Walkers Beach

OVERVIEW:

Walkers Beach is a sophisticated oceanfront residence in Plettenberg Bay, on South Africa’s infamous Garden Route coastline. With a selection of elegant suites, the property is intimate and immaculately designed in the style of an upscale seaside home. With the Tsitsikamma mountain range on one side and the Robberg Peninsula on the other, the property occupies a prime location with easy access to a wide range of activities. The Walkers Collection includes Walkers Plains Camp and Walkers River Camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, providing an ideal bush-and-beach combination. Family-friendly (though Walkers Beach is geared primarily towards adults and older children), the emphasis is on warm hospitality, exceptional nature-rich locations, and a diverse range of activities and experiences. Walkers Beach is open all year round.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Walkers Beach is located in South Africa’s Western Cape province, on Plettenberg Bay's Central Beach. Regional flights operate into Plettenberg Bay Airport, George Airport & Port
Elizabeth Airport. The property is 7 kilometres from Plettenberg Bay Airport or a 10-minute drive.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT WALKERS BEACH:

Walkers Beach features a selection of beautifully styled, light-filled Classic and Luxury Suites, a Garden Suite, and the largest Signature Suite, which has its own private deck and panoramic sea views. Luxury Suites have direct pool access or a private deck, and the smaller Classic Suites all have sea views. The Garden Suite is the lowest category and faces a pretty garden courtyard with a water feature. Each suite has an individually controlled air-conditioning unit, ceiling fan, electronic safe, and USB charging points.

The emphasis at Walkers Beach is on indoor/outdoor living, with large, light-flooded windows and sliding doors, crisp white interiors with blue accents, wooden decks, and plenty of open-plan space that takes care not to interfere with the flow of natural light. The interior design is contemporary but maintains a warm, homely feel with comfortable sofas, oversized cushions, wicker furniture, large rugs, low lighting, and African artefacts that give the property a sense of place. There are two outdoor swimming pools – one with ocean views and the other facing a courtyard. It should be noted that the hotel currently doesn’t have a gym or a spa. One of the highlights is the impressive display of South African art, featuring two works by William Kentridge, two sculptures by Dylan Lewis, and a large oil of the Langenberg Mountains by Ernst Abram Volschenk. While Walkers Beach doesn’t have a restaurant, a resident chef is on hand to prepare lunch and dinner by prior arrangement. To streamline this process, menus can be sent prior to check-in. The hotel has an environmentally conscious ethos and relies primarily on a solar system to minimise its ecological impact.

ACTIVITIES AT WALKERS BEACH:

• Dolphin and whale watching

  – Guests can take to the ocean between June and November for extraordinary sightings of southern right, humpback, and Bryde’s whales. From December to May, this shifts to Bryde’s whales and resident marine life, such as dolphins, seals, seabirds, and sharks.

• Swim with the seals

  – An exhilarating wildlife adventure for the whole family, swimming with seals at the Robberg Nature Reserve, a 10-minute boat ride from Plettenberg’s main beach, is a real highlight. As some of the gentlest underwater mammals, brown fur seals are extremely sociable, making them a joy to encounter. This activity is offered from August to May, is available for children of 6+ years, and takes approximately 1.5 hours.

• Wildlife sanctuaries

  – The award-winning South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) includes Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary. Guests can opt to visit one or all three, depending on personal interests. Monkeyland is the world’s first free-roaming multi-species primate sanctuary. Birds of Eden is the Garden Route’s free-flight bird sanctuary, and at Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors can admire rescued or re-homed big cats, including lions, tigers, leopards, pumas, and jaguars. Plettenberg Bay is also home to an elephant sanctuary and the Lawnwood Snakes Sanctuary.

• Knysna Elephant Park

  – The Knysna Elephant Park houses relocated and rescued elephants and orphaned calves. With no fencing, the experience delivers close personal encounters on elephant terms. The elephants choose to move within the space and with whom they wish to interact.
  

• Sailing

  – Take a spectacular boat journey through the Knysna Heads on a luxury sailing catamaran with Ocean Sailing Charters.

• Wine estates

  – Approximately 15  kilometres from Walkers Beach, two award-winning wineries offer wonderful food and wine pairings. The Newstead Lund Family Vineyards, owned by Doug and Sue Lund, has an excellent restaurant serving fresh, simple food, and Bramon Wine Estate has a tapas-style restaurant. Picnics can also be arranged.

• Walks and hikes

  – Visit Robberg Nature Reserve, with its spectacular views of the cliffs and ocean, and rocks that date back 120 million years. The Garden of Eden Walk and Harkerville Forest Trail are easy 1 kilometre walks through indigenous forest. More advanced hikers will enjoy the more challenging Kranshoek Coastal Hiking Trail.

• Beaches

  – There are plenty of great beaches to explore, including Central Beach, the main swimming and charter-launching beach just in front of Walkers Beach. Robberg Beach is a long stretch from Beacon Island Hotel to the Robberg Peninsula, and Poortjies Beach is a great place to walk at low tide. For swimming, check out Lookout Beach, which also has a wonderful walking section to Keurbooms river mouth.

• Golf

  – This region has some excellent 18-hole, 72-par golf courses, including Goose Valley Golf Club, Pezula Championship Golf Course, and Plettenberg Bay Country Club.

• Adrenalin activities

  – Skydiving, water parks, bungee jumping, river tubing, and canopy tours are just some of the adrenaline-fuelled activities on offer. Please contact a member of our team for further details.