Bitou Local Municipality covers the eastern Garden Route coast around Plettenberg Bay, in the Western Cape’s Garden Route District. The 2022 census counted 65,240 people across 992 km², up from 49,162 in 2011. Plettenberg Bay is the seat.
“Bitou” is the Khoekhoe name for a coastal shrub common along this stretch of shoreline, and the municipality itself is built almost entirely around the resort town of Plettenberg Bay.
Towns and Villages in Bitou
Plettenberg Bay, the seat, holds most of the municipality’s population. Kwanokuthula and Kurland lie inland of the bay; Wittedrif and Kranshoek sit toward the Bloukrans River and Tsitsikamma border.
| Town | Note | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Plettenberg Bay | Municipal seat | 38,126 |
| Kranshoek | Settlement east of Plett | 6,705 |
| Kurland | Farming village | 4,832 |
| Wittedrif | Farming village | 2,182 |
Other named places in the municipality:
- Covie
- Die Barakke
- Harkerville
- Keurboomsrivier
- Keurboomstrand
- Kwanokuthula
- Nature’s Valley
- New Horizons
- The Crags
- Vyekraal
Geography
The municipality runs along the Garden Route coast from Keurbooms River east toward the Tsitsikamma Mountains, with Plettenberg Bay at its centre between the Indian Ocean and the mountains. It borders Knysna to the west, George to the northwest and Kou-Kamma to the east, within the Garden Route District.
Nature’s Valley, on the eastern edge of the municipality, sits within the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, one of the most photographed stretches of coastline on the route.
Demographics
Population rose from 49,162 in the 2011 census to 65,240 in 2022, a 33% increase, concentrated mainly around Plettenberg Bay and its surrounding townships.
English and Afrikaans dominate in the resort areas, with Xhosa common in Kwanokuthula and Kranshoek.
Bitou’s growth has been driven almost entirely by Plettenberg Bay’s expansion as a permanent residential town, not just a holiday destination, over the past two censuses.
Economy and Local Life
Coastal tourism drives the economy at Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley, with the surrounding Tsitsikamma mountains and forests supporting farming and forestry settlements further inland at Kurland and Wittedrif.
Plettenberg Bay’s beaches and estuary make it one of the Garden Route’s most visited resort towns over the December holiday season, when its population swells well beyond the census count.
Small-scale dairy and vegetable farming around Kurland and Wittedrif supplies the resort’s restaurants and hotels, while forestry in the Tsitsikamma foothills adds a further rural income.
The Robberg Nature Reserve, a peninsula just south of Plettenberg Bay, protects seal colonies and coastal fynbos and is one of the municipality’s most visited hiking destinations.
Getting There
The N2 runs through Plettenberg Bay along the Garden Route between Knysna and the Eastern Cape. George Airport, about 100 km west, is the nearest airport with scheduled flights.
FAQ
What is the seat of Bitou Local Municipality? Plettenberg Bay.
How many people live in Bitou? 65,240 at the 2022 census, up from 49,162 in 2011.
Which district is Bitou in? The Garden Route District Municipality.
What towns are in Bitou? Plettenberg Bay, Kranshoek, Kurland and Wittedrif.
How big is Bitou? 992 km².
What does “Bitou” mean? A Khoekhoe name for a coastal shrub found along the municipality’s shoreline.
What is Nature’s Valley? A small coastal village inside the Garden Route National Park’s Tsitsikamma section.
Is Plettenberg Bay busy in December? Yes, its population swells well beyond the census figure over the summer holidays.
How far is Plettenberg Bay from George? Roughly 100 km east along the N2.
What is Bitou’s biggest town? Plettenberg Bay, the municipal seat, with 38,126 residents.
Which languages are common in Bitou? English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, across the resort and township areas.
Is Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay? Yes, it sits on a peninsula just south of the town.