Plettenberg Bay is the jewel of The Garden Route and is tranquil and charming, hospitable and rather special. Originally christened “Bahia Formosa” (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, Plettenberg Bay offers the visitor miles of sweeping, un spoilt golden beaches, a dramatic rocky peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers and sea. With its exceptional climate and beautiful view sites over the Indian Ocean, Plettenberg Bay is perfect for tourists interested in exploring, watching or just lazing. Situated between the hills covered with indigenous Fynbos and the Bitou River is the tranquil and rural village of Wittedrift, it is a bird and nature lover’s paradise. From Keurboomstrand to the Robberg Peninsula there are 15 kilometers of beaches punctuated by the river mouth and an island. The river, lagoon, bay and beaches are much used by fishing and boating enthusiasts and offers the best shore based whale watching of the area.