STANLEY ISLAND – PRIVATE PARADISE NEAR PLETTENBERG BAY

Stanley Island is a 25-hectare privately owned island and nature reserve nestled in the heart of the Keurbooms River, just outside Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. They offer various options for self-catering accommodation in their recently renovated lodges. You can dock your own boat, land your plane, or take their ferry across, where you will be transported to Africa’s natural serene beauty, complete with an abundance of wildlife.

With exciting activities such as canoeing down the pristine river, massage on the deck, sundowners on a boat cruise, picnics on the Keurbooms River or their 1000-metre, 40-metre-wide grass airstrip surrounded by friendly resident zebras, and an in-house bar and restaurant, the only thing you would worry about is how you will fit everything in one visit.

ABOUT PLETTENBERG BAY

Plettenberg Bay, or ‘Plett’ as it’s more commonly known by locals, is a coastal resort town with mountains, white sandy beaches, and crystal blue sea water, making it one of the country’s top local tourist spots. Even though the town still exudes a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, it may get extremely busy and crowded with both local and foreign tourists during the peak season, usually from October to around March.

With its 15 kilometres of beaches that are only disrupted by the river mouth and Stanley Island, Plettenberg Bay checks all the boxes for the ideal vacation spot for any type of traveller. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, such as the Big 5 safari, Cape fur seals and dolphins spotting, whale watching in season (from June to November), dining options, bars, hotels, and vast stretches of unspoiled Cape flora.

Plettenberg Bay is one of those towns you would merely drive by en route to other destinations like Tsitsikamma National Park, Bloukrans Bridge, which has one of the world’s highest commercial bungee jumps at 216 meters, or Addo Elephant NAtional Park in the Eastern Cape province. Trust me when I say that any Garden Route trip is never complete unless you spend a day or two in this town.

STANLEY ISLAND ACCOMMODATION

The indigenous forest on Stanley Island attracts a wide variety of bird species, including antelopes. Game roam freely near the recently renovated lodges, and there is a long stretch of private beach you can enjoy. Stanley Island is definitely a great base for all water sports and nature enthusiasts and for travellers exploring the Garden Route, one of the world’s greatest road trips. When you stay on Stanley Island, your privacy is their priority, and escaping the bustling mainland is a mere ferry trip away.

As part of the Corona Beer Creator Network, we sometimes get opportunities to travel around both locally and internationally to attend Corona Sunsets Festivals and sustainability workshops. It was during one of these trips that we were first introduced to Stanley Island in 2022 when we attended the Corona Sunsets Festival. The festival returns to Stanley Island this December, if you would like to watch GOLDFISH perform live at the Corona Sunsets Summer Tour on Stanley Island, click here to purchase your ticket.

After the festival, we promised ourselves to return to the island when it was less crowded, and we did just that last month. Our trip exceeded our expectations in every way, and we haven’t stopped recommending it to our family, friends, and business associates.

ELEGIA COTTAGE (FEATURED)

We spent two memorable nights in Elegia, one of their four newly renovated self-catering lodges. Elegia, or Cape Thatch Reeds, is quintessential to the marshes and sands of Stanley Island, and now that there is only one thatched house left, this represents the beginning of their journey. The owners’ mother, Dani, is honoured by Elegia Lodge.

This Honeymoon Lodge is the final lodge that has four deluxe units that each sleep two. These en-suite units are perfect romantic getaways for two people. The Deluxe self-catering has a King-size and Queen-size en-suite bedrooms with free-standing bath and shower. Fully equipped kitchen with open plan lounge and outdoor patio/balcony overlooking the zebra waterhole.

UPSTAIRS | ELEGIA ROOM 3 AND 4

Upstairs | sleeps 2 | en-suite bedroom with King-size bed | fully-equipped open plan kitchen | lounge | table-top fireplace | balcony with a sitting area |

DOWNSTAIRS | ELEGIA ROOM 1 AND 2

Downstairs | sleeps 2 | en-suite bedroom with Queen-size bed | fully-equipped open plan kitchen | lounge | table-top fireplace | patio with a sitting area |

Price from R1 200.00 per unit per night depending on the season.

For information on other Lodges on Stanley Island, Click here.

STANLEY ISLAND OFFERINGS

Stanley Island has so much more to offer than only contemporary accommodation and beautiful scenery. Other offerings include an Island beach bar, retreats, amenities, and activities. Click here to watch the full REEL on my Instagram page.

STANLEY ISLAND LOCATION

Stanley Island, Plettenberg Bay Western Cape, South Africa

Click here for Google Maps co-ordinates

CONTACT STANLEY ISLAND

Telephone: +27 83 276 6929

E-mail: info@stanleyisland.com

Website: www.stanleyisland.com

Instagram: @stanleyisland

DISCLAIMER

This article may contain affiliate links. I may receive compensation if you make a booking through the links on this blog post but it won’t cost you anything extra.

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