African Penguins at Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town

African Penguin colony in Boulder’s Beach

One of the top attractions of Cape Town is the African Penguin colony in Boulder’s Beach, Simon’s Town. This coastal area in the False Bay consists of many round stones (boulders), which gave the beach its name. Most tourist visit the penguin colony as part of a day tour to the Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope.

Besides Boulder’s Beach, there are only 2 other African Penguins colonies in South Africa – in Lambert’s Bay and Betty’s Bay.

Watch the Penguins up close

African Penguins weigh around 2-4 kg. They adapted well to their habitat. The whole section of the beach is covered by bushes which are perfect hiding places for the penguins. They build their nests either in the sandy ground or in small hollow areas. You can see the openings to the nests everywhere. Each nest is occupied by one penguin pair. The area is fenced to offer the animals some protection.

Wooden walkways lead through the whole area and allow for great penguin viewing. From the raised pathways and decks you can watch these funny little birds (who can also make a lot of noise).  

Boulder‘s Beach belongs to Table Mountain National Park

The African Penguin colony in Boulder’s Beach is a part of Table Mountain National Park and therefore supervised by rangers. In the summer season, you can visit the colony from 8am to 7pm. The entrance fee is R176.

The fenced area comprises of 3 bays and an area where you can watch the penguins up-close. There is even a small beach where you can swim with them.