The Plettenberg
Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa
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THE PLETTENBERG
HOTEL - PLETTENBERG BAY, THE GARDEN ROUTE, SOUTH AFRICA
The
Plettenberg is a 5-star Relais & Chateaux Hotel
built on a rocky headland with breathtaking vistas of the sea, mountains
and miles of golden sand in one of the most spectacular resorts in Africa – Plettenberg
Bay.
The Plettenberg is perched
high above the Indian Ocean over Lookout Beach - a tranquil oasis in
this International resort - with nothing to interrupt distant views
of the Tsitsikamma forest other than the schools of dolphins at play.
At the turn of the century, the original
hotel building was a beach house belonging to the Thesen Family of
Knysna. Today the
Plettenberg consists of two buildings with equally spectacular views
of the Indian Ocean and the Outeniqua Mountains. The two swimming pools
visually flow into the ocean and miles of pristine beaches are just
two minutes away. Enjoy breakfast in the sunroom, whilst
watching dolphins at play and migrant whales during the winter months.
The Plettenberg's 35 luxury rooms and
suites are all air-conditioned and offer a truly idyllic and indulgent
experience. There are two swimming pools, one of which is heated, and
both visually flow into the ocean below. The adjoining Beach House
is also available; the house is decorated with simplicity and crisp
elegance in natural creams and blues and has it’s own sparkling
swimming pool.
Experience fabulous sightings of dolphins
and whales in the bay from the hotel terraces. For the more adventurous
there are numerous excursions and activities within close proximity
to the hotel.
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With 37 superbly furnished rooms
and suites including the luxurious Blue Wing, The Plettenberg invites
you to indulge in an
idyllic experience. Each room is exquisitely unique and all have under-carpet
heating and air-conditioning. During the whale season from July to October,
enjoy awe-inspiring sightings of dolphins and whales from the top suites.
7 Premier Suites
These suites are superbly and individually decorated with varied views
of the sea. Most of the suites have French doors and step-out balconies.
All of these suites have under-floor heating and are air-conditioned.
5 Suites
These luxury suites consist of a separate lounge and bedroom. All suites
have under-carpet heating and air-conditioning.
6 Luxury Double Rooms (sea
views)
These are large luxury rooms with sea views and small step-out balconies.
All have walk in showers, under floor heating and air-conditioning.
10 Luxury Double Rooms
These rooms have different views -- some with side views of the sea
and some with garden views. These spacious and comfortably furnished
rooms have walk-in showers, under floor heating and air-conditioning.
8 Standard Double Rooms (also available for single occupancy)
These
standard twin and double bedded rooms offer the same exceptional style
and décor found
in the suites and luxury double rooms but do not have sea views.
These rooms are all air-conditioned.
The Plettenberg Beach House
The Plettenberg Beach House is situated next to the hotel’s
main building. Decorated in soft creams and blues with bleached wooden
floors, it makes
the ideal private getaway, while still having access to all the main
hotel facilities and a 24-hour butler service.
The Beach House consists of two en-suite bedrooms, a large sitting room
with fireplace, dining room and small service kitchen. The main bedroom leads onto a sundeck and private swimming pool, with
spectacular views of the bay and mountains. The house is fully air-conditioned.
The Lookout Villa (3 bedrooms)
Overlooking one of the world's most beautiful bays, this African contemporary house enjoys a view of magical sunrises, whales breaching in the winter months, and pods of dolphins rejoicing the whole year round.
Gentle sandy and ocean colours filter through the house with a mix of textures and lighting that creates a warm and relaxing atmosphere. A mix of dark stained floors and sisal carpeting are throughout the house.
The main bedroom boasts an incredible view and leads out onto the deck and private pool. Sheers and heavy curtains play on the windows giving a romantic feel to this bedroom.
The open plan lounge and dining room are on a split level. From here you can enjoy beautiful ocean views. The galley kitchen is well stocked and beautifully designed. The house is equipped with flat screen televisions, DVD player in the lounge, air-conditioning and every other mod con one could imagine.
Facilities
The Plettenberg's facilities include a
wine cellar, stocked with a selection of the best local wines and available
for special
occasion private dining, and a gift shop - offering a unique selection
of specialty items and clothing from the area.
Additional facilities include:
• Laundry & Dry
Cleaning
• 24-hour room service (limited after 9pm)
• Air Conditioning
• Under-carpet Heating
• Mini Bar (Blue Wing Only)
• 2 Swimming Pools
Outdoor facilities:
• Close proximity to 4 beaches
• Whale watching (July-Sept)
• Dolphin watching (All year)
• Deep sea and rock fishing
• Hiking trails
• 2 Golf courses nearby
• Surfing and bodyboarding
• Scuba diving and snorkeling
• 5km from Robberg Nature Reserve
• 20km from Tsitsikama National Park
Carchele Health and Beauty
Spa
The Carchele Health and Beauty Spa at The Plettenberg is a revitalizing experience.
A comprehensive list of treatments promises an experience that soothes
the body;
mind and spirit to leave one feeling refreshed and revitalised. Facilities include
a Steam Room and a Dynamic Hydro Bath Table for Mud and Gel Body Wrap treatments.
Treatments include:
Decleor Facials - Waxing - Tinting - Manicure - Pedicure - Paraffin Wax Treatments
- Reflexology - Massage - Aromatherapy - Scalp Therapy - Algologie Spa
Body Wraps - Make-Up
Dining
"Sand
at The Plettenberg" Restaurant
The Plettenberg's restaurant, Sand, was voted one of the country's
top 100 dining establishments in the Diner's Club Annual Awards, and
the team of chefs has won several awards at the annual Knysna Oyster
Festival. Plettnberg's Executive Chef is Christiaan Campbell.
Sand's
décor is a subtle
blend of creams and off-white tones, contrasting with rich redwood
shades. Wooden floors add to the ambiance of nautical elegance and
simplicity. The
restaurant extends outwards, with a sunny enclosed terrace, opening
onto the outdoor terrace and pool. This provides spectacular
views of the bay and the distant mountains. An absolutely idyllic restaurant to enjoy a gourmet meal.
The Sand is open for breakfast,
lunch, dinner and tea. Breakfasts offer a sumptuous buffet of fresh
fruit, cheeses,
cold meats, cereals
and yogurts, or a full cooked English breakfast of your choice. Keep
an eye open for the chef's special "cooked breakfast" selection.
The lunch menu offers a variety of
light meals, salads and sandwiches, which can be eaten on the terrace,
while watching dolphins and whales
at play in the bay below.
Sand at the Plettenberg serves global
cuisine prepared with special emphasis on fresh seafood and local
produce. A Chef's Selection is offered on a daily basis plus specials
of the day.
Wine Cellar
For that special occasion, treat yourselves to a romantic dinner for
two in the Plettenberg's state-of-the-art wine cellar, surrounded by
bottles and bottles of the best South African wines featured on their
award-winning wine list.
Exclusive Showcase of South African
Wines
In keeping with an annual tradition, the hotel is introducing the
best of South African wines in conjunction with a superb 4-course gourmet
experience.
The Plettenberg is proud to announce
that they also recently received The Diners Club "Platinum
Award" for
their wine list.
Activities
Plettenberg Bay is a holiday maker's
paradise and the eco-tourist's dream. Its eternal weather ensures
days of warm comfort and lazy, pleasurable evenings, seldom found
anywhere else. It is home to vast expanses of unspoiled Cape flora,
delicate eco-systems in wetlands and lagoons, forests of unsurpassed
beauty, pristine sand dunes and sun bleached beaches as far as the
eye can see.
For the nature lover, there's an unparalleled
wealth of fauna and flora. The rugged Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains
form
the backdrop for an area encompassing
no fewer than fifteen private and public nature reserves. The Tsitsikamma
National Park is internationally recognised for its forests which harbour and conserve
the giant Outeniqua yellowwood - one of the few true monarchs of the world's
forests. Tsitsikamma National Park is also Africa's oldest and largest marine
reserve, playing a vital role in the preservation and conservation of marine
fauna and flora. Hikers from all over the world visit the area which is known
for its rugged, unspoiled coastline - a photographer's dream. The region has
many scenic hiking trails of which it is justifiably proud, though its greatest
asset remains the world-renowned Otter Trail.
You can visit Harry, Sally and Duma, at the Knysna
Elephant Park,
just a few kilometres out of Plett, where you can learn more about
these fascinating animals and enjoy the walking trails and picnic in
these beautiful surroundings.
16km East of Plettenberg Bay is Monkeyland, the world's first sanctuary
for multi-specie free-roaming monkeys. At Monkeyland, previous caged
monkeys from several continents are rehabilitated and released in a
12 hectare forest and visitors are able to view them by being taken
on monkey safaris by game rangers.
Scenic flights are offered by African
Ramble - who specialize in low-flying
scenic flips along the magnificent coastline, including a spectacular
view of the majestic Tsitsikamma Mountains and the Knysna Heads and
inland over huge tracks of indigenous forest.
Open Cockpit Gliders offer free
flying over the stunningly beautiful Plettenberg Bay Lagoon. A
flying experience not found anywhere
else
in the world, flights are tailored to suit the individual - from the "Gentleman's
Aviation Carriage" to a "Reverse Bungy" or "The
Cobra".
Visit the Plett Mountain Trout
Farm - via a leisurely drive up the
historic Prince Alfred's Pass. Rods are available for hire.
Stormsriver Adventures offers blackwater tubing, abseiling, woodcutter's
journeys, eco-cruises, mountain biking and snorkelling. And for a real
adrenaline rush, the highest bungi jump in the world is offered form
the Bloukrans Bridge - a jump of 216 metres!
Nature's Valley boasts beautiful old yellowwood trees, wild bananas,
ferns, etc. There are lovely walks in the nearby area, from the historic
Forest Hall down to the beach, along the rocks to the Salt River Mouth
and over to Blue Rocks, ending on the long golden Natures Valley Beach.
Robberg Nature Reserve is an untouched
peninsula that juts out into the sea. It boasts three hikes, varying
in distance and has an abundance
of bird and wildlife.
Stanley Island is the
only privately owned island on the South African coast. It is also
a private nature reserve with a wealth of animal
and bird life, deserted sandy beaches and indigenous forest. Many birds,
Springbok, Grysbok, Klipspringer and Warthog can be seen at close quarters.
Mountain biking and horse riding are popular pastimes and there are
numerous forest trails to explore. Mountain bikes are available for
hire from Outeniqua Biking Trail in Harkerville through
indigenous forest, plantations and fynbos, with stunning sea views.
Organized
horse trails are also available.
For anglers, there are great opportunities for both saltwater and
freshwater fishing and fishing excursions and deep sea fishing trips
are available.
Many local companies offer wonderful boating
trips to view the dolphins,
whales, seals, sharks and birds with highly qualified personnel to
guide you through the fascinating marine world and teach you more about
the history and coastal geology.
Scuba diving and snorkeling along
the Garden Route are excellent. Sailing is available through local
boat clubs and canoes are available
for rental. Sea kayaking is also very popular in Plettenberg Bay. Particularly
popular are canoeing/bird-watching trips along the Bitou River.
Golfing is available at the 18-hole
course at the Plettenberg
Bay Country Club, which is also a Nature Reserve, boasting
a wide variety of birds and small wildlife. Or visit the 9-hole
Gary Player-designed
course at Goose Valley.
Plettenberg Bay also boasts a very popular Art
and Craft Route. There
are a great many local artists and crafters in the area, and they are
well-worth visiting. Pottery, batiks, paintings, weavings and much,
much more.
Knysna is an unique, quaint town
25 kms from Plettenberg Bay, set on an extensive lagoon which opens
to the sea through soaring
sandstone
cliffs known as "The Heads". Unique marine and bird species
abound, including the Knysna Loerie and the rare Knysna seahorse. Galleries,
flea-markets and festivals keep the visitor entertained in Knysna.
It is also the home to the famous Knysna oysters, served at many of
the local restaurants.
Knysna's premier eco-experience is the John Benn Featherbed excursion.
Cruises leave throughout the day, taking you across the lagoon to the
heads. Here an open-sided safari tractor will take you for a guided
trip through the John Benn Nature Reserve to the top of the heads,
followed by a guided walk back down ending at a wonderful restaurant
set amongst the trees, where a hearty lunch or dinner can be enjoyed
before heading back to the mainland.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, one of the last remaining steam trains, will
take you on a memorable and scenic trip from Knysna to George.
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