderfully warm water playground for children. It is very popular with families and nestles next to the Beacon Isle Hotel.

Look-Out beach is another perfect spot to end your day with a long walk by the ocean. One can enjoy the beautiful sunset on the iconic Deck Restaurant that sits on a rocky outcrop right on the beach.

2. Elephant Sanctuary, The Crags - One can have a wonderful intimate and interactive experience with majestic African Elephants here. This is a great way for adults and kids to learn and have fun.

Elephant Sanctuary, The Crags - Plettenberg Bay

We enjoyed learning about elephants and how they were rescued from different locations in Africa. It was the first time we touched and interacted with these huge mammals. Walking trunk-in-hand with the elephants was daunting but a really fun experience. We enjoyed learning elephant anatomy and feeding them. One can enjoy various tours depending on the duration and intensity of experience you desire.

Elephant Sanctuary, The Crags - Plettenberg Bay

3. Hiking - If you and your kids love hiking, there are some amazing hiking trails on the Robberg Peninsula, best to choose a cooler day as these are moderate to challenging hikes. Though Robberg Nature Reserve is known for its breathtaking hiking trails, there are also many other less strenuous hiking and running trails crisscrossing along the mountains, forests and beaches of Plett that too offer magnificent views and connection with nature.

4. Canoe / Kayak Trip on Keurbooms River - Another fun family activity can be a canoe / kayak trip on the Keurbooms River. The Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is a small but beautiful and pristine nature reserve situated just outside of Plettenberg Bay. Also known as the Whiskey Creek Canoe Trail, the 7 km canoe trail is suitable for almost anyone. One doesn't really need to be a canoeing expert as the river is flat and the gorge is sheltered from the wind. Also, the flat bottomed canoes are very stable

5. Robberg Cape Fur Seal Colony - Another great experience is getting on a boat to the Robberg Marine Protected Area to visit colony of over 6,000 Cape fur seals. One can get up close with these beautiful playful animals in their natural habitat. You can even swim with them or if feeling less adventurous enjoy watching them from comfort of your boat.

Cape Fur Seals - Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay

Plett is slowly but surely becoming one of our favourite local South African holiday destinations. I am sure there is a lot more to discover and do and we will continue visiting Plett and its surroundings to enrich our South African experiences and build special memories.