Area info and activities
Plettenberg Bay and the Garden Route
Plettenberg Bay is the adventure activity capital of South Africa with premier tourist attractions ranging from raptor sanctuaries to primate and predator rehabilitation centres and ocean mammal observation vessels, affording us the ability to offer such a variety of possibilities. Our volunteers get to explore the picturesque area of this evergreen mountainous region with its unspoilt beaches, Lake District and wilderness area encompassing the massif Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountain range during their stay with us.
Plettenberg Bay is South Africa’s premier holiday resort with its laid back holiday atmosphere and soul-wrenching beauty nestled between Bahia Formosa of the Tsitsikamma mountain range and the Indian Ocean.
The Garden Route region - a 240 kilometre long stretch of breathtakingly beautiful countryside sandwiched between the Indian Ocean and the Outeniqua & Tsitsikamma Mountain ranges. (We’ll soon teach you how to pronounce these ancient Khoi San names and other tongue-twisting challenges!) At regular intervals the steep coastal cliffs are broken by gently sweeping bays and long sandy beaches, inland lakes, estuaries and lagoons as well as deep river gorges cutting through the thick indigenous forests - still home to a few elusive free-ranging forest elephant and other animals.
ACTIVITIES
There is much to see and do in our area from anything between a 30 minutes and a three hour drive. This is intended to provide you with an idea of some of the options.
Within 20 minutes drive: World famous Plettenberg Bay beach with the Robberg Peninsula in the distance.
Skydive, take a light plane, motorised glider or micro-light to gain an aerial view of the Plett region
Within 20 minutes drive are found the world’s highest bungee (216m); a 200m long-zip wire plus a bridge walk – all guaranteed to boost your adrenalin levels.
Within 10 minutes drive is found the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary; Birds of Eden (the world’s largest exotic bird aviary) plus The Elephant Sanctuary where you can feed, walk, talk and ride with these gentle pachyderms.
Approximately 30 minutes away rhino, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, varied antelope, smaller mammals and prolific bird life can be viewed from a vehicle, horseback or on foot.
....... and the nearby award winning local distillery is a great place to savour the essences of a uniquely South African range of liquors
Within 45 minutes drive is found the awesome Storms River Coastal National Park (start of the popular 5 day Otter Trail) as well as black water tubing, an aerial zip-wire tour of the forest canopy, day-hikes, quad bikes, underwater snorkel and scuba diving trails and much, much more.
Scuba-dive and snorkel our ocean and estuary waters at Storms River (45 mins); Plettenberg Bay (25 mins) and Knysna (45 mins)
Within 25 minutes experience an unforgettable beach launch to view our ocean life – whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, turtles and birds.
Abseil the coastal cliffs and river gorges or take a leisurely paddle on our estuaries, lagoons, rivers or bays – the closest being a mere 15 minute drive.
Just 45 mins from us is the inland water expanse of the Knysna estuary where fresh and ocean waters meet through a spectacular narrow cleft cut through the coastal cliffs.
Taste wild and cultivated oysters after taking the replica paddle steamer across the Knysna estuary to the Feather Bed Nature Reserve.
Head through and over the mountains via the scenic old gravel road passes or the modern tarred roadways to Oudtshoorn in the Karoo – about 150 mins drive away. Here you’ll find the stunning limestone formations of the Cango Cave complex as well as the cheetah, ostrich, crocodile, mohair and other intriguing parks to fill your day.
Close on 90 mins drive from The Crags will be found the idyllic coastal settlements of St Francis Bay and Jeffery’s Bay – home to worldwide renown surfing spots such as St Francis Point and the Full Stop; Bruce’s Beauties and Super Tubes. It is here that the surfing movie classic “Endless Summer” and its sequence were filmed.
Still heading eastwards, the Addo National Elephant Park, about three hours’ drive, is the only national park in South Africa boasting the "Big Seven". Its coastal reserve region includes Great White Sharks and Whales to be checked off alongside the lions, rhino, leopard, buffalo and elephant, plus many other bird and mammal species that can be seen in this wonderful reserve.
