{"id":4082,"date":"2015-02-25T12:00:07","date_gmt":"2015-02-25T11:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildlife-travel.com\/ein-tag-im-plettenberg-bay-game-reserve-suedafrika\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T12:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T10:36:53","slug":"a-day-trip-to-the-plettenberg-bay-game-reserve-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildlife-travel.com\/en\/a-day-trip-to-the-plettenberg-bay-game-reserve-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"A day trip to the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

The biggest game reserve in South Africa is the Kruger National Park with about 19.500 square kilometers. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people overlook other game reserves like the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve.<\/p>\n

At least I did (but not deliberately).<\/p>\n

Before I went to South Africa, of course, I have heard about the Kruger National Park. But not from the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve.<\/p>\n

My primary aim in South Africa was observing whales<\/a> and dolphins<\/a>. I wanted to join a safari to see the \u201cBig Five\u201d during another trip to South Africa.<\/p>\n

Step by step.<\/p>\n

At least for me.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, luckily the game reserve in Plettenberg Bay got my attention when I visited the region. The game reserve is not located directly in Plettenberg Bay, but as the name suggests, close to the town, and thus, in the South of the Western Cape in South Africa. The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve covers about 20 square kilometers. That means this game reserve is about 950 times smaller than the Kruger National Park.<\/p>\n

So it is not surprising that many people \u2013 like me \u2013 overlook (or have overlooked) unintentionally the this Game Reserve.<\/p>\n

I would say that the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is definitely worth a visit when traveling along the Garden Route.<\/p>\n

The Game Reserve provides a home for rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards. And since recently as well for elephants. All together the \u201cBig Five\u201d.<\/p>\n

When I visited this Game Reserve I saw \u201conly\u201d the rhinos, buffalos and lions from the \u201cBig Five\u201d. They had no elephants when I was there. For any reason I do not know, I did not see the leopards.<\/p>\n

\"Plettenberg<\/p>\n

\"Plettenberg<\/p>\n

\"Plettenberg<\/p>\n

The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is small when compared to the Kruger National Park. But still it is not easy to observe all animals on the 20 hectare area in two hours.<\/p>\n

I visited the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve twice.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

On my first visit I participated in the \u201eGame Drive\u201c. And on my second visit in the \u201cHorseback Safari\u201d. Both activities take two hours, but the first in a car and the second on a horse.<\/p>\n

\"Plettenberg<\/p>\n

\"Plettenberg<\/p>\n

If I would join a third safari at this Game Reserve, maybe I would choose again the car.<\/p>\n

On one side I\u2019m not a good horseback rider (before South Africa I sat on a horse only once in my life) \u2013 which is maybe not that comfortable for the horse \u2013 and on the other side I just enjoy taking photographs. I could take some pictures on the horse, but it was more difficult. Firstly, on the horseback I had to focus on my balance, and secondly, riding a horse can be too bumpy to take sharp photographs.<\/p>\n

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