Recommended Activities Plettenberg Bay

Golf:  Plettenberg Bay is home to two superb golf courses, both less than a fifteen-minute drive from The Robberg Beach Lodge. The signature Goose Valley and Turtle Creek course and the Plettenberg Bay Country Club course both offer unique golfing experiences in spectacular surroundings.

Goose Valley is a superb Gary Player course, with dramatic views of the Keurbooms Lagoon and the spectacular Tsitsikamma mountains. Greens and fairways are always very well conditioned and wind their way through beautiful fynbos vegetation. Plettenberg Bay Country Club nestles in the Piesang Valley. This lush river valley course is challenging and tight, with a parkland layout through dense indigenous bush.

We're pleased to be able to offer our guests significant discounts on greens fees for these two Plettenberg Bay courses, for rounds booked and paid for through our Reception. Carts and clubs can be hired directly at each course. 

In addition, the Jack Niklaus signature course at Simola and the spectacular Pezula championship course are only a 30 minute drive away from the Robberg, in nearby Knysna. Both of these courses are ranked in the Golf Digest top 30 in South Africa. We're happy to assist with reservations at these courses.

Pre-booking is essential at these very popular courses, so please book ahead of time to make sure you don't miss out on a great golf experience during your stay with us.

Hiking:  Robberg Nature Reserve offers great walking and hiking trails and is an excellent view site for cliff based whale and dolphin sightings. There are three circular walks of various lengths, caves, and extensive information about Robberg’s geology, archaeology and existing marine life.

If you like to live on the wild side, then the Robberg Nature Reserve will appeal to you. The rugged peninsula of Robberg Nature Reserve offers a shot of the great outdoors un-distilled – crashing waves, barking Cape fur seals, stunning scenery and beaches – and that feeling of being far from the madding crowds. It’s worth the effort for the breathtaking views alone. You can see Plettenberg Bay and up the entire coastline to Nature’s Valley.

The demarcated walking trails offer three options ranging from a quick 45 minute walk to the Point Circuit, a five-hour hike that is fairly strenuous. This round trip leads one right to the dramatic Robberg point. Timing is important as sections of the route are rocky and dangerous to traverse at high tide. It is not recommended for smaller children.

For more information on the area and the trails, download the map and brochure from the Robberg Beach Lodge website.

Whale watching:  In early June, southern right whales leave their Antarctic feeding ground to frolic in the warm waters of the Cape coast. Here they mate, calve and generally hang out, occasionally flopping a tail up, or sticking their heads out of the water to check out the humans. Robberg House has 2 large viewing decks that offer out-of-this-world views, perfect for viewing the whales and dolphins in the bay. 

Plettenberg Bay can with right claim being the whale capital of the world. These huge beasts sometimes loll around mere meters from the shore, thus they are clearly visible for some spectacular shore and cliff based whale watching from points along Robberg and Keurboom beaches and Robberg Nature Reserve.

Whale presence in the bay is from mid May to February with the southern right whales around from June to November, the migratory humpback whales arrive with their calves early November and stay until the end of February and we see them again during May and June.

Here in Plettenberg Bay, the dolphin and whale-watching industry is one of the most organized, with boat trips, a dolphin-watching kayak operation and a number of aircraft from which you can have impressive aerial whales’ sightings.

Monkeyland and Birds of Eden: Receive a 10% discount to Monkeyland when you book a Tour with Lion Roars!  Monkeyland, a unique primate sanctuary that is currently the top eco-tourism attraction on the Garden Route and for very sound and sunny reasons. Monkeyland has captured the hearts of visitors in its efforts to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. The sanctuary is exceptional as it caters for several species of primateswho are not caged. They are free to move about the forest and this they do most harmoniously.

At Monkeyland, the emphasis on searching for the primates, and the reward is to see the various species as they are meant to be: free and in a natural habitat. The transfer of information about these fascinating creatures enhances your visit to the sanctuary during a safari. The safaris are conducted by multi-lingual game rangers and are fun, exciting and educational. Our guests leave our sanctuary with a greater understanding of the primates of the world and the threats they are facing.

On the guided safaris you can expect to see a variety of primates, ranging from the Gibbons of Asia to the Lemurs of Madagascar. The knowledgeable rangers will tell you all about these fascinating mammals as you encounter them roaming free in the forest. They also point out, identify and explain the many wonders of life in the forest, from the rich diversity of bird life to the intricate workings of the forest itself.

Visit www.monkeyland.co.za for more information.

Wine tasting:  Bramon Wine Estate is a boutique vineyard and is the first and only Estate this far East of the Western Cape, situated 20km East of Plettenberg Bay in a mountainous area called The Crags.

This family run estate has broken new ground by pioneering vineyards in the Plettenberg Bay area, producing an award winning Methode Cap Classique sparkling wine and now a beautiful still wine The Crags has added to the range. Having grown up on a wine farm in Worcester, Peter, the owner had an inherent passion for wine and working the land. On discovering a piece of land in The Crags with gentle slopes and cool sea breezes, Peter found the conditions excellent for vine growth.

The land was choked with wattle, gum and pine and needed to be cleared of all alien invasives to make way for what is now today a well manicured vineyard. The first vines, Sauvignon Blanc, were planted in 2000 pioneering wine growth in Plettenberg Bay which has subsequently been classified as a wine of origin region.

Visit www.bramonwines.co.za for more information.

Walk with Elephants:  The Elephant Sanctuary at the Crags provides a “halfway house” for young African elephants in need of a temporary home. It is the only operation in South Africa that provides for elephants in this way. It is the vision of the Sanctuary to release all the elephants into an environment where they can be more independent once they are older. Adults and children may walk with the elephants with a trained elephant handler, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour, Tsitsikamma Forest Storms River:  This is a unique eco-wilderness adventure that takes place in the magnificent Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforest. It involves traversing from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 30 meters above the forest floor. The scenery and bird life is spectacular. Professional guides escort the group throughout the tour.

Old Nick Crafts and Arts: Enjoy a wander through a beautiful collection of locally made pottery and linen, décor & craft shops, clothing boutiques and antique collectibles shops, set in an old wool mill, and end with tea & scones, or a lovely light Portuguese-style lunch in the garden.

Sedgefield Country Morning Market (Saturdays): fresh food, crafts, arts, books, and the best bacon and egg rolls ever make this a great way to start a weekend in the area. 

Barnyard Theatre: Chat to our staff to find out what’s on at our local barnyard theatre. Year-round, a great programme of live local music is on offer. Bring your own picnic and drinks, and enjoy a vibrant evening of local music, in this quirky converted barn. 

Beach Walk: Robberg Beach is one of the best beaches we know for walking. From the Robberg Beach Lodge to the nature reserve peninsula and back is a 1 ½ - 2 hr walk, and to include the full loop up to the Beacon Isle and back is a 2 ½ hour walk. Plenty of time to sort out the troubles of the world. 

Oyster feast in Knsyna: take a gentle half-hour drive to the Oyster Shack in Knysna for a great local Oyster feast. 

Sundowners on the viewing deck: Tour guests of Redbourne and the Robberg Beach Lodge are welcome to enjoy sundowners on the Robberg Beach Lodge’s spectacular Rooftop Terrace. For some of the best views in Plett, and a great selection of local wines, join us as the sun goes down. 

After dinner at your restaurant of choice, linger in the lounge or on the viewing deck with a nightcap from our well-stocked bar, and personally selected selection of single malt whiskies. And finally, fall into bed to the sound of a seaside night.