2,000 hectares of land, set inland from the quaint seaside town of Keurboomstrand on South Africa’s magnificent Garden Route, is home to the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve. Located only 20 minutes from Plett and home to a myriad of wildlife including zebras, elephants, wildebeest, springbok and waterbuck, there are so many reasons to visit the reserve.
But here are just 4 things you should know about Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve!
1. You can throw back to another era
From the old school game drive vehicles that welcome you at reception to the timeless accommodation at the property’s very own Baroness Lodge, a visit to Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve allows you to step back in time. The lodge itself is steeped in history as it was once the residence of Baron Joachim von Plettenberg – a man who was the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope before setting up a base at this gateway to the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Sink into overstuffed opulent cushions nesting on solid wooden furniture, marvel at the brass wine barrels that flank the wall, and just take in the sprawling views with a glass of Scotch in hand while you enjoy a life far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern city living.
2. The reserve is home to a number of predators
At Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve guests can delight in sightings of lions, wild dogs, and cheetahs. These predators are kept in enormous fenced off areas on one side of the farm, for their protection as well as for the safety of the domestic sheep and cattle found on the surrounding farmlands. The reserve does not allow any sort of interaction with these predators but they can be viewed from the safety of a game drive vehicle. Getting up close with these predators is an experience you will never forget.
3. You can help them save the rhino
The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is currently home to two white rhinos but they would love to offer more rhinos a safe home where they can be free, but still protected. While the reserve is large enough to offer these animals a wild environment in which to live, with only one entrance into the property and few places for poachers to hide, the team here is still able to ensure that they are closely monitored and looked after. To finance their ‘Protect our Rhino’ project, which will include 24-hour protection for the rhinos in the form of guards, patrols, cameras, and drones, Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve has released a pure silver coin with proceeds from any sales going directly to the project. For just $55, including international postage, you can make a difference for a rhino!
4. You can ride wild with the wildlife
There is nothing more thrilling that riding through a herd of zebra, at one with the wildlife, on horseback. Be surrounded by wildebeest, springbok, eland and bontebok as you are safely guided by a knowledgeable ranger through the reserve. For those that have done plenty of game drives, or adrenaline junkies looking for a new adventure, experiencing Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve on horseback offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience!