Beach Finale

I can hear the ocean from where I’m sitting, on the deck of our guest house in Plettenberg Bay.  There’s not a cloud in the bright blue sky and although it’s nearly gin and tonic time the sun on my neck still feels hot. Tonight’s the last night of our month long travels around the Western Cape region of South Africa and we could easily stay longer and travel more around this beautiful country.

View of Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay, from town

Our guest house in Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay has exceeded expectations. Instead of a commercialised resort stuffed with high rise apartments we found a small seaside town with careful low level development and stunningly beautiful beaches.   Most of the town’s residential properties have been built on hills and even Main Street, the town’s shopping street, is quite a hike up from the beach.  Our guest house owner says many of the properties around Plettenberg Bay are holiday homes, occupied for only a few months of the year, so we’re pleased to have avoided the December January holiday season. 

From our guest house it’s a short stroll to the magnificent Robberg Beach.  Gordon’s been enjoying early morning runs here and then later, after breakfast, before the sun gets too hot, we’ve walked along this almost deserted beach.   The waves are rather vigorous but we’ve seen a few swimmers and surfers in the water.  With no lifeguard on this beach, and not being familiar with currents and tides, we’ve been advised not to swim but not far away is a safer and calmer beach perfect for swimming.

Robberg Beach at Plettenberg Bay

View of Robberg Beach

Robberg Beach to ourselves

Although we’ve only been here a few days, Plettenberg Bay tops our list of places we could visit again and stay for several months.   The well-heeled tourist population ensures there’s a surprising number of restaurants, so there’s been no shortage of good food.  Today’s lunchtime oysters were superb!  Time now to pack the suitcases and prepare for the four flights that will get us from George to London.  Totsiens South Africa, we’ll be back.