Location: Plettenberg Bay
Top Things to do in Plettenberg Bay
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The 10 Best Nature & Wildlife Areas in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
The caves of Plettenberg Bay are wrinkles in time, lined with ancient artifacts that date to the Middle Stone Age. Under the sun, Robberg, Central and Lookout beaches are pristine stretches of white sand, magnets for tourists, seagulls and dolphins, who bob playfully just off shore. Wildlife lovers will delight at the Birds of Eden aviary and Monkeyland. (How can you not have fun in a place called Monkeyland?)
Restaurants in Plettenberg Bay
1. Robberg Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,524 reviews
Reviewed By FoodorArt - Polokwane, South Africa
Wow Wow Wow loved my little hike to the gap and sitting on the rocks looking out over Plettenberg Bay... Amazing!
2. Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 486 reviews
Reviewed By ethanleroux - Knysna, South Africa
An amazing experience for anyone who likes or has any interest in snakes. although the park is small the knowledgeable guide has amounts of information about snakes giving you a newfound appreciation for the creatures, big and small. if you find yourself in the area it is well worth the time to spend a few hours and get to learn more about these fascinating creatures!
3. Brackenburn C.R.E.W.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
I am a field guide with 20 years of wildlife and conservation experience. Booking a walk with me will not only give you an experienced guide with everything we see/hear/touch being interpreted, but there is also a safety factor as I know the area and people we encounter very well. I offer many different walks and it is best to check out my website for details.
4. Elephant Sanctuary The Crags
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 954 reviews
Guests are guided on foot through The Elephant Sanctuary. Guides will provide in-depth information and insight into African elephants. You will be introduced to our elephants in the forest area, and here you will be able to touch and interact with the elephants. You will see the special relationship that the elephant handlers share with their elephants and become a part of it. Walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants. See the Elephant Night Shelter where the elephants sleep. Guests learn about elephant anatomy and are able to feed them. On some hot or rainy days, you may see the elephants swimming. Enjoy a drink and visit our curio shop. Remember to wear flat walking shoes, sun hats and bring your camera. Brushing the elephants down is offered on the Elephant Brush down Experience Tour which starts at 07h30 and 15h30. We offer various tours depending on the duration and intensity of experience you desire.
Reviewed By Bathtimerichard - Bath, United Kingdom
We loved this visit and feel compelled to say so..the guys running this were great and made us feel as though they were really involved in the well being of these rescued elephants. The stars were the animals themselves so if you love them as much as we do then you won't be disappointed by this visit.
5. Birds of Eden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,351 reviews
Birds of Eden is part of the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA). Birds of Eden is the largest single-dome free flight aviary in the world, spanning 2.3 hectares of natural forests, streams and dams. With over a kilometre of walkways, visitors can experience the thrill of spotting almost 3500 previously captive birds of over 200 different species flying free and living natural lives. The scenery alone warrants a visit with hundreds of different plant and tree species plus there are giant fruit bats, golden-handed tamarins and the smallest of the antelopes, Blue duikers. Visits to Birds of Eden are self-guided and you are free to wander for as long as you wish at your own pace. Guided tours for group bookings can also be arranged on request at no additional cost. (Guided tours not available during Covid-19 levels 5 4 3 2 and 1)
Reviewed By RuthFox - London, United Kingdom
This was really amazing place to see and be close up to an incredible assortment of magnificent birds. The animals and echo system are cared for with sensitivity. The book for 20 rand is a bargain and added to our identifying birds plus a lovely keepsake. Young kids might get bored and I wonder if they have a play area. Also, the area might be dangerous and possibility of falling and climbing for a child not being supervised. What really made our experience in this outstanding bird sanctuary five star, were the two young men Micaydon and Abongile from the local village who shared their knowledge and passion for the birds. Impressive. They have so much to contribute. Highly recommended if you have an appreciation for nature and an inquisitive spirit for knowledge and wonderment found in this incredible gifts of this world
6. Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,948 reviews
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary is part of the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA). Monkeyland first opened its gates to the public in 1998 amidst much skepticism, a sanctuary of this kind had never been attempted before; multiple primate species all running free and together in one big forest. But despite the fears it was a huge success and the world's first multi-species, free roaming primate sanctuary has set a standard that other sanctuaries now aspire to. 12 hectares of indigenous forest is home to over 500 primates of 11 different species; Squirrel, Capuchin, Howler, Vervet and Spider monkeys, Hanuman and Spectacled Langur, Saki, Gibbon, Ring-tailed and Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs all enjoy the freedom to climb trees, forage amongst the undergrowth and live a life that is far removed from where they came. Ex-pets, laboratory animals and surpluses from zoos that used to live in cages now have the opportunity to behave in a way that is natural to them. Our experienced rangers will guide you on a one-hour tour of the forest, pointing out the different species whilst offering a wealth of information on their ecology and conservation. An added attraction is the 128m long suspension bridge that stretches across the forest canopy offering magnificent views of the surrounding forests.
Reviewed By SubhrajitRoy123 - Mumbai, India
Though our vacation was largely centered around wildlife we found this experience quite unique. The tour takes places in a pretty dense forest with little room for any sunlight coming through – one is surrounded by all kinds of monkeys on treetops and on the ground literally whizzing around, peeping at you and following your footsteps. The moment we stepped into the tour, we felt that we were in the heart of an Amazon like forest with monkeys roaming free. It created a nice chill in the air. The guide was also very knowledgeable and experienced and provided pretty unique insights into the behaviour patterns/eating habits/noises of the various monkeys and how many of them have learnt to emerge out of the dark shadows of their past ill treatment. We saw a wide range of monkeys – gibbons, cappucins, vervets, howlers and spider monkeys – but our sightings were so dominated by funny looking lemurs, one almost felt that we were in “lemur land” and not monkeyland. The main highlight for us was that it seemed to be a completely natural habitat for the monkeys – they clearly felt at home – which made our experience that much more real. We also loved the long suspension bridge with monkeys swinging all around and over it – created a War of the Apes kind of environment! Again a must do if you are around Knysna.
7. Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 713 reviews
Jukani is part of the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) #PlettPredators #CragsCarnivores #HandsOffOurWildlife #SaasaVisit Come and visit Jukani which is the home of rescued predators and other wildlife where the focus is on conservation and education, specifically on the plight of predators both in captivity and in the wild all over the world.At Jukani you can see most of the larger cats such as lion, Bengal and Siberian tiger, jaguar, leopard, cheetah, puma, caracal and serval together with rarer species such as white lions and tigers and black leopard.The sanctuary is also home to other predators such as African wild dog, hyena, jackal, honey badger and zorilla together with other wildlife such as zebra, springbuck and raccoons. Please note during Covid-19 levels 5 4 3 2 and 1 we will not be offering guided tours through the sanctuary.
Reviewed By Z8948DYannak
Place where wild cats that previously work as entertainers in circuses around the world or where privately owned found their "retairment" spot. Though animals are kept in fenced areas they have plenty of space to roam around. Highly recommended place for alk ages.
8. Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,974 reviews
Tenikwa grew from humble beginnings in 2002 when the owners started rehabilitating injured birds in a wooded shed behind their house. Today Tenikwa has grown to be one of the largest active Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres in the Western Cape, attending to a diverse variety of animals accepting both terrestrial and marine mammals and birds. Rehabilitating injured and abandoned Wildlife with the goal to release them back to the wild. Our centre rescue, rehabilitate and release between 250 - 450 wild animals annually. We work closely with nature/conservation authorities in our area, CapeNature, SANParks, BirdLife, and SANCCOB. Our Awareness Centre ensures that our Rehabilitation facilities are sustainable, funding the rehabilitation work and to raise awareness of the conservation issues in South Africa, Tenikwa offers various, programs throughout the day, catering for all ages and fitness levels with a focus on providing a conservation-based, informative tour. Guests learn about the indigenous wild cats of South Africa and why they are disappearing from our landscape.Species include African Wild Cats, Serval, Caracal, Cheetah, Leopard and Lions. The Tenikwa encounter is a great follow-on to a game reserve / safari experience; from viewing the cats at a distance to the opportunity to study these beautiful animals at close quarters. Tenikwa also has a Meerkat Meander where visitors can see Meerkats and Tortoises and there is also a variety of indigenous waterfowl, Blue Cranes and Marabou Storks to delight bird watchers. Tenikwa supports the upliftment of local communities through Eco tourism and is environmentally responsible. Entrance fees fund Tenikwa's NPO Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release Programme. Open 365 days a year. Amenities include a Tea Garden for light meals, Parking, Wheel-chair Friendly, Mothers Corner
Reviewed By mmacg - Dublin, Ireland
We visited Tenikwa for the one-hour tour - a guide shows you all of the big cat enclosures and brings you into the serval, African wild cat and cheetah enclosures. It's a great way to learn about these animals up close and it's not intended to be an alternative to a safari experience at all. Our guide Msizi was excellent and very knowledgable about the animals and conservation efforts.
9. Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 412 reviews
Game drives and horse back safaris , game viewing excellent , all in Big 5 territory,all for only R750.00 per person
Reviewed By SteveH1953 - Cape Town, South Africa
We enjoyed a 2 hour game drive today.....saw 4 of the big five and kept informed by our excellent driver/guide... well worth the short drive from Plettenberg bay....
10. Garden Route Wolf Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By IvanRow44 - Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
We had driven past the wolf sanctuary a few times when down on holiday here and weren't really that excited by the prospect of just seeing a few wolves in what we assumed would be smallish cages. It's only since we moved down here that we decided to come for a visit and discovered the best attraction in this part of the world for families with kids of all ages. It's only when you drive into the parking lot when you notice the sign at the bottom which reads "farmyard"; and wow, what a farmyard it is. Bunnies, goats, pigs, sheep, al pacas and more in a well maintained, large piece of ground where you can feed the animals and yourself at the pleasantly affordable restaurant. There are wolves, wolf dogs and some of the most beautiful huskies on show also, with some of the big wolves possessing the ability to look right into your soul. Lol. We were so impressed that we bought a season pass so that we can have unlimited access for a year at R250 per adult and R150 for kids. Worth every cent.
