Information & Facts
Activities
The surroundings of Plettenberg Bay provide a playground for
sports enthusiasts and the list of activities is almost endless.
Between July and December the bay is home to Southern Right Whales
that come to calve in the protected waters. The lagoon and the bay
itself are perfect for all sorts of watersports and activities
including boat cruises and sailing, paddling, fishing, swimming,
and scuba diving, while the beaches allow for long solitary walks
and surfing.
The mountains and forests offer a variety of trails for hikers,
mountain bikers and horse riders on holiday. Plett's golf courses
are also highly regarded and provide plenty of challenges. There
are thirteen polo grounds in and around Plettenberg Bay; the best
known is at Kurland (20 minutes outside the town, heading towards
Port Elizabeth) where major polo tournaments take place over
Christmas and Easter.
Robberg Nature and Marine Reserve is only 2.5 miles (4km)
outside Plettenberg Bay, and offers the chance to view wildlife
including penguins, Cape Fur Seals, Southern Right Whales, and the
occasional Great White Shark.
Language
South Africa has 11 official languages, including
Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely
spoken.
Money
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into
100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and
the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily
limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards
are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is
required. Visitors should be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs,
as con artists are known to operate there. Travellers cheques and
some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops,
but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will
exchange them.
Negatives
Plettenberg Bay is best avoided over the Christmas holiday
period when prices are double, accommodation is impossible to find
and everything gets very crowded.
Nightlife
Although Plett is a small town, nightlife is fairly lively, yet
laidback, however the choices are somewhat limited. In summer most
action takes place on or near the beach, beginning with sundowners
in typical South African style at one of the beach bars, but there
are a few vibrant pubs and clubs for later evening entertainment
with pool tables, live music and dancing.
Restaurants
There are plenty of dining opportunities in Plettenberg Bay,
from beach pubs, bistros and deli's to five star cuisine and
award-winning à la carte menus. Foodies will find Thai, Italian,
fresh seafood, steak and a variety of other choices on offer.
Shopping
Plettenberg Bay shopping malls and a variety of shops provide
everything that is needed by holidaymakers and shoppers, including
clothing and speciality goods at several boutiques, arts, crafts,
and antiques.
Time
Local time is GMT +2.