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Plettenberg Bay |
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 Originally and rightly christened "Bahia Formosa" (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, Plettenberg Bay is home to vast expanses of Cape flora, delicate ecosystems in wetlands and lagoons, gigantic trees, teaming wildlife, and a bay large enough for the great whales of the Southern Ocean to calve in and protect their young.
More than a village and less than a town, Plettenberg Bay is accessible by first class national roads, by sea or by scheduled air flights. It is situated near the great forests lying at the feet of the famous Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and is the gateway to the incredible indigenous African wealth of the bay. Plettenberg Bay lies on South Africa's spectacular south coast 210km from Port Elizabeth and about 600km from Cape Town, in the Western Cape.
No less than ten important nature reserves embrace the varied ecosystem of the area as well as unique marine reserves, soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals and a host of other marine life. The bay itself is Nursery to the endangered Southern Right Whales that calve in the bay during winter and spring (July to December).
The Outeniqua-Tsitsikamma indigenous forests are a unique mixture of Cape Fynbos and temperate forest and offer the nature lover world-renowned hiking trails and an exciting opportunity to see the last remaining Knysna forest elephants of South Africa. The entire area teams with birdlife with nearly 300 species to be found in the great variety of habitants ranging from Fynbos to forest and wetlands.
The area is a sports paradise and boasts fabulous trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders and canoeists. The highlight of the area is undoubtedly the rivers, beaches and the bay with its ideal conditions for all facets of water sports, including sailing in the safe waters of the bay, superb rock and surf fishing and scuba diving spots. Alternatively one can simply stroll along its clean, sandy beaches stretching for miles along the Indian Ocean or enjoy its safe swimming areas.
At night, Plettenberg Bay is alive with pubs, nightspots and fine restaurants. A wide range of accommodation offers luxury hotels, exclusive country retreats, cozy bed and breakfasts, self-catering chalets and excellent camping facilities.
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