At Boulders Beach, just a stone’s throw away from the charming town of Simon’s Town near Cape Town, you’ll find a slice of paradise that’s home to the famous Boulders beach penguins. This sheltered cove is not your average beach hangout – it’s the exclusive retreat of a colony of African penguins. Picture the glittering turquoise waters, ivory sands, and a horde of penguins waddling around like they own the place!
Large granite boulders shield Boulders Beach from wind and big waves, making it a great place for kids to swim, especially in the rock pools. Because it is a part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, the beach is always safe and clean. The thousands of African penguins (also known as Cape penguins) call the area home, and are skilled at drawing large crowds. They are the only penguins of the 17 penguin species worldwide, that are found on the African continent, and are confined to the southern African waters.
The African penguin was a critically endangered species in the 1980s, but due to amazing conservation efforts, the Boulders colony has recently expanded to a few thousand birds. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List for 2024 has formally upgraded the African Penguin from Endangered to Critically Endangered, underscoring the species’ extreme extinction risk.
Visiting the Famous Boulders Beach Penguins
You can see penguins throughout the year, but the best time to visit is in summer, during the early morning or late afternoon, to catch the penguins in action. They’re quite the social bunch! In January, the juvenile birds are shedding on the beach. The beach offers boardwalks for easy penguin viewing and facilities like changing rooms and a souvenir shop for penguin-themed goods. If you wish to interact with the penguins up close, there are three wheelchair-friendly boardwalks that make their way through the dunes and dense vegetation to Foxy Beach. You’ll find the best information about the penguins from the well informed guides at the Boulders Visitors Centre. Respect the Residents – remember, you’re hanging out in the penguins’ neighbourhood, so keep a safe distance, and NEVER try to touch or feed them. It’s their home, we’re just visiting!
Environmental Issues
- Overcrowding: With increasing visitors, there’s a risk of disturbing the penguins and their habitat. So, keep your distance and stick to designated viewing areas.
- Pollution: Human litter and pollution can harm the penguins. Be a responsible traveller and dispose of your trash properly to keep the beach clean for our feathered friends.
- By being a mindful traveller and respecting nature, we can ensure that future generations get to enjoy the magic of Boulders Beach and its delightful residents.
Interesting Facts about Penguins
Penguins were once considered ‘fish’ (they are aquatic flightless birds – classified as birds due to their physical characteristics – wings, feathers, beak, warm-blooded metabolism). They can swim REALLY fast! Various names for a group of penguins are rookery, colony, and huddle – and in the water they are called a raft but on land they’re called a waddle! African penguins were once called ‘Jackasses’ because of their distinctive braying. African penguins feed on small fish like sardines and anchovies, as well as small crustaceans and squid.
