Winter is made for long, slow meals filled with great food and whale watching from the cosy table of your favourite eatery. In ‘Vilacqua Land’, locals and visitors alike are spoilt rotten because here we don’t have to go to the whales… the whales come to us. Whale calving time is a very exciting one round these parts and throngs of people come to view these majestic giants of the sea, bringing forth new life in our bay. So close you’d be forgiven for thinking you can reach out and touch them, the experience is a memorable one. Humpback, Southern Right and occasionally Orca whales and migratory species of dolphin can be found in Plettenberg Bay between the months of May – October.
Let’s have a brief look at where visitors can enjoy a spot of whale watching after a hearty Vilacqua signature breakfast of hot smoked salmon with delicately prepared eggs, accompanied by baked figs with blue cheese wrapped in bacon and homemade lemon hollandaise sauce.
It’s pretty challenging getting closer to the ocean than when you pop in at one of Plett’s most popular viewing points – The Whale Tail. From here, the whole bay is visible and spotting a whale is as easy as pie.
The historical Beacon Island, is another one of those iconic spots where land and ocean meet with spectacular results. Once the site of a whaling station, the landmark now provides a safe haven for whales to calve and watching them from this beautiful setting is just fantastic.
Perched on the lush lawn of a promontory in Keurbooms, stands a wooden walkway just beneath Ristorante Enrico. The walkway takes you down to either side of the beach, both sides are an amazing wild stretch of coastline. A breathtakingly beautiful experience to spot pods of whales with blue as far as the eye can see.
Lookout Beach is famous for its pansy shells, its long white stretch of sand and Blue Flag status. This beach is no stranger to whales and dolphin, and enjoying a quick swim or picnic while basking in the beautiful setting is what makes Plett life special.
Plett’s trendy new hotspot for marine life spotting and a cocktail is The Bungalow, located on popular Hobie Beach. Relaxed, yet stylish in their approach, the view from the upper deck is uniquely Plett. Enjoy a tasty tipple while you keep an eye on the whales. You aren’t likely to miss much from this spot so settle in for an afternoon of fun.
It would be impossible to name all the special places where our beloved whales can be enjoyed from. You can’t go wrong in ‘Vilacqua Land’, so book now and be part of the experience.
Winter Special
This time round my team and I are focussing on saying “Ci rivediamo a presto” – “See you again soon” to summer. Come spend a few days with us at Vilacqua and enjoy the last days of summer and warm autumn months the Plett way.
To make this a truly memorable getaway, Vilacqua is offering you the special promotion of a weekend stay of three nights and you only pay for two! If you have already made plans for this month, don’t fret because this promotion is valid until the end of June 2017. Among the rolling hills, indigenous forests and sprawling vineyards on our beautiful coast, you will find fantastic restaurants and a plethora of outdoor activities – hiking, biking, swimming in the tepid Indian Ocean, surfing and SUP’ing, beach walks in Plett, whale watching and so much more. Make us your base and explore all the treasures this region has to offer.