An International Property Investment

In 1488 Portuguese mariner Bartholomew Diaz named the mountains surrounding the bay ‘Pic Formosa’, meaning beautiful peak. Formosa Peak is today still the name given to the highest peak in the Tsitsikamma range. To the bay he gave the name Bahia Das Algoäs, meaning Bay of Lagoons. In 1576 Manuel da Mesquita Prestrello renamed the bay ‘Bahia Formosa’ meaning Bay Beautiful. In 1778 the Dutch Governor of the Cape, Joachim van Plettenberg gave the bay its present name and started the timber trading station there.

Plettenberg Bay or ‘Plett’ as it is known, is the ‘Jewel’ of the world famous Garden Route and possibly the most beautiful bay in the world. It is South Africa’s most scenic coastal town and premier coastal resort town. Bustling in season, but more relaxed at other times, Plett offers the best property investment returns for the discerning South African and International buyer.

The scenic splendour together with pristine beaches, world class whale watching and spectacular golf courses have resulted in Plett’s continued and increased popularity as a holiday playground for South African, British, and European visitors, many of whom have retired to Plett or have purchased holiday accommodation; with growing numbers of mainly British and German citizens residing in Plett during the European winter. Property can be utilized solely for one’s own means or be rented out by one of the many excellent holiday home letting agencies. Whatever method one decides upon, an investment in Plett property has always provided exceptional returns.

Climatic Conditions

The bay is surrounded by the the Tsitsikamma (‘place of clear or abundant water’ in the ancient Khoi language) Mountain range to the North and by the Robberg (‘seal mountain’) Peninsula, a nature reserve and historical monument to the South. The Outeniqua (believed to be the Khoi word meaning ‘man laden with honey’) Mountains protect the back of Plettenberg Bay and follows the coastline to the town of George 102 kilometers to the West. These mountains which literally surround the town have created a unique micro climatic system providing Plett with superb Mediterranean type weather conditions all year round. Temperatures are mild, with an average daily minimum in winter of 8° C and an average daily maximum of 25° C in summer. Most rainfall is at night and the sun shines for 320 days per annum.

Check out the Google Map for Plettenberg Bay

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A Spectacular Floral Kingdom

The Garden Route falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the earth’s six dedicated plant kingdoms, with more than 8500 species of ‘Fynbos’ alone; 5800 of which are endemic. The area also has 526 of the world’s 740 Erica species, 96 varieties of Gladioli and 69 of the 112 Protea species. This floral beauty is put into perspective when one realizes that Britain has 1500 floral species of which only 20 are endemic. The immediate area has more than 65 000 hectares of spectacular indigenous forest, ravines, gorges and lakes, with magnificent walks and hiking trails.

Marine Life

The bay has a permanent population of some two thousand dolphins and between June and November of each year  is visited by schools of whales, which come into the warm waters of the bay to calve. Licensed boats take visitors whale watching to enjoy the splendour of seeing Southern Rights, Bryde, Humpback, and Killer whales in their natural environment. The Point at Robberg is home to a Cape Fur Seal population

A number of SCUBA diving schools provide daily excursions to the many spectacular reefs in the bay.

The Keurbooms and Bitou Rivers meet and form the estuary that flows out into the Indian Ocean. These rivers form part of a national park and are the breading ground for many marine species, including the Pansy Shell, which has become Plett’s emblem (known as the Sand Dollar in America), and the extremely rare Knysna Sea Horse, which only breeds here and in the estuary in the nearby town of Knysna.

Beaches

Plett has four main beaches all of which are spectacular examples of nature.

Keurbooms Beach is magnificent with its remoteness, its golden sand and spectacular rock formations and forest encroaching right onto the beach, and butts onto the western boundary of the Tsitsikamma National Marine Park. Enrico's is the real thing and is Plett's trendiest and most popular restaurant right on the beach, where one can enjoy cocktails while checking out the dolphins & whales and spectacular sunsets. Take a walk along this  spectacular beach with its high rocks to Arch Rock and the nearby stone-age cave.

Lookout Beach is the trendy destination for the young at heart. Unfortunately its gentle sloping beach and safe bathing was taken away in the severe flood of 22nd and 23rd November 2007. Hopefully, measures will be taken to ensure that this area is rehabilitated to its former glory. This is where Pansy Shells are found. Hanging out at the local restaurant deck is the in-thing to do, while watching Dolphins & whales at play a few meters away!

Central Beach is dominated by the imposing Beacon Isle Hotel situated on the old Norwegian whaling station site. The early Dutch erected the Beacon that gave the island its name and it still stands there to this day. This beach is also home to the local National Sea Rescue Institute, the commercial fishing craft and the whale watching boats.

A Golfing Paradise

Some of the world’s finest golf courses are on the Garden Route, designed by some of the greatest golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Retief Goosen, and Ernie Els. Next to Brackenridge is the Plettenberg Bay Country Club while a new Jack Nicklaus course is also in the planning stage next door to Brackenridge. Goose Valley Golf Club, designed by Gary Player who has his holiday home on the course is adjacent to the Keurbooms Lagoon. Other nearby world class courses include, Pezula, Fancourt, Knysna, Similar, George, Kingswood, Le Grande George, Oubaai, Mossel Bay and Pinnacle Point.

In 2006 the International Association of Golf Tour Operators ("IAGTO") named the Garden Route the "Best Golfing Destination in Africa and the Middle East" 

Polo Parade

Plett is the home of South African Polo. There are seven Polo facilities in the area and several international players have made Plett their permanent home.

Eco Tourism

There are hiking and mountain bike trails in the forests, spectacular flora and bird life, stone age sites and hiking on Robberg, black water rafting down the Storms River gorge, the world’s highest Bungee Jump, abseiling, whale watching and scuba diving, sea kayaking, the world famous Otter Trail four day hike along the rugged Tsitsikamma coastline, and a unique forest canopy walk through the Tsitsikamma forest.

Wildlife

Visitors can go to Monkey Land primate sanctuary or Birds of Eden, the largest free flight aviary in the world. There are also two elephant sanctuaries and several nearby game farms.

Schools

Plettenberg Bay's two main "Government" controlled schools are excellent institutions, which are a credit to the fine quality staff and ethos that these schools have developed over many years. Plettenberg Bay Primary School is situated between the Keurbooms Lagoon and the Market Square Shopping Centre. The School achieves excellent academic results and offers a full spectrum of extra-mural activities.

Wittedrift High School is in the small village of Wittedrift which is 10 minutes drive from the centre of Plett. Wittedrift has a proud record of excellent academic and sporting achievements.

Both schools enjoy considerable parental and community support and offer dual medium teaching in both English and Afrikaans. Admission is open to boys and girls.

In Plett there is absolutely no need whatsoever to contemplate sending one's children to a private school. The nearest private school is Oakhill School in Knysna, 37 kms West from Plett, and a daily school bus service is available for pupils attending Oakhill from Plett.

Places of worship

South Africa is a multi-cultural and multi-racial society and all religious affiliations are respected. Plett has places of worship for most religious groups, including Buddists, Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Shopping

The main supermarkets are situated at Market Square at the Southern entrance to Plett from the national highway; In central Main Street at Village Square; at the Northern end of main Street at Melville's Shopping Centre, and in Piesang Valley at The Beacon Isle Centre. All of South Africa's major food and clothing retailers and many of the top restaurant franchises are represented in Plett

There are also smaller boutique shopping centres, specialising in fine examples of local entrepreneurship, including weaving, pottery, art and furniture manufacturing.

The main building supply merchants have large warehouse facilities in Plett and everything is available from architectural services, sanitary ware to lighting, tiling to carpentry, carpets and interior design and decorating.