One of the few marine protected nature reserves in the region is Robberg beach and peninsula on the southernmost shoreline of Africa, in a town called Plettenberg Bay. The name comes from the Afrikaans word “robbe” which means seals. The local vernacular called Afrikaans, is a hybridized form of the Dutch language which came with the original European sailors who first settled on these far flung shores in the seventeenth century.
The Robberg peninsula is home to a seal colony which breeds prolifically in these warm Indian ocean waters. And the peninsula, which juts out to sea like a long finger, creates a natural protected bay for the 5km long Robberg beach that stretches to the east.
This bay is a perfect shelter for whales who migrate here in our southern winters to breed and give birth to their young calves. It’s a beautiful sight to spot the whales in the bay and just recently I was fortunate enough to have one of my best sightings yet.
It was of two young whales simultaneously breaching the water’s surface in a classic jump and crash back down, making a huge splash. It was the new calves playing. To have a double feature like this was a first for me and portends a positive summer ahead here in my little remote paradise way down south.
The young whale calves seemed to be playing very close to the shore and it was possible to spot them frolicking just meters from the beach itself. I could see their fins flapping above the surface as they relaxed just beneath it. To be so close to the largest mammals on earth is truly inspiring.
I was unable to really capture any footage on my little mobile phone camera, other than a splash or after-effect of the whale jumping, but at least I have the memory and impression in my mind and the account which I can share with you.
I really recommend a visit to this particular hidden coastal gem of a bay, situated in the prime Garden Route nature and tourist hotspot. It’s an awesome place where heaven meets earth, with the sea in between.
Summer is ideal for outdoor activity and winter is perfect for whale sightings, so any time of the year is fine, according to your travel itinerary. This is one of the places you want to add to your list of must-see destinations on the planet.
It is also possible to take a two hour hike around the peninsula, for a small token fee, which goes to the nature conservation department who look after the Robberg peninsula. From the cliff tops and hiking trail on top of the peninsula it’s possible to look down into the clear turquoise ocean water about 50 meters below.
You are likely to spot the seals swimming and basking on the rocks in their colony. And sometimes. If you’re lucky, you will also get to spot the great white sharks that also roam around feeding on the seals. They can get quite massive and on rare occasions every few years someone sadly gets attacked by a shark while swimming or surfing the epic waves that break around the peninsula and toward the beach.
As a result there is a permanent shark bite kit situated in places along the beach for emergencies like this. So it’s a beautiful pristine natural environment but it also remains wild under the surface. Such is nature – “red in tooth and claw” as one poet once described it.
Nevertheless, if you are a nature lover and outdoor adventurer, then you will love this stretch of coastline on the southernmost shore of the African continent. I invite you to come and explore whenever you wish. Let me know when you’re in the area and I will be happy to meet up with you and take you exploring.
Paradise awaits you and I will show you around the place so that you can also experience a life on permanent holiday, filled with good health and inspiring views. It’s the perfect place to feel balanced and centered once again, where you can tap into the power of being in the zone where heaven meets earth, both within and without.
(photos my own)