Plettenberg Bay

One of the best known and well-loved parts of South Africa is the Garden Route which stretches for quite some distance along the southern coast. We're part way along it but have been very impressed so far with the winding roads, water features and lush vegetation. Unfortunately, we won't be able to do it any justice by travelling on a backpackers' bus - best done in a car where you can stop and look whenever you wish.

Plettenberg Bay is one of the most popular stops along the Garden Route. It's a huge tourist destination for the South Africans themselves. There are actually few high quality beach spots along the southern coast - much of it is rocky headland and the waters are very unsafe due to strong currents, sharks, etc. I read that 40 00 of the well-to-do from Johannesburg alone come here to vacation at Christmas time!

Plettenberg Bay stretches along a couple of beaches separated by a small finger-like peninsula.

The first view I have shown is of Robberg Beach with Robberg Nature Reserve in the distant background. The view below (after the peninsula) is called Keurboom's Beach.

Keurboom's Beach is incredibly shallow and extensive during low tide but as is the case with all such beaches...watch out when the tide is on its way in!

The pictures speak better than the words...

That's all I have to say from here. We've had a couple of days of chilling out. I think that Nancy is a little tired of my saying "this is as good as it gets" each morning when we begin our walk but apart from that we're great!

Later today we're off to a place called Nature's Valley. Tomorrow we'll begin the Otter Trail which is one of the premier walking trails in the country. It'll be a tough slog but we're feeling up to it. Since we're going bush we won't be blogging for a week or more. Think of us as we think of you!