Ocean Blue Adventures, Plettenberg Bay

See whales with Ocean Blue Adventures in Plettenberg Bay

© Chris Marais

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Plettenberg Bay in season is awash with international polo stars, local and international glitterati, captains of industry at leisure, and fancy guest houses and hotels.

But it has a parallel natural life that is even more attractive.

If you go out to sea with Ocean Blue Adventures, you’ll encounter Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, southern right whales and several species of dolphins – including rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.

The Robberg Marine Protected Area, a long, natural peninsula, is also home to thousands of Cape fur seals.

'Plett', as it’s fondly known locally, is roughly in the middle of the southern Cape coastline, and its high marine biodiversity is thanks to a lack of industrial pollution, a watchful ecotourism industry and a few natural assets, including a long coastal shelf and the beautiful Robberg peninsula, which is also a declared nature reserve.

Ocean Blue Adventures is 1 of the longest-running ecotourism operations in South Africa, and its responsible tourism credentials are certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa.

It offers boat trips to look at dolphins and whales (and has a licence to approach whales up to 50m away). Sometimes the boat may find itself amid thousands (literally) of common dolphins on a hunt – an unforgettable experience.

Bryde’s whales, although not as charismatic as the southern right whales, can be seen most of the year. In winter (May to August), of course, the southern right and humpback whales grab the limelight.

If you’d like a closer encounter, you could try sea-kayaking amid frolicsome seals and perhaps a few curious bottlenose dolphins.

But Ocean Blue Adventures is not only focused on things marine. In partnership with the Qolweni Community Development Trust, it offers cultural tours of the Qolweni township.

At this township, in the lee of the spectacular Tsitsikamma Mountains, you’ll encounter singing pre-schoolers, get an insight into the life of a traditional healer, and visit the communal vegetable gardens.

You’ll meet some of the enterprising women of the township, and can even stay at a local guest house, or enjoy a glass of beer in the shebeen.