Emily Moon
Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, South Africa
At a Glance
Sit listening for the call of the fish eagle
Enjoy delicious food overlooking the river
Incredible views from every suite.
Perfect location to explore Plettenberg Bay
Keep busy with a huge number of activities
Charming rustic chic surrounded by nature
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
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Garden Route enjoys a moderate climate all year round. In peak summer season, from December to February, temperatures can climb as high as 34ºC, although winter temperatures can drop to as low as 4ºC. Generally, this season has many sunny days with high wind at times. During the winter months of June, July, and August, expect frequent rains and a couple of chilly evenings. From June to December, the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) graces Walker Bay with its massive presence.
Insider's View
Enjoy a lazy afternoon canoeing down the Bitou River.
The family rooms are perfect for those traveling with children!
Emily Moon’s restaurant is always packed with locals – a really buzzy place!
Try some of the home made sushi, served around the swimming pool
Call us on 858 345 1761 to start planning your vacation to Emily Moon or take a look at our itineraries to Garden Route
Description
Emily Moon has eight luxury rooms, all with fabulous views over the sweeping river valley and wetlands. It is a small, intimate lodge set in a beautiful location and a wonderful place to base yourself to explore the area, just outside Plettenburg Bay.
Emily Moon is small exclusive lodge set on the southern bank of the river Bitou with the Tsitsikamma mountains in the distance, close to all of Plettenburg Bay’s attractions. The lodge has stunning vistas of the meandering river below and a very tranquil feel.
The rooms all have fantastic views, with private decks on which to sit and soak in the peacefulness and beauty of the surroundings. Decorated in a chic African contemporary style, along with artworks collected from afar, all suites offer spacious living areas with minibars, satellite TV, ceiling fans, plantation blinds and a fireplace for those cooler nights. Bathrooms are well appointed and feature under floor heating and there are also open air showers.
The restaurant has an excellent reputation in the area and is also a favorite with locals. It serves an eclectic menu including candle-lit dinners to fun lunches around the pool.
Emily Moon is a sports and activity enthusiast’s paradise. There are wonderful walks, canoes, bike trails, golf courses, long sandy beaches, fishing, marine reserves and much more, within easy reach of Emily Moon.
Accommodation
Emily Moon has just eight lodge suites, one honeymoon suite and a self catering house. All the rooms are en-suite and have fabulous views from their private verandas. The rooms are furnished with global artifacts and have a contemporary African feel to them. The rooms feature all the expected amenities such as tv and mini bar. There is also a cosy fireplace for the cooler nights to keep you warm.
| Double Room lodge | Each secluded lodge has a fully appointed bathroom, under-floor heating, mini-bar, satellite TV, a viewing deck and fireplace |
| Family Lodge | There are 2 family lodges for 4 adults and 4 children. Each lodge has fully appointed bathrooms, underfloor heating, mini-bar, Satellite TV, viewing deck and fireplace. |
Childcare
Children are welcome but there are no specific facilities. Two of the eight cottage are ideal for families and there is plenty for them to do in the local area. Attractions include Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, the Elephant Sanctuary and Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Center.
Activities
Walking and mountain biking along forest trails are complimentary activities at Emily Moon. The river is also home to an abundant water bird life and some excellent birdwatching opportunities. Paid activities in the area include fishing, canoeing, horse riding and all other Plettenberg Bay activities.
Emily Moon has an inviting Swimming pool as well as a restaurant with an excellent reputation in the area.
Reviews
Anna Hearn (Staff)
A quirky little place with eclectic design (we walked through several sets of Zanzibari doors to reach the reception), Emily Moon is set up on a gentle slope overlooking gently swaying reed beds through which a slender river undulates its a fun, slightly unusual spot but with a great welcome.
Our room was designed to make the most of the view, and given the chill of the day, we were delighted to see each room had an open fire. Its a great little stopping point for those exploring the garden route with a few activities on offer including canoeing the river.
Experiences
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Fynbos Flower Safari
The Cape Floral Region has the highest concentration of plant species in the world. Staggeringly this recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site holds three times the diversity of species than the Amazon rainforest.
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Great White Shark Cage Diving
Great white shark cage diving is an experience like no other. To get up close to the ocean's number one predator in its natural environment is a humbling experience you will never forget.
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Horse Riding in the Cape
Enjoy exploring the dramatic landscapes of South Africa on horseback, an experience to be included on any visit.
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Monkeyland - Plettenberg Bay
Monkeyland is a unique primate sanctuary that rehabilitates and frees previously caged primates. All of the monkeys here move about the forest freely and peacefully and allow you to view them as they would bee seen in their natural habitat.
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Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is the largest game reserve in the Southern Cape and is in the perfect location for anyone who wants to experience a one day, big game viewing experience along the Garden Route.
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Robberg Peninsula Walk
The Robberg Peninsula is an outcrop of land from the western side of Plettenberg Bay. The Peninsula is now a nature reserve and a marine protected area which makes for spectacular scenery, wildlife, flora and fauna.
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Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Center
Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Center at Plettenberg Bay offers guests a truly unique wildcat experience as they are taken on a guided tour of cheetah, leopard, serval, caracal and other wildcats, baboons and birds.
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Whale watching on the Western Cape
Southern right whales visit the Western Cape from about June to December every year. These beautiful gentle giants congregate to the shores of Hermanus all the way along the coast line towards Plettenberg Bay.
Location & directions
Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, South Africa
Plettenberg Bay, is a town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It was originally named Bahia Formosa (Beautiful Bay) by early Portuguese explorers and lies on South Africa's Garden Route 210 km from Port Elizabeth and about 600 km from Cape Town.
How to get there
Guests are advised to fly to Port Elizabeth and proceed to Emily Moon by road. A flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth takes about 1hour 40minues. The distance from Port Elizabeth to Emily Moon is 230km and can be comfortably covered by road in 2 hours 30 minutes.