Africa Deluxe Tours The Keurbooms River

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay is situated on the shore of an impressive bay of the same name. The town is located ±33 km east of Knysna on South Africa's Garden Route. The Portuguese explorers who first set eyes on the bay named it "Bahia Formosa", the "Beautiful Bay".

The town is truly a playground for South Africa's rich and increasingly for wealthy visitors from elsewhere in the world. However, it is still accessible to 'regular' travellers. Plettenberg Bay is more than worth a visit. Among the various attractions and activities on offer our top two choices have to be going on a whale & dolphin watching cruise and exploring the Robberg Nature and Marine Reserve on foot. The town offers excellent accommodation from mid-range to five-star luxury as well as shops and restaurants.

The Bay is well sheltered, which makes for safe swimming. It is frequented by whales that rear their young in the calm waters because it is sheltered, the most sought after species of these being the Southern Right Whales. They trek from the Arctic regions to South Africa's southern shoreline from approximately August to November. Large numbers of dolphins and seals frequent the bay all year round.

Tours that include Plettenberg Bay

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

View from the Outeniqua Pass

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: ****
Price: R1,380 single supplement (±US$ 99 )
R11,185 per person sharing (±US$ 806 )

Valid dates: Nov 2014 - Oct 2015


This tour combines the scenic Route 62 and Garden Route. Get close to ostriches and elephants, tour the Cango Caves, do a sunset cruise on the Knysna Estuary, an ocean cruise at Plettenberg Bay in search of dolphins, seals and whales, visit the Tsitsikamma Forest and Storm's River Mouth.

Highlights: Oudtshoorn , Knysna , Cango Caves , Buffelsdrift Game Lodge , Knysna Estuary , Plettenberg Bay , Tsitsikamma , Storm’s River Mouth , Storm's River Mouth suspension bridge .

Storms River Mouth

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: ****
Price: R11,185 per person sharing (±US$ 806 )
R1,380 single supplement (±US$ 99 )

Valid dates: Dec 2014 - Oct 2015


This tour combines the scenic Garden Route and Route 62. Visit the Tsitsikamma Forest and Storm’s River Mouth, do an ocean cruise at Plettenberg Bay in search of dolphins, seals and whales, a sunset cruise on the Knysna Estuary, tour the Cango Caves and get close to ostriches and elephants.

Highlights: Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna Estuary , Plettenberg Bay , Robberg and Robberg Nature Reserve , Outeniqua Pass , Oudtshoorn ostrich farms , Route 62 , Cango Caves , Buffelsdrift Game Lodge .

Plettenberg Bay attractions

The view back towards Robberg Beach and Plettenberg Bay from the hiking trail on the Robberg Peninsula.

Robberg Nature Reserve

The Robberg Peninsula, which forms the western shoreline of Plettenberg Bay, is managed as a small nature reserve. The northern shore of the Peninsula consists mainly of steep mountain slopes and cliffs, below which a large seal colony resides. On the southern side it is easier to get close to sea level and to two pristine sandy beaches that can be found here.

A beach at Keurboomstrand near Plettenberg Bay on South Africa's Garden Route.

Keurboomstrand

Keurboomstrand (Keurboom beach) is a coastal village on the opposite side of the Keurbooms River from Plettenberg Bay. It is in a prime spot on the Garden Route and highly popular for camping, fishing and swimming - enjoying the frequent sunshine of South Africa.

A section of the Keurbooms River at Forever Resort Plettenberg Bay.

Keurbooms River Nature Reserve

The Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is a small reserve of only 740 ha, bisected by the Keurbooms River after which it is named. It is mostly known as holiday attraction with activities on offer. Accommodation is available in bungalows and well equipped camping sites.

On of three pedestrian suspension bridges at Storms River Mouth on South Africa's Garden Route.

Garden Route

The Garden Route is a tourism paradise combining excellent infrastructure with scenic natural attractions. It comprises the narrow coastal belt on South Africa's south coast, stretching from the Tsitsikamma Forest in the east ±200 km to Mossel Bay in the west. It is named after the region's lush vegetation and mountainous scenery.

Knysna Estuary and the Western Head, where the Featherbed Nature Reserve is located, as viewed from the Eastern Head.

Knysna

The town of Knysna is at the heart of the popular Garden Route. There are a host of activities to engage in and attractions to explore. In our opinion the top ones are exploring the surrounding forests and embarking on an excursion to the Featherbed Nature Reserve.

The Storms River Gorge, just above the river mouth, with the Parksboard inflatable moored to the left bank.

Storm’s River Mouth

Storms River Mouth is the main camp within the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park. This section comprises a coastal stretch roughly 5 mm wide. It includes the Tsitsikamma rain forest that drops down to the rugged coastline with a marine conservation region of approximately 80 km.