Things to do in

Plettenberg Bay

Go swimming with seals in Plettenberg Bay, a fun and playful experience for all involved. Meet at the local office to take care of the paperwork and pick up all your equipment. Your group will depart by boat from Central Beach aboard the Robberg Express for an exciting beach launch. Head towards Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area, home to approximately 8000 Cape fur seals.   Accompanied by a qualified divemaster, hop into the water and enjoy 30 minutes of amazing animal interaction among bundles of playful, inquisitive fur seals. Have the ultimate wild animal encounter in their natural environment and without altering their natural behaviours.

Check in at the base camp to pick up your wetsuits, harnesses, life jackets and helmets. Once the group is ready, leave base camp for a short drive to the start of your canyon adventure. First, start your ropes course with a gentle 25-meter abseil into the canyon. Then, kick off with your first jump into the river followed by a short swim. Next, if you choose, try your hand at some cliff jumping. For this part of the activity, the highest jump is around of about 7 meters, and lowest 1 meter above the water level, so there are many options if your nerves are getting the better of you. Continue swimming and hiking down the river to The Rush, a waterfall abseil, and seasonally a controlled zip-line over the waterfall. Carry on swimming and hiking down the river until your next adventure, a 55-meter zip-line over a waterfall and into the river below. On completion of the trip, you will be collected from the pick-up point and transported back to the base camp for a nice hot shower, and to collect your pictures of the canyon trip.

Start your 2-hour adventure with an adrenaline beach launch into the sea on a 400 horsepower speedboat. The purpose-built cat style boat has been designed to conquer the ocean without compromising on safety or comfort. Knowledgeable guides and skippers will treat you to close encounters with some of the whales that visit the shores during the months of June to November. You could be graced with sightings of the Southern Right Whale in the Bay or Humpback Whales travelling along the coastline. You may experience the joy of seeing them breach or even view a mother and calf as they enjoy the safety the bay offers. Take a closer look at a vast seal colony and the many pelagic and coastal birds. Other possible sightings include sharks, big fish, penguins, and octopus in their natural habitat.

Arrive at the Safari Center at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve and embark on a magical 2-hour safari game drive through the reserve. Travel with a knowledgeable game ranger who will enthrall you with interesting facts about the wildlife and reserve. During the safari, try to spot 4 of Africa's 'Big 5', and other wildlife including elephants, buffalo, rhinos and leopards, different species of antelopes, birds, and more. At the end of the tour, return to the Safari Center where your tour will end.

After a thorough briefing on kayaking techniques and safety, paddle from Central Beach and back. The direction will be dependant on winds, swells and paddling abilities. The knowledgeable guide will explain the wonders of the ocean, as you take in the views of the Tsitsikamma mountains and the Robberg Nature Reserve. Enjoy sightings of Cape fur seals, bottlenose and humpback dolphins, whales (July – October), cormorants, and other sea birds and marine mammals. Whatever time of the year, this is an experience not to be missed by beginners and experienced kayakers alike.

Discover the wildlife of the African bush with a 2-hour horse safari on a 2,200-hectare reserve at the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. As you ride through the reserve, listen to your extremely knowledgeable game ranger's interesting facts and fascinating commentary.  During the tour, spot 4 of Africa's famous Big 5. The recent arrival of elephants to the reserve means you will be able to get up close with these, as well as buffalo, rhinos and lions. You will also encounter many species of antelope, giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodiles. Birdlife at the game reserve is also abundant, as are the smaller buck and other wild animals that inhabit this protected area of the Garden Route.

This ticket will give you access to one of 3 sanctuaries: Explore Monkeyland, the world’s first and largest free roaming primate sanctuary hosting 11 species and over 550 primates. With a 1-hour guided tour into the 12-hectare forest with a professional guide. In Birds of Eden, the world's largest single dome free flight aviary, discover over 200 species and nearly 3,500 birds. Go on a self-guided tour or go with a guide for no extra cost. The Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is the first sanctuary of its kind, with enclosures built especially for the animal’s needs and personality, hosting apex cats and other predators and wildlife Animals. Go on a tour with a professional and trained guide into the sanctuary. Walk past the enclosures while the guide shares interesting facts of the animals you see.

Join a guided 1-hour tour to get up close to the indigenous wild cats of South Africa, including servals, caracals, cheetahs, lions and leopards. Catch a glimpse of other animals such as meerkats, marabou storks, and many more. Enjoy this unique opportunity to see incredible wildlife, as you learn about conservation efforts in the region from your informative guide.  Follow your guide through the various habitats of the different cats as you listen to interesting facts about each species. See and photograph the wild cats at close range from a raised walkway. Your tour includes a visit to the penguin pool, where you'll discover more about marine conservation and wildlife rehabilitation as you watch these playful animals.

Arrive at the marina in Plettenberg bay where you will board the boat. Prior to departure, get equipped with life-jackets (and ponchos, if necessary) then listen to a short safety briefing. Once passengers have boarded their boat, begin the trip with an exciting beach launch through the surf. While the routes may vary, depending on weather, animal distribution and sea conditions, the typical trip runs as follows: First, head East past the bird sanctuary and make your way along Keurbooms Beach towards Arch Rock. Along this stretch,  encounter Bottlenose and the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins, as well as some shark species. From Arch Rock, cross the bay where you might see pelagic seabirds which are normally found some 7km from the shore. Keep your eyes peeled for Bryde’s Whales as well as Common Dolphins. Having crossed to the point of Robberg Peninsula, venture out to the Wild side, occasionally seeing groups of whales and pods of dolphins. After this, cruise back along the inside of Robberg to see the unique geology from an unusual perspective. Also, observe the growing Cape Fur Seal Colony. At certain times of the year, it is also possible to see numerous Great White Sharks, which frequent the area. Finally, head back along Robberg Beach as you listen to a brief run-down on the history of the area. After passing the Beacon Island Hotel, built on the site of an original Whaling Station, conclude the tour with an exhilarating James Bond-style landing on Central Beach.

Depart from Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay with an exciting beach launch. Sail eastwards past the bird sanctuary and Keurbooms Beach to Arch Rock. Here, you may see Bottlenose and the rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins as well as some shark species. From Arch Rock, head out into the middle of the bay where pelagic seabirds are normally to be found about 7 kilometers from the shore. Try to spot the resident Bryde’s whales and common dolphins or Southern Right and Humpback whales during their breeding season. Then, travel towards the Robberg Peninsula and try to spot groups of whales and pods of dolphins. Cruising back along the inside of Robberg, admire the unique geology of the region and observe the growing Cape Fur Seal colony. Finally, sail back along the Robberg Beach, and learn about the history of the area. After passing the Beacon Island Hotel, built on the site of an original Whaling Station, finish the experience with an exhilarating landing on Central Beach.