Plettenberg Bay region stretches from Harkersville (10km from Knysna) to Nature's Valley and Storms River 80 km away along the N2 which connects the Western Cape to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.
Originally called 'Bahia Formosa' (beautiful bay) by the Portuguese explorers this area offers miles of unspoiled beaches, lagoons, estauaries, coastal forests and rivers.
There are plenty of National Parks and Nature Reserves in this area of the Garden Route. Tsitsikamma National Park is where oceans meet the sea and extends 5km into the water protecting the tidal and reef nature - dolphins are commonly seen in this area. Robberg Nature Reserve is a world heritage site and offers great walking trails plus an ideal spot for shore based sightings of whales and dolphins.
8km west of Plettenberg Bay is Harkersville, a quiet rural place with great forest walks on the edge of the Diepwalle Reserve. There is a great Saturday market selling crafts and local produce. In the Robberg Mountain Reserve is Kranshoek, home to the Griqua people in a vibrant village with sea views and indigenous plants. Learn about the Xhosa culture on a township tour in the KwaNokuthula area near Plettenberg. The community centre here is a hive of activity with local artists producing textiles, designer ware, paintings, weaving, beads, metal and woodwork.
Activites in the area area endless - for the active visitor there is abseiling, bungy, canoeing, diving, hiking, hot air ballooning, kloofing, micro lighting, mountain biking, paragliding, quad biking, rock climbing, sky diving, snorkelling and surfing. For the more laid back traveller, simply watch the sea and the world go by from a cliff top vantagepoint or enjoy the beautiful beaches, or while away hours in the art centre, shops and many restaurants.
