South Africa
Ocean Views in Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay felt like the perfect coastal stop, laid-back and beautiful. We spent a morning hiking the Robberg Nature Reserve, where every turn revealed a new view of cliffs, beaches, and beautiful water. The food in Plett was great too, fresh seafood and easygoing places by the beach. On the day we left, we visited Knysna Waterfront and the famous Knysna Heads before hitting the road again toward the semi-desert of the Klein Karoo.
Nguni Restaurant
Nguni was one of the first places in South Africa where we had a really great dinner. We started with mussels and followed up with springbok, and both were full of flavor. The staff were friendly and made us feel welcome, which added to the experience. Definitely a place we’d recommend if you’re staying in Plettenberg Bay.
Robberg Nature Reserve Hike
We started this hike around 9:30 in the morning, dressed in layers because the weather changes quickly here. Sometimes the wind was cold, other moments the sun was out, so we were constantly putting jackets on and off. We chose the longest route, about 9 km, and it turned out to be one of the best hikes of the trip. The views were incredible from start to finish. With binoculars, you can sometimes spot sharks in the water, and we also saw sea lions swimming below. Halfway through, the trail drops down close to the ocean. The waves were rough, so we kept our distance and just sat there for a while, watching the water crash against the rocks. It took us a bit over four hours, mostly because we stopped often to enjoy the views.
Visit Knysna Heads & Knysna Waterfront
We stopped at Knysna Heads on our way through, where you can drive up and do a short walk to the viewpoints. Looking down at the ocean from above was really impressive. We also stopped for a drink at a small hotel terrace there, which had great views as well. After that, we drove to Knysna Waterfront. Personally, it didn’t do much for us, it’s mostly tourist shops and restaurants, and after a short walk we were ready to move on.
