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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 kilometres 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.
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.
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.
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