Getaway May_2019

Plettenberg

Bay

26

inspected

13

selected

• Great stock! With broad expansesof sand riven by the
  Piesangand Keurboomrivers,lappedby the IndianOcean
  and surroundedby pocketsof forest and fynbos,the area’s
  diversehabitatsare matchedby that of its accommodation.


• Plett’s main beaches(Lookout,Central,Robberg,Solar)
  are some of the best in the Cape, so I focusedon finding
  good-looking,affordableoptionson or near them. Solar,
  the tail end of Robberg,has the addedbenefitof a bird-filled
  vlei just a few blocksaway.


• That said, I couldn’tresist exploringthe gorgeousinland,
  and two optionshere made my Final Cut. Most of the best
  lie east, in the forestedarea knownas The Crags,though
  Hunter’sCountryLodge,Tsala and Lairds Lodge (all highly
  recommendedluxuryhotels)are to the west.


• I also lookedat Keurbooms,the laid-backenclavejust east of
  Plett. This is the most affordablebeachfront’hood;perfectif you preferself-cateringand
  your seasideless developed.Housesare for the most part low-slungand set back into
  the bush. It’s also a dog-friendlybeach.Currentsprecludeswimmingtoo deep, though.


• Booking.comcame out tops as a one-stoponlineshop, but to find Keurboomsoptions
  you’rebest off trawlingAirbnb.

Don’tMissthis

•Seeing whales and

dolphins up close with

Ocean Blue (boats) or

Dolphin Adventures

(sea kayaks). Offshore

Adventuresoffers

swimmingwith seals.

•Exploringthe Robberg

Peninsulaon foot.

•Animal encounters

–at Radical Raptors,

Monkeyland,Birds of

Eden and others.

•Adventuresin The Crags,

from canyoningand

ziplining to abseiling.

Also check out the new

farmstall,Bread &Brew.

•The Plett wine and

bubbly route (in ahorse

carriage, if you like).

•AKeurboomsRiver ferry

trip, includingapicnic

stop. Or do the SUP

&Champagnecruise.

•The new Mungo Mill

weaving museum.

Whatareyoulookingfor?

• Vibeybeachfrontdigs (pg 40)


• A romanticriversidehideaway(pg 40)


• The slickestsurf shackever (pg 41)


• A stylishguesthouse(pg 41)


• A classicbeachhouse(pg 42)


• A gorgeoushotel at a great price (pg 42)


• A seasideflat (for pizzalovers!)(pg 44)


• Cosy winterglamping(pg 44)

Built mostly from reclaimed
wood collected over several
years, Soul Arch is a unique
and very atmospheric space.

BlessedwithseveralBeaches,Bounteousnatureandplenty

ofentertainment,plettis a trueholidayplayground.these

places to stay will add that something extra to your trip

how TripAdvisor lists accommodation rated by guests, but as much as

we love peer reviews, they don’t offer a comparative voice – so how do

we know No. 1 is really the best? Pippa de Bruyn, who has reviewed

accommodation for 20 years for the likes of Frommer’s and The Telegraph,

scours TripAdvisor and other online sites when researching a destination.

For Plettenberg Bay, she created a longlist of 26 to inspect. The following made the cut.

getaway.co.za 39