My current passion is exploring all the hikes and walks along the Garden Route (it’s going to take some time, I know). But this little secret spot that we visited last weekend is going to stay in a special place in my heart.
The name seems to be under a bit of debate, but I can tell you this: it is on the wild side of Plettenberg Bay, out behind the airport. Some of the names I know are Stilbaai and The Shack (which creates a bit of confusion as there is more than one Stilbaai and more than one Shack along the Garden Route coastline). This spot is a bit of a local’s secret and is a favourite with fishermen and I had only been there once before. The stretch of coast between Robberg Peninsula and the Knysna Heads is characterised by dramatic cliffs and rocky shores, so there is no beach to speak of; but the topography is pretty spectacular. Hiking down to the water is quite an adventure, but once there you can walk amongst the rocks and rock pools, swimming and exploring. I can remember standing on the lip of this incredibly blue, calm rock pool and wanting nothing more than to snorkel and swim, but the tide was rising quickly. When we left that day, I knew I would be back to snorkel those crystal blue waters.
Finally, the day had come. The walk was not an easy one and not for children, but the views kept us going as we followed the narrow pathway down the cliff. Off to the right was this enormous archway, which kept drawing my attention. How many years does it take for the ocean to sculpt such a masterpiece? At the base of the cliff, there was an old shack that seems now to be used only as a base by local subsistence fishermen. This stretch of coastline, being largely inaccessible, is quite deserted and you get the feeling of being stranded in paradise. In order to get to the best rock pool, we had to do a bit of clambering over rocks, but it was totally worth it!
After a year of imagining it, I was about to swim in this perfect little pool. The rock pool is about five metres wide, a bit longer and maybe three metres deep. The southern, eastern and western Cape coastlines are known for their vibrant soft corals, anemones and sponges and I was amazed to see the variety of invertebrate life living and thriving in such a small ecosystem. I could have swam around all day marvelling at the schools of fish, nudibranchs and sponges. Its true that you can find perfect beauty in the most unusual places.
Next time I visit, I will have to take along an underwater camera.
Do you know any other secret spots around the Garden Route? Please share them in the comments section below.
