Our Rhino - Sculptured

KEITH CALDER stayed at our reserve last year and photographed our rhino for a sculpture he was making. He has now completed the sculpture and sent us these photos.

 Keith has been sculpting for 20 years and lives in Cape Town.  For more information on Keith and his work, click here

Upcoming Events in Plett 2014

Info taken from: Show me

NG Kerk Suiderkruis – Summer Fete

Venue: Piesang Valley Community Hall
Dates: 29/03/2014 to 29/03/2014
Times: 10h00

Formosa Garden Village – Easter Mini Market

Venue: Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Dates: 04/04/2014 to 04/04/2014
Times: 08h30 - 11h00

Discovery Plett Easter Games 2014

Venue: Various Locations
Dates: 18/04/2014 to 21/04/2014
Times: Check Schedule

Pennypinchers Cairnbrogie Trail Run

Venue: Cairnbrogie Farm
Dates: 18/04/2014 to 18/04/2014
Times: Registration from 07h00 Start 08h

Pennypinchers MTB Nite Relay

Venue: Cairnbrogie Farm
Dates: 18/04/2014 to 18/04/2014

Artist Open Studios – Peak Inside Plett’s Creative Minds

Venue: Between Harkerville & The Crags
Dates: 27/04/2014 to 27/04/2014
Times: 10h00 - 16h00
 

Plett Fringe Festival 2014 

Venue: The White House
Dates: 20/06/2014 to 28/06/2014

Plett Wine Festival 2014 

Venue: Various Locations - Check Schedule
Dates: 19/09/2014 to 21/09/2014

 

 

Source: Plett Tourism

Plett Adventure Bike Week 

Start Date: 26 April, 2014.  End Date: 03 May, 2014

 

Adventure motorcyclists have a new event to look forward to. The Plett Adventure Bike Week will take place from Saturday 26th April to Friday 2nd May 2014. With Plettenberg Bay so conveniently located to some of the best riding terrain in South Africa including several iconic routes and passes such as the Baviaanskloof, the Prince Alfred Pass, the Montagu Pass, the Swartberg Pass (and the ride into Die Hel) to name but a few, Plett is the ideal location as the base for Adventure Bike Week.

Plett Adventure Bike Week welcomes all riders and all brands of adventure bikes. The nerve-centre of Plett Adventure Bike Week will be an exhibition area where vendors and manufacturers will be able to exhibit and sell their Adventure-biking offerings. The exhibition area will also serve as a meeting point for riders wanting to go out on one of the many routes in the area. “We have had a very encouraging response to the concept of Adventure Bike Week from the major manufacturers, who have indicated that they will be on-site to exhibit their latest models,” says Lance Rothschild, Creator and Organiser of Plett Adventure Bike Week. “We are also speaking to several vendors who have various offerings for adventure bikers and we will accommodate them at the exhibition area too.”

“We’re excited to introduce a new event to the Plett Tourism calendar, and we believe that Plett Adventure Bike Week will attract a large number of people to our beautiful area” says Peter Wallington, Chairman of Plett Tourism. “There’s so much more to Plett than people initially imagine and we are confident that visitors will have a fantastic time here.”

The Plett Adventure Bike Week offers an excellent opportunity for clubs to host annual gatherings, as well as for individual riders to gather and enjoy the company of like-minded individuals. More importantly, Plett Adventure Bike Week offers the opportunity for Adventure Bikers to enjoy their bikes in the terrain for which they were designed.

There is an abundance of accommodation in Plettenberg Bay with options ranging from Camping and Backpackers, to Caravan Parks, to Bed and Breakfasts to Hotels and even to home and apartment rentals. Plett also offers an abundance of activities and entertainment and there are many options to occupy non-biking family members and riders who want to do something other than biking whilst in the area.

A website for Plett Adventure Bike Week is already in process and details will be announced in due course. A Facebook Group has been started (Plett Adventure Bike Week) and a Twitter Stream (@PlettAdvBikeWk).

There’s a nice article about the Plett Adventure Bike Week in the latest issue (Feb) of MyFiets: www.myfiets.co.za. The publication is available for free online download.

For more details and information on Plett Adventure Bike Week, contact Lance Rothschild via e-mail (pabw@opportunate.co.za) or on 082 443 1530.

Biomes at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve (2)

Wikipedia

The Knysna-Amatole montane forests is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of South Africa, covering an area of 3100 square km in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The ecoregion, which is South Africa's smallest in area, covers two separate enclaves. The Knysna forest extends along the Garden Route Coast while the KwaZulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic lies along the coast to the north-east.

The Amatole forests lie in the Amatole mountains, which lie inland and 400km to the east of the Knysna Forest. The ecoregion has a subtropical, warm-temperate climate with rainfall occurring year round, and ranging from 525 mm to 1220 mm per year in the Knysna Forest, and from 750 mm to 1500 mm in the Amatole forests. The trees are of tropical and Afromontane origin, and include ironwood (Olea capensis), stinkwood (Ocotea bullata), Outeniqua yellowwood (Afrocarpus falcatus), real yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), Cape holly (Ilex mitis), white pear (Apodytes dimidiata), Cape beech (Rapanea melanophloeos), bastard saffron (Cassine peragua), Cape plane (Ochna arborea), assegai tree (Curtisia dentata), kamassi (Gonioma kamassi), white alder (Platylophus trifoliatus), and red alder (Cunonia capensis).

Wikipedia

The forests are home to African elephant, African leopard, rock hyrax, and other mammals as well as an assortment of bird species, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Despite the small size of the ecoregion, the Knysna and Amatole forests are South Africa's largest individual forests. The Knysna Forest has been exploited for valuable timber since the 1700s, and the Amatole forests since the 1900s. Currently the forests are mostly within protected areas, although managed timber harvesting is allowed.

Biomes at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve

Fynbos Flowers: (The Fynbos Hub. 2011)

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve stretches over 2200 hectares and embraces two of the natural biomes which occur in South Africa, Fynbos and Forest: Fynbos, meaning 'fine bush' in Afrikaans, is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate. The name refers to the fine, needle-like leaves of many fynbos species, the majority of which are evergreen sclerophyll (hard-leaf) plants.

Three of the characteristic fynbos plant families are proteas, ericas and restios. Proteas are represented by many species and are prominent in the landscape as one of the few large-leaf plant types, generally with large striking flowers which may be pollinated by birds. Ericas or heaths are generally smaller plants with many small, tubular flowers and needle-like leaves. The grass-like restios - only a few species of which are known outside the fynbos area - grow in wetter areas. More than 1400 bulb species occur among the fynbos, of which 96 are gladiolus and 54 lachenalias. Fire is a necessary stage in the lives of almost all fynbos plants, and is common during the dry summer months.

Many of the seeds germinate only after the intense heat of a fire. In readiness for fire, most proteas retain their seeds on the bush for at least one year, a habit known as serotiny. They do this in structures which resemble the original flowerheads. In some species these structures are strikingly beautiful and long-lasting, which accounts for their use in dried floral arrangements.

Man vs World filmed at Plett Game Reserve

We were lucky to be able to assist the guys from Man vs World film a segment of their show at Plett Game Reserve recently. 

Have a look at the great adventures that Rob Bell undertakes all over the world, using only man power and nature to help him travel vast distances.  He uses no motor, petrol, electric or other power.  This is the extract from his Garden Route leg of the journey: 

"4  Garden Route, South Africa

Rob Bell tackles the mountains, rivers and coastline of South Africa's legendary Garden Route. First up is Canyoning; Rob will be swimming, abseiling, sliding and jumping his way down the Salt River gorge. Then he's back on his bike, cycling the national highway to the infamous Bloukrans Bridge. The next day starts with Trail Running on the shores of the Indian Ocean, along the spectacular Otter Trail before cutting inland to finish his epic South African journey on horseback, riding with the giants of the African plains at the Plettenberg Game Reserve."

Read more here

1 million to ban the lion trade -- Big win in court!!

Hundreds of South African lions are being slaughtered to make bogus sex potions for men. But we can stop this cruel trade.

A global ban on tiger bone sales has traders hunting a new prize -- the majestic lions. Lions are farmed under appalling conditions in South Africa for "canned hunting", where rich tourists pay thousands to shoot them through fences. Now experts say lion bones from these killing farms are being exported to phony 'medicine' makers in Asia for record profits. Trade is exploding and experts fear that as prices rise, even wild lions -- with only 20,000 left in Africa -- will come under poaching attack.

If we can show President Zuma that this brutal trade is hurting South Africa's image as a tourist destination, he could ban the trade in lion bones. Avaaz is taking out strong ads in airports, tourism websites and magazines, but we urgently need 1 million petition signers to give the ads their force. Sign the petition on the right to build our numbers fast. Amazing win! A South African court just ruled that the government violated our right to free speech when they tore down ads calling for the protection of South Africa’s lions -- and we’re all over the news. Let’s use this momentum to get our petition to 1 million and save the lions.

Go to the petition by clicking here

Western black rhino declared extinct

London (CNN) -- Africa's western black rhino is now officially extinct according the latest review of animals and plants by the world's largest conservation network.

The subspecies of the black rhino -- which is classified as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species -- was last seen in western Africa in 2006.

The IUCN warns that other rhinos could follow saying Africa's northern white rhino is "teetering on the brink of extinction" while Asia's Javan rhino is "making its last stand" due to continued poaching and lack of conservation.

Read the rest of the article by clicking here

Celebrating Rhino Day 2013

We celebrated Rhino Day in September and we haven't gotten around to posting the photos. So here they are! We had a fabulous day and had a lot of fun. 

We even dressed up. Can you imagine what the animals thought when they saw us on the game drive?

We had so much fun in the name of spreading information and education people on Rhino poaching and how this will actually realistically effect us in the future. 

Our Sister Lodge, Plett River Lodge

Plett River Lodge offers stunning accommodation situated right on the Bitou River, just 5 km from Plettenberg Bay, one of the top holiday destinations on the beautiful Garden Route of South Africa's Western Cape.

Set within private tree-lined gardens with unobstructed river frontage and a lavender-filled courtyard, Plett River Lodge offers comfortable accommodation for discerning guests who want a relaxed holiday with all the creature comforts. Panoramic views of the local countryside and access to the many activities of nearby Plett and the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve make the guesthouse a sought-after destination.

Witness an exquisite morning sunrise over the Bitou River and listen to the sound of a Fish Eagle calling in the distance. Keep your binoculars close by to identify the prolific birdlife as you sit on the vast deck which extends over the river. At sunset unwind with a glass of wine on the deck or in the comfortable lounge where guests are encouraged to make themselves at home.

Tea and coffee are available all day in the guest lounge where there is also an honesty bar.

We welcome children and have provided swings and a jungle gym for them in the garden. Our friendly, experienced staff will babysit for you should you wish to enjoy an evening out on your own.

Guests of Plett River Lodge enjoy a discount at our sister establishment, Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, for guided two-hour game drives in a game viewing vehicle and horse safaris. Just 10 minutes' drive from Plett River Lodge, Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is one of the largest game reserves in the Western Cape with more than 35 species of game roaming freely.

Buffalo Hills Game Reserve

Looking for somewhere different to go with a big group of friends or a great family getaway? Buffalo Hills Game Reserve in Plettenburg Bay has awesome accommodations. Housing up to up to 22 people and accommodation rates are only an unbelievable R2000 a night this is a fantastic option for an African escape into the peace and quite for a few days.

Spend a week away with a group of friends and all the kids or just a weekend with just you and your mates exploring and adventuring around the lodge and the options are seemly limitless. From game drives and walks, cultural distillery tours and you can expect close encounters with Buffalo, Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra, and Sable amongst many others. Your day activities include 2 and a half hour safari game drive, distillery tour with optional meals or the half day programme, inclusive of a guided walk, breakfast, safari game drive and light lunch.

Guests at Buffalo Hills Game Reserve can enjoy superb outdoors dinners in the boma. Gather around the fireplace and chat until the stars come out.  

Golf enthusiasts can visit some of the many world class golf courses in the Garden Route. These courses include Simola, Pezula and Fancourt. The area is also a cyclists haven. Guests can enjoy a cycle through the beautiful indigenous forest at Harkerville. There are several other mountain bike trails located in different parts of the forest and guests can also participate in guided mountain bike tours. 

Plett River Lodge Stunning Venue

Plett River Lodge has one of the most breathtaking locations along the Bitou River, perfect for sundowners. As we slowly move forward towards the end of the year many companies are searching for the perfect location for team building ventures and end of year parties and conferences.

Plett River Lodge Set is within private tree-lined gardens with unobstructed river frontage and a lavender-filled courtyard, Plett River Lodge offers comfortable accommodation for discerning guests who want a relaxed holiday with all the creature comforts. Panoramic views of the local countryside and access to the many activities of nearby Plett and the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve make the guesthouse a sought-after destination.

Witness an exquisite morning sunrise over the Bitou River and listen to the sound of a Fish Eagle calling in the distance. Keep your binoculars close by to identify the prolific birdlife as you sit on the vast deck which extends over the river. At sunset unwind with a glass of wine on the deck or in the comfortable lounge where guests are encouraged to make themselves at home. 

Our new coffee shop is also perfect for relaxing and taking in the beauty of your surroundings. Grab a book, sit back, take a deep breath of fresh air and let the stress from the year fade into the back of your mind as you take total relaxation to the next level.

For bookings and more information on accommodation visit our site by clicking here

Whale Watching Season In Plettenberg Bay

Hermanus has a little competition when it comes to being the whale capital of the world. Plettenberg Bay, located just a little further east along the Western Cape Garden Route, is a spectacular destination to see Southern Right Whales. They flock to the bay from about June to November every year along with Humpback Whales moving in behind them from around November to January.

It's prime time to see these majestic animals migrate South for breeding and calving. There is something so moving about witnessing these animals make their prolific journey.

The whale watching industry is very well organized in Plettenberg Bay and boat rides and tours can be easily arranged. Plettenberg Bay takes conservation and preservation of marine life into huge consideration so viewing, distances and time spent with each animal are strictly monitored so that there is minimal interference with the animals.

What Day Visitors Can Expect From Plettenberg Game Reserve

Facilities for day visitors include a curio shop, a coffee shop and well-stocked bar where an all-day menu of light meals and snacks is served. Guests can dine alfresco next to the children's play area or on cooler days they can get cosy on the comfortable couches in front of two roaring fireplaces.

The outside Boma, which provides an authentic African dining experience, is guarded by two massive carved wooden doors and has a bar and deck built above the dam where guests can enjoy sundowners while they watch the antics of William, the resident Hippopotamus.

Log fireplaces heat the guest living spaces and there are many comfortable sitting areas with a library of books for guests to browse through and many beautiful artifacts, trophies and original photographs to admire.

''We will definitely visit again'' - Review

Here is a review from one of our guests who stayed with us recently. We love hearing from our guests, especially when they are happy and have loved their stay here with us. 

''What an amazing time we had. The staff were exceptional, the accommodation comfortable and spacious, really old-world style, but perfect for the setting. Sitting in front of the log fire, drinking a good red wine and watching the giraffes and Nyala walk by across the lawn not 20m away - a really good way to kick back and relax. The game drive was also stunning, lots of animals, not at all skittish, mostly ignored the game viewing vehicle and Kiewiet, the guide, gave good commentary and ample time to take photos. We will definitely visit again, then to try the horseback safari.'' - Len Schaller, South Africa

''This establishment took my breath away. I fell in love with its aura. The Baroness Lodge is beautiful and exudes such extreme grandeur.'' - Sian Evans, South Africa

''It was a wonderful, relaxing stay with stunning views, wonderful safaris, wild romantic rooms, breakfasts and dinners and Plett is the perfect location if you want beach, the sea (exceptional diving),lagoon and at the same time safari and a quiet romantic place to stay.'' -
Robin Schannewitzky, Germany

Baby Animal Season!

Our new baby hippo, Wet. 

As the beginning of the rainy season approached, there has been a flurry of baby animals being conceived and born at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve. In the last month we have had quite a few new additions to our Reserve and we want to celebrate it with you! It is always the greatest feeling when you see these tiny creatures being brought into this life and they are always so cute!

Our breeding lions are pregnant which is spectacular news for all of us on the farm. Our pot bellied pigs have had piglets and one of our hippos has given birth to beautiful baby and we named her Wet.

For updates on these special new additions follow us on Facebook by clicking here. We also offer great specials and will keep you up to date with the activity in the reserve.

The Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival 2013

Only an hour and a half's drive way from Plettenberg Bay is the picturesque Redberry Farm in Geelhoutboom, George. This beautiful location is home to the The Outeniqua Country Hop Strawberry Festival 2013 which takes place at the end of September every year.

Set in one of the most beautiful parts of the country close to Herold's Bay, Mossel Bay and Wilderness, the Strawberry Festival is one of the most popular family events of the year attracting both locals and visitors who come along to experience a day out in the fresh air in a safe, farm environment. Proceeds go towards the on-going marketing of the route and local charities and it creates fantastic employment opportunities for the local community. 

There is always a wide variety of stallholders exhibiting excellent food, superb local wines and cheeses, fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs as well as a superb variety of arts and crafts. There is plenty of entertainment to keep both young and old busy. The beer tent is always a hit for those too old for the miniature steam train, the 'strawberry express' and ‘bubble balls’ on the dam. There is also a new Trail run through the stunning district for the athletic and pony rides, strawberry picking and strawberry eating competitions, paint ball target shooting, jumping castles and tractor rides to keep everyone entertained all weekend.

So if you’re visiting Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve this September, be sure not to miss the Strawberry Festival for guaranteed family fun in an outdoor farm environment! 

Like our Facebook page for updates and more information like this.

The Importance of Sustainability

It has been said that humans have used up two-thirds of the world's resources and we are basically living on borrowed time. We sometimes forget just how interconnected the world really is. Every choice we make creates change and causes ripples that go on endlessly. Sometimes even the smallest, seemingly insignificant decisions end up creating huge reactions in the world around us, whether we know about them or not.


The term 'sustainability' has been a hot topic in many highly respected conservation circles for years now but there still seems to be very little change on the ground, if it's happening higher up at all. But what does it actually mean?


One definition defines sustainability as ''An action that can be continued indefinitely with little, or manageable, impact on the environment''. We need to implement this in our everyday lives. The amount of water we drink, the food we throw away and even the amount of paper we use.


We have been told all of this from primary school and yet day to day we forget these things but they are so important. The links of life are slowly breaking and the eco-system is so sensitive that a break in one link will throw it all out of balance, causing a huge increase in global warming and climate change.


Unfortunately, people still believe that global warming and climate change won't affect them. Say, for instance, the icebergs melt. It seems pretty far fetched, but it's not and it's actually happening -really, really fast. It is creating huge negative ripples, and not just literally. Polar bears are dying by the hundreds. The change in the water temperature is causing fish to die as well as penguins. Slowly, because everything is interlinked, the food chain becomes non existent and all those animals will no longer exist. 

We have to care about the world around us. It is no longer the 'next generation's problem'. It is ours and it's affecting us today. Right now. The sad thing is that it is so easy to make more sustainable and responsible decisions but we are so stuck in our patterns that we don't even realise it.

Make a change in your life and whether you know it or not, it makes a huge difference in the life of something else, whether another human right now or a plant or animal in the future.

Safari Getaways. 5 Reasons why they are perfect for everyone

So the time has come to decide where you would like to go away on a holiday break of a lifetime. Whilst the many options seem endless, here are 5 reasons why a safari holiday is the best choice you can make. Whether it's a family vacation, a romantic getaway or with friends, Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve has got everything you would wish for.

1. Game holidays are so fabulous because they provide an idylic getaway where you can truly get away from the hustle and bustle of the working world. Cellphone reception is rare and why would you watch television if you can read a book in the glowing African sun or sit around an open bonfire chatting with friends - old and new?
2. It is educational. There is so much to learn while you are visiting us and the best part is you won't even realise you are being taught. Game rangers are full of amazing facts that will keep you interested and having fun.
3. Game reserves provide a unique African experience of our beautiful land and its animals. There is no other place on earth where you can see these majestic animals in their natural habitat.
4. Staff at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve treat guests like family. You will feel at home with us and we will make sure that all guests are comfortable and happy.
5. We allow children at our lodge so this is an excellent and safe environment for children to explore and learn about African animals, people and culture. They are able to run around freely and build confidence.
 

Click here to visit our website

What To Pack

If you are travelling from far to visit us at Plettenberg Game Reserve, here is a quick guide to what you should pack.

Clothing:

• Neutral clothing is best for when in the bush as it will not draw unwanted attention from animals and insects and wont scare of nervous animals when on game drives and horse back rides.
• Bring closed comfortable shoes. The should preferably be worn in as you don't want blisters and uncomfortable shoes on walks.
• Our resort is pretty relaxed and guests are advised to wear practical comfortable clothing.
• Bring a coat or a shawl for the evenings in summer and for the day in winter. You are not expected to dress up for dinners but it gets cool in the evening in summers and winters can be fresh.

Extras

• Bring sunblock, hats and sunglasses as the African sun is harsh and sunburn is very unpleasant ad can ruin your holiday with us.
• Bring insect repellent especially in summer.
• Binoculars are vital for game and bird watching.
• Cameras are so important so you can capture those special memories forever.