setting
Plettenberg
Bay lies at the heart of the Garden Route ... Surrounded
by places with names such as "Nature's Valley" and
"Garden of Eden", it is a true paradise - miles
of rugged coastline and golden sand beaches alongside mountains,
dramatic river valleys, magnificent indigenous forests and
truly unique fynbos. Take a drive through spectacular scenery,
pack a picnic or just stop for a bite at any one of the restaurants,
farm stalls or cosy tea gardens en route ...
The Tsitsikamma forest
is the largest tract of natural forest in South Africa; 65,000
hectares noted for its yellowwoods, stinkwoods and impressive
ironwoods (yet only a fraction of the size it once was due
to a thriving timber industry 1777-1939). The Tsitsikamma
Coastal National Park stretches over 60 kilometres along the
Southern Cape coast. Dense forest and winding river
valleys make their way to the sea with its varied coastal
vegetation and rich inter-tidal life. Estuaries flow into
the ocean and a Marine Reserve which extends 5 kilometres
offshore. Southern Right Whales are regular visitors
during the springtime, coming up from the Southern Oceans
to calve.
The area offers four
unique habitats - forest, fynbos, wetland and coast - making
it a birdwatchers paradise. The rare Black Oystercatcher
can often be spotted on the beaches. The forests have been
home to large herds of elephants, wiped out over the past
three centuries by hunters and loggers. One or two of
these magnificent creatures remain but are rarely spotted
and very wary of mankind. The vegetation around Plettenberg
Bay itself is different ... it was never naturally heavily
forested, indicating a lower rainfall and more sunshine hours
than its neighbouring surrounds. The Robberg ("seal mountain")
Peninsula stretches out from one end of the bay - a nature
reserve noted for its diverse coastal vegetation and wildlife.
A large cave on the southern shore was home to the "Strandlopers"
for aeons.
