A forested river gorge above Plettenberg Bay
Western Cape, South Africa
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve protects the lower gorge of the Keurbooms River just upstream of Plettenberg Bay, where indigenous forest runs down steep slopes to dark, still water. Most visitors explore it by canoe, paddling upriver to an overnight hut, and the forest holds Knysna turacos, kingfishers and fish eagles. It is a short drive from the beaches of Plettenberg Bay and the rest of the Garden Route.
Read the guide: Sleeping in the Fynbos: The CapeNature Guide
Things to do: Canoeing · Hiking · Bird watching
What people record most across Western Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Western Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
One stay we sell in Keurbooms River Nature Reserve. Tap the pin for the listing.
34.0022° S, 23.4011° EOpen in Maps
Why book here
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is in Western Cape, South Africa.
Yes. Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
In Western Cape, commonly recorded species include animals such as Cape Dwarf Chameleon, Cape Fur Seal, Southern Right Whale, Great White Shark and birds including Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Cape Spurfowl, Orange-breasted Sunbird, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
Day visitors need a permit for most CapeNature reserves, and CapeNature encourages booking permits online in advance to avoid disappointment at the gate. If you are staying overnight, your accommodation booking covers your stay, but check your confirmation for any extra permit requirements such as hiking trails.
Request CapeNature cottages and campsites on Spekboom. We confirm with CapeNature, then you pay on Spekboom. South African residents aged 60 and over get 30% off CapeNature self-catering and camping, but only when booking by phone through the CapeNature call centre.
The best time to visit Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is Year-round.
Popular activities at Keurbooms River Nature Reserve include canoeing, hiking, bird watching.
Spekboom lists stays in and near Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, from inside-park camps to nearby lodges. Every booking funds conservation.
Other parks and reserves that share something with Keurbooms River Nature Reserve.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in the Western CapeAll protected areas