Last Updated on 23/06/2026 by Ting Dalton
Making our way through the electronic gates into Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, there was a real sense of anticipation after spotting the sign at the entrance warning of ‘Danger! Live animals!’ We drove slowly over the dirt track that snaked through a wide expanse of open space, some 2,200 hectares of it, and followed the signs towards the main lodge.
Suddenly, there was an excited squeal from the backseat. “There’s a giraffe, mummy! A GIRAFFE!” As the car slowed to a standstill, Monkey hadn’t been mistaken. Right by our car was a giraffe, happily minding its own business and chomping away at the top of a tree. From this moment, we all knew we were in for a magical few hours.
What is Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve?
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is the Southern Cape’s largest game reserve, set against the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains about 20 minutes inland from the seaside town of Plett. It’s malaria-free, family-friendly, and home to several of Africa’s Big Five, including rhino, buffalo, elephant and leopard.
I’d always wanted to go on a game drive, but I wasn’t sure it would work with two young children. So my first thought was to find an experience that would give us a taste of safari life, and after reading about the reserve’s two-hour game drive, this felt like the perfect way to test the waters.
What sealed the deal was that young children are welcome, even babies. When I emailed ahead to double-check that Peanut would be allowed on the truck with us, they reassured me that as long as he was in a carrier, it would be fine.
Arriving at the reserve
After checking in at reception, we were all taken aback by the animal artefacts and decorations filling this huge space, from skins to horns and, to my horror, elephant leg stools. A member of staff reassured me these came from an elephant that had died of natural causes, but it still makes me shudder thinking about them now.
As more visitors arrived, we were ushered to the boarding point and onto a huge open truck with barriers and a roof. The four of us fit comfortably onto the back seat, with the baby in a sling on my lap.
Monkey clocked the ranger’s rifle straightaway and asked why it was needed. Now, I’m not sure the ranger was being entirely serious, but he told Monkey it was for our protection and to make sure he didn’t stick his arms out of the truck in case a lion mistook him for dinner. We all laughed, rather nervously, and then he accelerated, and we were off.
What the game drive is actually like
The game drive is billed as two hours, but take this with a pinch of salt. As our driver explained, getting the best out of the experience means seeing as many animals as possible, and they don’t always play ball, so the ranger uses his know-how to track down the best viewing spots and the places these creatures might be hiding.
Our drive took more than three hours, and remarkably, the baby stayed relatively calm. There was a moment when he really didn’t want to be strapped to me, but I’d brought plenty of snacks, and the bumpy motion of the truck eventually sent him off to sleep for a good 30 minutes.
We were all cold, though, because we weren’t dressed for it. It was a warm day, but under the roof of the truck with no sun to warm us, and the rush of cold wind as we picked up speed, we had goosebumps most of the way round. It didn’t help that we spotted guests in other trucks wrapped in blankets. Our ranger had been so keen to get going, he’d forgotten to bring ours on board. A small tip, then: bring a jacket, whatever the forecast says, and ask about blankets before you set off.
What animals will you see at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve?
Did the cold ruin our morning? Not really, because we saw so many animals up close, it was quite a thing. On our drive, we spotted a baby giraffe and elephants, rhinos, a leopard, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras and crocodiles.
A word of honesty here, because sightings are never guaranteed on any safari. The reserve is home to several of the Big Five, but the line-up shifts over the years, and lions in particular aren’t a reliable sighting these days, so I wouldn’t go expecting to tick off all five. We were also a little disappointed not to spot any of the reserve’s hippos, who we think were keeping cool under the water as we passed. What you see comes down to the day, the season and a good ranger, which is part of what makes it feel real rather than staged. Here are a few of our highlights.
Alongside the headline animals, there’s plenty more to keep little eyes busy, from ostriches and antelope to a good range of birdlife. Monkey spent half the drive calling out things before the rest of us had even spotted them.
The café, playground and lodge
Once we’d finished, we made our way to the café and garden area and ordered a bite to eat. The kids happily munched on a cheese toastie and chips, then had fun in the playground. My husband and I took in the backdrop of the Tsitsikamma foothills while pushing the baby on a swing, still in awe of everything we’d just seen. It had been a wonderful morning, and we kept saying how good it would be to actually stay on the reserve itself in one of its lodges.
As the children began to tire, we decided it was time to leave. Perhaps it helped that both kids had been so well behaved, and that Monkey was still excitedly asking about everything he’d spied, but one thing was certain. Our first safari game drive was a huge success, and we all agreed it wouldn’t be our last.
Planning your visit to Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve
Where it is: the reserve sits about 20 minutes inland from Plettenberg Bay, off Uplands Road in Wittedrift, an easy stop if you’re driving the Garden Route between Knysna and Tsitsikamma.
Getting there: the easiest way is by hire car. The approach road is rough in patches and better suited to something sturdy than a small hire car driven gingerly. Taxis are an option too if you’d rather not drive.
How long the drive takes: it’s sold as two hours, but ours ran to three. Build in a buffer and don’t plan anything tight straight afterwards.
What it costs: the two-hour game drive starts from around $54 (roughly £42) per person when booked online, with children’s rates available directly through the reserve. Prices and animal line-ups change, so it’s worth confirming when you book.
What to bring: a warm layer, whatever the forecast, sun cream, snacks and water for little ones, and a camera with some zoom if you have one. Ask about blankets before you set off.
Best time to go: mornings and late afternoons tend to be best for sightings, when the animals are most active and the light is kind for photos.
Is Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve worth it?
If you’re driving the Garden Route and can’t make it to a bigger park like Kruger or Addo, this is a lovely taste of safari without a long detour inland. It won’t replicate a multi-day big-game experience, and you shouldn’t expect to see every animal, but for a couple of hours among giraffe, rhino and elephant, with kids in tow and the coast nearby, it more than earns its place in a trip. We left already talking about coming back.
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve FAQs
Can you do Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve with young children and babies?
Yes. Children are welcome, and babies can ride along in a carrier on a parent’s lap. Ours were two and a baby when we went, and both were fine.
How long is the game drive?
It’s advertised as two hours, but rangers often run longer to track down animals. Ours lasted just over three.
Will you see the Big Five?
The reserve is home to several of the Big Five, but sightings are never guaranteed, and lions in particular aren’t a reliable sighting now. We saw rhino, buffalo, elephant and a leopard on our visit, plus giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and crocodiles.
How far is it from Plettenberg Bay?
About 20 minutes by car, off Uplands Road in Wittedrift.
Is there anywhere to eat?
Yes, there’s a café with a garden and a small playground, with views out to the Tsitsikamma foothills.
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