A towering new attraction has arrived on the Garden Route, giving road trippers yet another reason to pull over in Plettenberg Bay.
The Waffling Whale Café at Formosa Bay Resort/Supplied
Standing approximately five metres high at the entrance to Formosa Bay Resort, the Waffling Whale Tail is believed to be Africa’s largest 3D-printed structure. Designed to celebrate the town’s deep connection to marine life, the eye-catching installation is already drawing attention from travellers exploring one of South Africa’s most popular tourism routes.
Created by Big Ideas 3D Printing for The Beekman Group, the giant whale tail sits alongside the resort’s Waffling Whale Café. Its distinctive textured finish takes inspiration from the café’s signature Belgian waffles, creating a playful blend of public art, local storytelling and roadside attraction.
Plettenberg Bay has long been regarded as one of South Africa’s premier whale-watching destinations, with southern right whales regularly spotted along the coastline during the migration season. According to The Beekman Group, the installation was conceived as a way to celebrate that heritage while encouraging visitors to stop, explore and engage with the destination.
“Plettenberg Bay is one of South Africa’s best-known whale-watching destinations with a long-standing connection to marine life and ocean conservation. We wanted to create something memorable that captures the spirit of this iconic coastline while giving travellers a reason to stop,” said Beekman.
The sculpture is designed to resemble the familiar sight of a whale diving beneath the ocean’s surface — often the last glimpse visitors catch before the animal disappears beneath the waves. At its base, flowing forms mimic syrup cascading from a waffle, reinforcing the connection to the neighbouring café.
The installation arrives at a time when experience-driven travel continues to shape tourism trends. Rather than serving solely as accommodation providers, many resorts are increasingly investing in unique attractions that encourage visitors to linger longer and create memorable travel moments.
“Tourism today is driven by experiences,” said Beekman. “People want destinations that feel memorable and worth sharing. Attractions like this create a stronger connection to a destination and encourage travellers to stop longer and explore more.”
The Waffling Whale Café has become a popular stop in its own right, known for serving whale-shaped sweet and savoury waffles, breakfasts, desserts and towering freak shakes. The addition of the giant whale tail sculpture is expected to strengthen the appeal of both the café and the resort as a destination stop along the Garden Route.
Located in the heart of Plettenberg Bay, Formosa Bay Resort provides easy access to some of the region’s top attractions, including Blue Flag beaches, marine safaris, hiking trails, indigenous forests, wine estates and outdoor adventure experiences.
Whether you’re travelling the Garden Route in search of whale sightings, scenic coastal views or memorable roadside stops, the Waffling Whale Tail may just become one of Plettenberg Bay’s newest photo-worthy landmarks.
For bookings and enquiries, visit www.beekmanholidays.co.za | Call 0861 269 846 | Email [email protected].
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