Boulders Beach (Penguin Colony) Reviews (Cape Town, South Africa)

Bould over by the Penguins

London, England, United Kingdom

October 2, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo One of the highlights of my holiday in South Africa was going down to Boulder’s Beach to visit the penguin colony. The beach is part of Table Mountain National Park but is actually a fair drive out of Cape Town in False Bay. It is best accessed ...Read more One of the highlights of my holiday in South Africa was going down to Boulder’s Beach to visit the penguin colony. The beach is part of Table Mountain National Park but is actually a fair drive out of Cape Town in False Bay. It is best accessed with private transport, but you can get organised tours from Cape Town.

There is a special boardwalk area on Foxy beach, which is one of the best places to see the penguins, which costs ZAR40 (£3.50/$5.35) plus you will need to pay the same again to get onto Boulder’s beach. The beach areas are open daily from 8am or 7am in summer (between Dec-Jan) and closes at 5pm in winter, 7.30pm in summer and 6.30pm at all other times.

As you walk through the gates you will see a small gift shop over to your left with penguin specific gifts that generally seemed quite expensive. On the right were the toilets, which I didn’t use.

Once you walk onto the neat boardwalk path, it will take you approximately two seconds to spot your first penguin. They are right there in front of you on rocks, in the grass, by the edge of the boardwalk (it is fenced so you can’t get off or reach to touch one), and in fact everywhere you look. Apparently there are 3000 penguins here now, and I am pretty sure we saw most of them during our visit. The boardwalk area is fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible.

The species of penguin that you will see is the African penguin, which is also sometimes called the Jackass penguin because it brays like a donkey. This needs to be heard to be believed as you really don’t expect that sound to come out of a penguin. They are black and white and quite small – I would guess they averaged about 18" (45cm) but not all were full-grown adults so it was hard to tell. I believe this is the only mainland colony, others can be found on islands off the coast. The species are considered at risk. They don’t have many land predators, but are at greater risk from seals and sharks at sea, as well as pollution.

You can spend as long or as little on the boardwalks as you wish watching the penguins interact with each other and go about their business. Sadly it was raining when we were there, which meant I had to be careful with my camera but the penguins didn’t seem to be that bothered by the weather and carried on regardless. Most will ignore you but some may look at you with interest, and we did try to ‘dance’ with them (more of a head sway really). There are two boardwalks – one is straight on opposite the entrance gate, the other is over to the right. Both lead down to Foxy Beach, but on opposite side so you will get an excellent view of them here, where lots of them congregate. When you feel you have seen everything at Foxy Beach then come out of the area and turn left out of the exit and follow the path to Boulder’s Beach.

I am not sure how long the path is (it is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs) to Boulders Beach or how long it took us to walk, as you can still see penguins through the fence into the woods (not the habitat we would expect to see them in) so you will find yourself looking for them and taking photos. I wanted a good photo of a penguin looking directly at me, but they weren’t very obliging and preferred to show their profile in the other 86 shots.

You have to pay again at the entrance to Boulders Beach; I believe it is the same as the price at the covered area. Boulder’s beach imaginatively got its name from the large boulders that are sat on it. It can be quite fun trying to see animal shapes in the boulders, and it is certainly striking scenery. Unfortunately as we arrived another group of tourists had walked onto the beach and startled a group of penguins who went running into the water. You can sit on the beach and swim if you wish. This would have been great apart from the fact it was a South African winter and a bit nippy. As it was, there was just one solitary penguin left on the beach, and he preferred his own company to ours so we left him alone. You are advised not to approach or bother the penguins, nor feed them or try and touch them (they bite if threatened) although I have heard that sometimes they will approach you out of curiosity.

As you walk out of the Boulders Beach area you will see some other penguins striding across the rocks to your left. If you wished you could just view the penguins from outside the Boulders Beach entrance or from the public footpath between Boulders and Foxy Beach without paying an admission charge. However I think the modest charge is well worth it and you do see a lot more penguins if you go into Foxy Beach, which is a fantastic opportunity to observe these unique and fascinating creatures at close quarters in their home environment. Close

From journal South Africa: What to See and Do in Cape Town

Swim with penguins

by Sarah2183

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

June 27, 2011

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Boulders Beach and the penguin colony is a MUST SEE during a visit to Cape Town. Though it is a decent length drive (45-60 minutes depending on traffic), it is also a beautiful drive.And then there are the penguins. You can walk on the boardwalk ...Read more

We Had Happy Feet!

by catsholiday

ashbourne, United Kingdom

March 29, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo We left Cape Town quite early in the morning for our leisurely drive along past the Twelve Apostles Mountain peaks along the Chapman’s Peak coast road via Hout’s Bay and through to the Cape of Good Hope.We drive along the Great Ocean Road in South ...Read more We left Cape Town quite early in the morning for our leisurely drive along past the Twelve Apostles Mountain peaks along the Chapman’s Peak coast road via Hout’s Bay and through to the Cape of Good Hope.
We drive along the Great Ocean Road in South Australia and I have to say that this road is infinitely superior in terms of views and stunning vistas. Ever turn gave a ‘Ohh ‘or ‘Wow’ from one of us with bright blue sky, silver lined sandy coasts and secluded harbour towns nested in safe coves.

We reached the Cape of Good Hope and rushed up the hill to the top to see the last of the Atlantic waves crashing over the huge rocks. We also walked to the top of the peak at cape Point. Having walked to the top of both points we were now ready for moving on to Boulder’s Bay near Simon’s town where we hoped to see some African penguins.

We followed signs for penguins and parked our car and then followed more signs for penguins until we reached a kiosk. We paid 35R per person to enter the area and off we went along the first board walk. We were so thrilled to see three penguins resting on some rocks and spent some minutes taking photos before we moved on. As we rounded the corner they were everywhere. I have never seen so many penguins just chilling, lying, standing, drying their wings, kissing and nest digging. We took so many photos I think we almost filled our memory card. They were absolutely beautiful and so not bothered by all the tourists walking along the board walk and photographing them.

We must have spent about an hour on both board walks before we really began to feel the need for some food so we reluctantly left our new friends and went along to the restaurant we had seen near the car park with views of the ocean. This was called the ‘Sea Forth’. We ordered various fish and sea food dishes. My husband and I did particularly well with the warm seafood salad as we had so much sea food and also piles of salad. I ate continuously while everyone else ate and was still able to had a plate full of salad and 4 large prawns over to the boys. One son had scampi and chips and the other had Cape salmon and chips as well as sharing half my meal.

Both boys were keen to visit a beach and swim in the Indian Ocean so we went back to Boulders Beach and paid another 35R each to get on the beach. Amazingly once we were on the beach we noticed penguins on the rocks around the beach. As we were changing two of the little chaps waddled down between the groups of people and slipped in to the sea. This was where you could swim with the penguins which had read about but thought it had been an error. It was truly an amazing experience.

My husband was in the sea with penguins darting around him. It was a little too cold for me but we did go over to the rocks and chat to t he penguins on the rock. One little chap was having a head rolling conversation with my son and we got some stunning photos of this and also as they popped into the sea and swam around our legs.

This was the icing on the cake and a truly magical experience to be able to get so close to wild animals and interact with them. They were totally unbothered by people. They apparently do bite but if you were sensible and just stayed quiet near them rather than trying to touch them then they were happy for you to be there.

For the price I think this experience would take some beating if you like animals and enjoy seeing them in their natural habitat. This is a memory that will be in my top experiences and I would thoroughly recommend visiting Boulders Bay if you want to see penguins in the wild up very close and even swim with them if you don’t mind the water being a bit fresh. I wouldn’t recommend swimming in winter as we were there in summer in January and it was still a bit too cold for me to go right in the sea!
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From journal South African Road Trip

Penguin Watching

by Meggysmum

Oxford, United Kingdom

October 16, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Visiting Cape Town is a memorable experience, the area offers such beauty and variety that it can be difficult to distinguish the high-lights a trip. However anyone who wants a unique experience should head off to Boulders Beach.Boulders Beach is ...Read more Visiting Cape Town is a memorable experience, the area offers such beauty and variety that it can be difficult to distinguish the high-lights a trip. However anyone who wants a unique experience should head off to Boulders Beach.

Boulders Beach is now part of the Table Mountain National Park. It is situated near Simons Town which is on the Cape peninsula, South of Cape Town. In the early 1980s a pair of breeding penguins was seen on the beach and now the colony has grown to over 2500.

The species here is the African Penguin which is also sometimes known as the Jackass Penguin due to its distinctive call; it has also been called the Black-footed Penguin. Boulders Beach is actually a group of beaches that are separated by granite rocks so the water is relatively safe and calm and a little warmer than some of the beaches of Cape Town.

Access to the beaches is R15 for adults and R5 for children (prices 2009). Once on the beach you can swim and picnic and you may well find that you have penguins for company. The birds seem totally uninterested in their human companions and the opportunity to see them at such close quarters is not to be missed. They are quite a small breed of penguin and they do look very cute and cuddly but you are wise not to touch. They can be aggressive and they can give a nasty bite. However if you do not attempt to touch them you can observe them from a long time without any problems.

A wooden walkway has been constructed from the first beach to Foxy beach where you will find the majority of the colony. The walkway restricts human access to the beach and the majority of birds congregate in this less hectic setting. The raised walkways meander down the beach and there are several viewing spots to allow you to watch the birds enter and leave the water. This beach is very noisy and you can appreciate how these penguins got their more common name.

The penguins used to walk all over the roads and caused a lot of destruction in local gardens. This led to accidents and irritation so the beach was put under the National park status. Fences were erected and proper visitor facilities were erected as the number of tourist was also causing a problem. The penguins will still sometimes shelter under cars so it is wise to check around your vehicle before you drive off.

Foxy beach is also the home to the information centre on the penguins, this is not large but it does offer the opportunity to learn more about the species and about their life in the area. This species of penguin is the only one to be found in Africa and there are several colonies but this one is the largest on the mainland. There are facilities and a gift shop here too.

We have been lucky enough to visit the colony twice. The first visit was at the end of October. This is the time when the penguins are moulting. This lasts about three weeks but the birds look very bedraggled and thin as they are unable to enter the water. Their coats are not waterproof during this time so they all just stand around looking forlorn. The smell from the beach is also rather unpleasant at this time so it is not the ideal time for a visit.

The other visit we made was in February. This time the birds looking healthy and happy. It was possible to observe them entering and leaving the water, they look so awkward on the beach but look streamlined and elegant the moment they enter the sea. It was particularly entertaining to seen the way them seem to "jump" out of the water.

These birds can breed at any time of year but the usual time from the Boulders Beach colony is March to May.

Overall this is certainly an experience that will stay in the memory for a long time. The sheer number of penguins, the close proximity and the amazing noise will leave a lasting impression.
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From journal Visiting the Cape Peninsula

Boulders Beach

by Linda Hoernke

St. George, Utah

June 20, 2007

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Boulders Beach is located near Simons Town and is known for its Jackass Penguin Colony. Part of the Table Mountain National Park, the penguins survive in a protected natural environment of beaches sheltered from the wind. The colony averages around ...Read more

From journal A Tour of Cape Town

Penguins at Boulders Beach

by kwasiak

Tucson, Arizona

April 20, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo Going to Boulders Beach, where a colony of African Penguins live, was definitely the highlight of my time in Cape Town. For the 2 months prior to my trip, I had been researching endangered and vulnerable penguin species for my class research ...Read more

From journal Cape Town: First World to Third World

The Penguins of Boulder's Beach

by MiriamMannak

Cape Town, South Africa

January 6, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo One of the highlights of the Cape Peninsula is the penguins of Boulders Beach, close to Simon's Town. I have been to Boulders on a couple of occasions now, but every time these black 'n white creatures manage to capture my full attention. Surrounded ...Read more

From journal Simon's Town - Home of the Penguin

Penguins near Cape Town

by jsdawes

Victoria, British Columbia

October 19, 2005

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It was a surprise to me to find penguins in such a warm climate. But I learned that the water is not very warm, as the influence of the Indian Ocean does not overcome the cold Atlantic Ocean waters until quite a bit farther north up the coast. The ...Read more

From journal Cape Province, South Africa - 2000

Penguins & Baboons at Boulder Bay

by Coronado Bob & Berie

Coronado, California

April 25, 2005

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These cute little "Jack-Ass" African penguins arrived in Boulder Bay, much to the chagrin of the local residents, in the 1980s. It is easy just to park and walk around the beach, snapping pictures of these little creatures. Driving further toward ...Read more

From journal South African Magic

Penguin Watching

by MichaelJM

Nottingham, England

October 30, 2004

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Best of IgoUgo Sir Francis Drake said, "This Cape is the most stately thing and the Fairest Cape we ever saw". He was talking about the view of the Cape over False Bay, and his words still hold good today. We explored the small fishing village of Kalk Bay and ...Read more Sir Francis Drake said, "This Cape is the most stately thing and the Fairest Cape we ever saw". He was talking about the view of the Cape over False Bay, and his words still hold good today.

We explored the small fishing village of Kalk Bay and felt a strange sense of excitement as we watched the steam-train pull away from the picturesque station and continue its coastal journey. The main street is lined with interesting, balconied shops, brightly painted in crisp colours. These are a real delight if you have an interest in antiques or porcelain. "Chinatown" is crammed with thousands of items of chinaware and, at some points, we dare hardly move lest we knock over a display cabinet. You could spend hours in this one emporium eyeing up the Wedgwood and the Minton, the Clarice Cliff and the Royal Doulton. If you’re into porcelain, I defy you to leave this shop without buying something!

Next, we drive through Fish Hoek, basically a seaside village with a small harbour, and continue south to Simon’s Town (named after Simon van der Stel of Groot Constantia fame). This town has an impressive naval harbour, a mass of maritime monuments and a "bucket load" of Victorian and Cape Dutch houses. Then south towards Boulders Beach, where we both wanted to visit, and the Penguin Colony. Apparently, almost 3,000 jackass penguins live here. There are the obligatory souvenir stands – we did pause to look, but although the quality was good, nothing caught our eye.

At the beach, we followed the most popular clockwise route, and on this walk we saw the odd loner penguin. I was prepared to be disappointed as we rounded the corner, but the beach and sea was packed with penguins. I suggest that all manner of society was mirrored here. We saw penguins which appeared to be guarding the perimeter of their village; lovebirds staring transfixed into each other eyes; the homebuilder; the exhibitionists who were propagating in view of their human audience. We saw family protectors who were chasing off the herring gulls that made repeated efforts to steal and heard the aggressive braying call of the lonely male seeking his mate. It’s a call that is hard to associate with these delicate-looking birds, but it was clear at this point why the African Penguin is called the Jackass.

They waddled to the edge of the sea and then hurled themselves into the water or rapidly retraced their steps before they turned hesitantly towards the sea again, pondering their next move. I wonder if the sea was a little too cold for them! We saw them standing on the rocky boulders and swimming gracefully back to the shore – bobbing up and down through the gentle waves of Boulders Beach. I’d recommend that you also take the quieter, anticlockwise route, as I managed to get much closer to penguins that stood looking defiantly up at me.

Boulders is an absolute treat!

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From journal A few days in Southern Cape Town

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