Now that summer is here is full swing on the south Cape coast of Africa, I have been enjoying my time at the beach. If you want to know the best town on the entire southern shore of the African continent, then this is it. It’s called Plettenberg Bay. You will find all the space, sand, sea and surf that you could desire. There are perhaps more famous surfing spots just an hour or two up the coast to the east, where world class international surfing contests occur, like the town of Jeffery’s Bay, but Plett, as the locals call it, is an all-rounder for variety of outdoor and water activity.
The long white soft sandy beaches stretch on as far as the eye can see. And the town of Plett is built along the shoreline, providing instant access to the beaches as well as world class views overlooking the warm Indian Ocean. The curious lay of the land provides a sheltered bay from any inclement weather, thanks to the Robberg Peninsula to the west – an outcrop of land that stretches into the sea like a long finger.
The sheltered conditions even attract whales to this very same bay annually for their calving in the winter months of July to September. One can hire a whale watching charter boat to take a little trip just offshore to get a closer view of the whales without actually disturbing them. This is perhaps one of the few places in the world where you can find the largest land mammal and the largest sea mammals right in the same region.
The town of Plettenberg Bay lies on the twin river mouth of the Bitou and Keurbooms rivers, which join at the lagoon just before flowing out to the sea. The mouth of the lagoon allows the tides to push inland when high or flow out to sea when low in a constant cyclic motion. I like to take a kayak or paddle ski and go canoeing on the lagoon sometimes, when conditions are just right.
The secret is to time your canoeing with the tides. By paddling upstream when the tide is coming in and fairly high, the current simply pushes you up the river with very little effort. Then as the tide turns and begins to flow out, one can paddle back down stream toward the lagoon and the mouth where it all flows out to sea. The river upstream is one of my favorite places as it’s inaccessible by land or road due to the steep ravine walls on either side of the river. You can only access this area by boat, so it looks like a hidden jungle paradise that could be anywhere in the world. I’ll post some photos of my planned canoe trip up river in coming days.
Having been born and raised in the lovely city of Cape Town for the first few decades of my life, I have been blessed with abundant pristine beaches and mountainous terrain for hiking in and exploring nature – practically right in the city itself, so I have high standards when it comes to quality beaches or natural surroundings. Yet here in this little town of Plettenberg Bay, just 550 kilometers to the east of Cape Town, I have been equally impressed. Plett is just as picturesque but is much smaller and thus more private and less crowded or polluted compared to the bigger city.
You could say that it’s the ideal tourist town and retirement destination for those who have made it to the top of the world – even though it’s at the bottom geographically, being the furthest south on the African continent. The weather if fine all year long in this temperate zone and there are no tropical diseases of any sort, like those further north in Africa. And the town is on a primary highway along the south coast of Africa so easy to access.
Furthermore, the region is filled with forest and mountain for hiking and exploring, so besides the coastal and water features, it is the ideal zone for outdoor activities and will impress nature lovers greatly. So if you ever feel limited in your current setting, then feel inspired to make a journey to this part of the planet where paradise awaits you. Let me know when you’re on your way and I will be happy to show you all the best spots that nature has to offer.
(photos my own)